“To my Pastor, my Shepherd, my Friend and Mentor, Steve and Sandy”

“To my Pastor, my Shepherd, my Friend and Mentor.”

I have many family members, fellow believers and friends who have lost the Joy of their salvation by worrying. They are in need of a kind word of encouragement to be happy again. “Worry takes away your joy, but a kind word makes you happy.” Proverbs 12:25.

My pastor of fifty years and his beautiful legendary wife wrote me a kind letter yesterday that encouraged me to keep on writing to encourage others.

----------

He said:

1.- I'm glad you are eating well and getting regular medical care.

2.- Keep up your good work in writing and encouraging others.

3.- Give our greeting to Nathaniel and Caleb.

Our love to you in Christ.

———-

My pastor knows the best and the worst of me and he still loves me.

My pastor has been to me as Paul was to Timothy and I have tried to be to him as Timothy was to Paul.

My pastor is a man who has been my leader for 50 years. The kind of leadership he exercised over me was not the one that was looking over my shoulder and cracking the whip and asking me to do things that he himself was not doing.

His tactful trust and vision for my life has made me a regular miracle worker.

When I left the world to follow Jesus, I was in great need of a shepherd more than a preacher and my pastor was the shoe that fit the foot. Thank you. No other man could have done what he did for me but my pastor. His beloved wife and children were to me an open book to read at my heart's content on how to follow Jesus.

My pastor is a man of few words so that when he speaks his words have iron and it is a delight to have been able to listen to his counsel and wisdom.

My dear Pastor and servant of the Lord Jesus, you’ll never know on this side of heaven how much our Lord has used you in my life. Especially those times when you trusted me with your pulpit when you had to be out of town. If there is one opinion I care the most about, it is the opinion of my pastor and his wife which is only second to my wife.

My pastor recognized Jesus in my life and trusted me as a true brother. That in turn made me believe in myself and I did not hesitate to launch any Project seemingly impossible so that at the end of the day he was there for me and he still is there for me as you can see. “I'm glad you are eating well and getting regular medical care.”

I take advantage of this letter to thank him and honor the godliest couple I have ever known as my friends and brothers in Jesus. Oh, how I miss you both so much especially after Ruthie’s departure.

In case anyone is wondering about the wealth of my relationship with my pastor, I will tell them in few words: “If you like somebody give him some money, but if you love somebody give him your friends.” Thank you, Steve and Sandy, for giving me your friendship. I left Washington DC a very wealthy man indeed.

The approval of our Lord to our relationship was shown generously when he spared our lives from imminent danger in foreign countries. The ripple effect of our ministry together is still touching the far shores of the Oceans of the world even as I write this letter and keep in touch with people in high places. Thank you for teaching me to walk unaffected with the giants of the land.

A grateful cricket chirped about two beautiful swans at our sunset. Blessings to one and all of my beloved friends and their children who have invested so much of themselves for me.

Gerry Gutierrez.

PS. The pictures are a reminder of our time in Washington DC.