Chairman's message

20th Anniversary message from our Chairman

-by Michael Allen

Greetings AVM Family,

For those of you who were not able to attend our 20th Celebration last month you can hear the message from our Chairman by clicking the picture below. Due to time constraints the message was shortened at the banquet, however it is now preserved below in its entirety. Please take the time to listen and enjoy this important message from our leader and “good and faithful servant.” God bless you all!

Is Good Friday Good?

-By Gary Crawford (with closing commentary by Michael Allen)

Is Good Friday Good? 

“Why do we as believers call this day ‘good Friday’ when it was such a dark and painful event recognizing the suffering and death of Jesus? 

It's good because it's critical. It celebrates the most important reality in the history of mankind- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A matter of "first importance" from God's point of view. (1 Cor 15:3)

On this day Jesus willingly suffered in ways we cannot comprehend as the ultimate sacrifice for our own darkness of sin (1 Jn 1:10) and heralded the victorious resurrection that we will share. (Ro 6:5) 

Yet, the question is why ‘good Friday’ instead of ‘bad Friday’ Well, in fact, in Germany it's ‘Karfreitag’ - sorrowful Friday. And according to Justin Holcomb the English word ‘good’ may have developed from the older name ‘God's Friday’ Certainly it is God's Friday where He implemented His plan for our good through the death of His Son. 

For this to be good news we must understand the bad news- that as sinners we are trapped in darkness and live in a prison of hopelessness, enslaved to our sinful nature. The law of God teaches us that this grace of God brings the light, opens the cell door and sets us free. 

Author Anne Lamott has stated, ‘I do not understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.’ God's grace is not designed to appease us in our sin, but to transform us into brand new creatures that have passed from death to life (2 Corinthians 5:17). GuidePosts, November 2006, p.22

Wow! ‘He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness, by His wounds you have been healed’ 2 Pet 2:24 

This morning I awakened to a day when ‘His mercies are new every morning’. (Lamentations 3:22) Because this is true I don't have to live with the regret of yesterday or the worry of tomorrow!!

Good Friday is ‘good’ because as tragic as it was, it was the death blow to the human bondage of sin. The cross is where God ordained that ‘righteousness and peace will kiss’ Ps 85:10. ‘For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross’ (Heb 12:2). There wrath and mercy met in the body of the One who gave His life that mercy may prevail in our lives. (Isaiah 53:3)

Today we stand in the shadow of the cross to see the nature of the heart of God. Stand here and marvel at this dangerous, powerful love of God and the sheer beauty of His Son that reveals the shameful ugliness of the ugly of sin. Stand here in the shadow and worship the good God on this Good Friday. Don't move. Stand and be still. Here His heart beat. Hear it stop. Hear it beat again. Now hear His heart beat in yours. This is Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday in the same beat! The miracle of grace ‘it meets us where we are, but it doesn't leave us where it found us.’ It does not appease our sin. It destroys it and makes ‘all things new’. Now that you have stood in the face of the wrath and mercy of God, kneel and give thanks and fall in love afresh with the Beautiful One. It's Good Friday!” -Gary Crawford, Pastor Emeritus Westside Baptist Church and co-founder of Amazon Vision Ministries. 

The Bible says that “no one does good, not even one (Rom 3:12b).” Yet on Good Friday, nearly 2,000 years ago, One did good for all. The only good One, Jesus Christ, offered His goodness to all who will receive Him, who will believe in His name, that they may become children of God (John 1:12). The Bible also says the “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom 10:13).” If you have not received the goodness of God, the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, there is no better time than now, on Good Friday! Do not delay the most important decision of your life. Pray this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins and turn to you. Jesus, I accept Your free gift of salvation. I ask that you forgive me of my sins and be the Lord of my life. I do not deserve and cannot earn forgiveness. I believe that You died and rose from the grave to offer me abundant life now and for all eternity in heaven. Thank you for saving me. Amen.”

Happy Good Friday and a blessed Resurrection Sunday to you all!

In His Name,

Michael Allen

Director of Operations, AVM

"Though I was blind, now I see."

-by Michael Allen

It was the summer of 2019, my first trip to the Amazon Basin. This was the second village that we had the opportunity to minister in that week. We set out that morning in small teams to visit homes and invite people to the medical clinic and vacation Bible school that had been set up at the home of the village chief. As our small boat pulled up to this particular home, the man in the window invited us in for a visit. When we began to converse with him it was discovered that he was blind. Jane McEwen, a veteran of many missions to Brazil, explained that we were there to share about God. The man was very receptive and asked to hear about God. At that point Jane turned to me and said, “Ok Mike, you're up”, meaning go ahead and share with him. For a split second I froze, not knowing how to begin. This was not my first mission trip. In fact, I had been on many trips to remote places in the world doing just what we were doing in Brazil. From the outside view, there was no hesitation from Jane’s command and my speaking, but internally there was a struggle going on in my mind. As I started to speak I went back to where it all began, “In the beginning…” I did not use the exact phrasing of Genesis 1:1, it was more of a Star Wars intro: “Long, long, ago,…” I began to share with him the story of the Bible from Creation to Christ. As Jesus said in Acts 1:8, the power of the Holy Spirit will come and then you will be my witness. That surely was the case here, the Bible was coming alive right here in this man’s home! Not only did he respond to the Holy Spirit and accept Christ as savior, his granddaughter, who was listening the whole time in the adjacent room, walked out and accepted Christ as well! The man said that his parents were Christians but that he had never heard the story of God and always wanted to. God knew the man’s heart and desire, and after many decades, sent us deep in the Amazon River to bring the hope of Christ to this house. What an awesome God we serve! “Though I was blind, now I see.”

"anywhere, anytime, anyway"

By Gary Crawford

 Intro to Fincher Memorial 

AVM Co-founder and friend, Joe Fincher went home to be with the Lord September 5. 2020. As the Bible says, “Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev 14:13) 

Below is the message I shared at his memorial service September 13, 2020 at Westside Baptist Church, Gainesville, Fl. It is my prayer that you will find gratitude in your heart for a life well lived, encouragement toward your own God given dreams, and a challenge to pursue God’s calling upon your own life. 

It is my commitment and the commitment of the AVM Board, AVM participants, and team leaders to move forward in faith toward a strong river ministry in 2021 and beyond. Your continued involvement and support will enable this commitment to be fulfilled. 

A note from you to his widow Dawn Fincher would be an encouragement and appreciated by the family. Her email is dawnof5@aol.com or by mail 4072 NW 37th Terrace 32606. 

If you would like to give to AVM in honor of Joe and to assist in this time of transition you can send your support to Amazon Vision Ministry PO Box 357595, Gainesville, FL 32635. You can also give on-line at AmazonVisionMinistries.com. If you would like for it to be in honor of Joe please indicate so we can let the family know. 

Thank you for all, 

Pastor Gary 

Founder AVM

My friend and brother in Christ, Joe Fincher, went to be with the Lord on September 5. Below is the excerpt from my words at his Celebration of Life service held September 13 at Westside Baptist Church.

Joe arrived in heaven last Saturday. I imagine his first question was likely, “Where’s the coffee?” You see, Joe loved coffee. When we were in Israel two years ago, we had a bad cup. Joe said to me, “I have been to two world fairs and a goat roping contest but never had coffee this bad. It’s battery acid.” He immediately told the waiter, “Give us another cup!” 

In the Lord’s gracious providence, I was by Joe’s bedside in Shands ICU when the Lord called him home. Though sedated, he had a pulse and some slight movements. While I was sharing the last scripture that I had selected for him, he opened his eyes, looked up and drew his last breath. His wife Dawn, my wife Ingrid and I sang two hymns over him that expressed our love, and we each said a prayer of gratitude and provision for the family. Joe loved the sunsets in the Keys and on the Amazon River. The Lord granted Joe a beautiful last sunset that evening with family, scripture, prayer and singing as the sun dropped behind the horizon.

I want to frame my message around a few scriptures I shared with Joe in those final moments. It is personal and contextual to encourage the family. At the same time, my hope is that it adds value to your life–for the rest of your life–with much to think and pray about.  In the midst of our sadness, I want us all to leave encouraged, comforted and challenged.

The first scripture was Psalm 73:28: “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” The second was Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Before I was Joe’s friend, I was his Pastor. In 1984, Joe and his family came to Westside and it has been my privilege to see their three daughters come to faith, baptize them, perform their wedding ceremonies, and now to know and love their grandchildren. If his older grandchildren don’t linger and I do, I may see them married as well!

Dawn, I asked the Lord for a special verse to encourage you today and He gave me Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel and watch over you.”

To Joe’s daughters, I want to remind you that the Bible teaches to “honor your parents is to honor the Lord.” You have honored and loved your dad well.

To his three son-in-laws, I want to say, Joe has deeply influenced your life and I know you have committed to caring for his daughters and forwarding his legacy of faith.

To his grandchildren, the Bible says “grandchildren are a blessing from the Lord.” I want you to know that the mention of one of you always brought a smile to Joe’s face. 

To Judy, Joe loves you as his sister. I heard you say, “Joe was always my protector,” and what a wonderful gift that was to you.

Joe was a Committed Christian 

Joe led a family of faith, which is a heritage from the Lord, and we rejoice with you. He loved his family. That’s not only my observation, but my experience and their testimony. Though he faced difficulty growing up in his own family, he was given the opportunity to know Christ at an early age. He received awards for consistent Sunday School attendance and was once known to be the only one at church on a blizzard Sunday, other than the member who came to open the doors.

Early on in his life through his faith in Christ, Joe could say from his own heart the lyrics we sang from “This Blood”:

“My sins were gone, my sins were forgot,

I’ve come to tell you he’s alive,

He lives to make me whole.

I owe my life, my all,

And He’s coming back for you!”

That early decision for Christ made all the difference in not only his life, but also for two generations of his family and literally thousands around the globe. He loved the Lord and he loved his family until the end. It was a special gift God gave them to all be together in the Florida Keys just before he returned and fell ill. Memories were made there that will last a lifetime…part of the sunset the Lord gave Joe.

Joe also loved his church. He would say now and again over the years, “Westside is the only church I have ever been a part of that had consistent unity and never split.” He was so grateful and proud of that experience for he and his family. And so was I.

He was the kind of church member that encouraged his Pastor and the people. He was faithful in giving the tithe and giving generously. In 2001, we were able to relocate Westside Baptist on time and under budget because of the generosity of Joe and Dawn and so many other church family members. It was a testimony to the faith of our lay leadership and church family. It was a glorious day when hundreds of our church family members marched down Newberry Road from the old site to the current beautiful land the Lord miraculously enabled us to purchase. Today, the church steeple you can see point toward heaven is because of the generosity of Joe and Dawn.

Joe also took church attendance seriously and was a constant in Sunday School, (he and Dawn were in my late wife, Freda’s class). He was deeply involved in events like the Wild Beast Feast, providing game and excellent options for the silent auction (like their place in the Florida Keys). Through staff leadership and strong involvement from the church family, the annual event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for the youth ministry. Those resources contributed to many youth coming to know Christ, and being mentored into strong leaders or committed to vocational ministry.

Joe owned the Gator shop, had part interest in Gator Plus and was also supportive of Westside’s “Gator Day.” It was the primary event for the next year’s ministry, preparing and training several hundred lay leaders. It was so important that we would say “so goes Gator day - so goes the year.” Joe and his family left a deep imprint of support for leaders and ministry direction.

In the last 36 years, I can’t think of any ministry that has not benefited in some way by the commitment of Joe and his family. Along with dozens of others like them, Joe and Dawn were deeply committed to investing spiritually, financially and relationally to Westside. That investment grew a small group of huddled believers into a global influence for the Kingdom of God. We enjoy the ministry of a church like Westside today because of the focus, sacrifice, hard work and strong faith of those who have gone before us. To honor them and our heritage is to honor the God who empowers a righteous heritage.

Part of Joe’s heritage also includes family members fighting in WWII. His dad was a paratrooper and part of the men who stormed the beaches at Normandy, experienced the hell of it, and survived it and other missions behind the lines. For his bravery and sacrifice, his dad received the Purple Heart. In this grievous day in America when we see the Bible and the flag burned on the streets here, remember those who died on 9/11, and see our country fighting for her soul, it is an honor to Joe and his family to have the Christian flag, and the American flag before us today. Both serve as a tribute to the heritage of those who have paid and are paying the awful price for the freedom we enjoy. Joe would have pledged both many times:

“I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Saviour for whose Kingdom it stands; one Saviour, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.”

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Joe was a churchman. It’s fitting that we gather in church for the celebration of his life. He was also a mission leader. Although his business kept him on the road traveling for many years, he was supportive of missions before he was able to go himself. Then, one day at the Center for Performing Arts, where we presented Westside’s Easter Passion Celebration sharing the gospel with the city, Joe asked me to meet him in front of the auditorium. He said, “I told you the day would come when I would go. So, I am telling now, anywhere, anytime, anyway.” It was that kind of missional thinking that marked the early believers, and Joe lived it out the next 25 years. If fact, he was planning his next trip before this year’s end.

Shortly after making that commitment, he boarded a plane with me and four other pastors to a pioneer area of Brazil. That might have been the first time of many that he said, “This is a fine mess you got me into!” That first trip established a mission partnership to work in the city of Boa Vista. At the end of the three-year partnership, 17 churches were planted, a city Christian business men’s group was formed, and a women’s pregnancy center was birthed. A Bible Institute was also formed by working with the city government and doors were opened for sharing the gospel into the schools.

The second trip into Brazil, Joe wanted to go to the Amazon River to do…what? Yes, he wanted to fish for peacock bass and share the gospel. My son, John was with us. We fished, and of course, Joe caught the first and the biggest fish or so he said. Then we went into a few of the 44,000Ribeirinho villagesand shared the gospel with those who had never heard the name Jesus Christ. 

That experience birthed Amazon Vision Ministries (AVM) of which Joe is a co-founder. From the beginning, we coordinated our efforts with the International Missions Board (IMB) and the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC). Now AVM is approaching its 20th Anniversary! According to Eli Pares, our Brazilian leader with us from the beginning, the Lord has graciously allowed us to see His Hand with 30,000 people who have come to Christ, 235,560 seen medically and 146,600 dentally, 40,000 seen for optometry, 19 men called as Pastors, 25 churches planted among 478 villages, 125 leaders trained and now leaders training leaders. We have river property in Paracatuba with the vision to yet build a training center. God has indeed favored the faith, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who carried the love of Christ to those who had never heard his name.

The vision of AVM is to “bring the hope of Christ to the West Amazon Basin.” It took 18 years, but two years ago we arrived in Leticia, Columbia (the west end of the Amazon) where Brazil, Peru and Columbia meet. The gospel has now been spread through villages along the approximately 2,000 miles of river terrain.

If he were here, Joe would say “thank you” for making the vision become a reality and for seeing this work grow year after year. It’s difficult to envision AVM without Joe Fincher. But if he was here today he would say, “It’s hard not to see AVM moving forward until we have saturated the villages with the good news of the gospel. There is work still to be done, let’s do it!”

His commitment to “anywhere, anytime, anyway” was not just for Brazil but for the nations. It was for Greece, where a church was planted in Athens, the city where the Apostle Paul preached the gospel in a hostile environment. And it was for Kenya, Africa to help a struggling Baptist Seminary in Nairobi and locate an unreached people group, now known as the Tharaka and Turakana people. It was here that Joe and I met Linus Kirimi, who has since planted 27 churches, trained leaders, provided for two orphanages and is feeding the Tharaka people in a time of severe drought, locusts and COVID. 

It was in West Africa, South Africa, and the Congo where we have come alongside our gallant missionaries, Jeff and Barbara Singerman, as they spread the gospel through storytelling and music.

It was in China to reach the Yao people, an unreached people group high in the Southwestern mountain range. After 12 years of sharing the gospel and training leaders, according to our primary International Mission Board guide and translator, 600 churches were planted among the Yao people!!

It was also for Peru where we found the Ayacucho unreached people group after hiking 12,000 to 13,000 feet in the Andes mountains. This was the most physically demanding mission trip of all. We stayed in partnership for the Ayacucho for years and now there are churches spread across the mountain range. (On this trip when we finally returned to the city of Lima, Joe found a coffee shop and came out with two venti-size cups-one in each hand!)

And it was also for Argentina to advance the great work of Word of Life. Joe developed many friends there who grieve his loss, give thanks for his support and celebrate his life of love and contribution. I recently received a message from one of those friends, Danielle Noeagra, who we first met there 20 years ago. He expressed his gratitude for a recent gift of support.

Finally, it was for Israel, where a spiritual journey was turned into a mission opportunity to support those working under dangerous circumstances in closed countries.

Among these commitments to the nations, Joe was dedicated to praying and supporting Global Missions 365, a non-profit mission that my wife, Ingrid and I lead with 13 partners in seven counties.

Joe and I liked to say we were “partners in crime, stealing the souls of men from the evil one.” For Joe, missions was not a sight seeing tour, a spiritualized vacation, or an opportunity to travel with good people. It was a passion for Jesus, a personal investment and risk. It was all about sharing the gospel and trusting God for measurable outcomes. He left a lasting imprint of a man of faith and courage everywhere he went.

The Apostle Paul said in Acts 20: 21, 24, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus....I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to God’s grace.” That’s a strong statement and I would guess beyond the experience of most of us. But I’ve seen Joe go to the hard and hostile places and with conviction say, “We are going to share the gospel here even if the hair lips the boogey man.” I’m not sure what that meant other than let’s get it done.” 

I pray that Joe’s passion would increase among us as we ask God to forgive our lethargy and compromise. May revival be brought to our hearts for God’s mandate to share the gospel across the street and around the globe.

Family, church and mission defined his focus. That was my relationship with Joe as Pastor.

Joe was a True Friend

The second Scripture I shared with him was as his friend. Joe and I shared a deep friendship and he was always positive and didn’t complain, no matter the circumstances. That’s one reason I liked to travel with him. He was always philosophizing or had a joke or a story to tell. He had a love for adventure, whether it was riding Snake Mountain on a Harley, snow skiing in Utah, water skiing in Florida, scuba diving or fishing in the Keys, hunting in Argentina, pulling in sailfish in Costa Rica or hanging on a zip line!

While we wrestled with the issues of ministry and missions, we walked together as friends through the changing circumstances of life and family. My late wife, Freda, fought a 10-year health battle, enduring two stem cell transplants and primary treatment a thousand miles away in Arkansas. It was Joe, as a friend, who stayed in faith with me through the painful “rollercoaster experience.” I was supported through his prayers and the prayers of our precious children, beloved church family and friends around the world. Although the time ended up being the hardest imaginable personally, it was the most blessed with the church relocation and growth locally and globally. Joe was always there, never doubting. I will always be indebted to him (and all the others) who were there until her last breath. 

There have been sayings, so called “Joeisms” I want to share a few that have encouraged me along the way. They helped me stay focused when every chip seemed faced down.

•      Love is the weapon that kills all hate. (as his son-in-law Donniesaid, “He could go to war with you in an argument and love you and have your back the whole time”).

•      Forgiveness kills all fear.

•      Proper prior planning prevents poor performance, produces a paycheck and promotes prosperity” (This one is in my new book “CLARIFY SIMPLIFY AMPLIFY”)

•      Grace makes opportunity - faith takes opportunity.

•      Whoever does the right thing first is the most powerful person in the room.

•      Patience is how you act while you wait.

•      Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity.

•      Stop being concerned about how long you’re going to live. Be concerned about how you live.

•      We live life forward but we understand it backwards.

A few life lessons were reinforced in my life through my friendship with Joe. Again, everyone can learn from them:

•      STAND firm in what you believe. He would say, “People have a lot of differing agendas for your life instead of helping you find and live out yourcalling. Stand with your shoulders squared. Do not become small for people who refuse to grow.”

•      NEVER give up. As he would say, “The impossible I can do quickly, the easy will take a while” or “this may be harder than a woodpecker’s lips in a petrified forest but we will get it done.”

•      GIVE the benefit of the doubt. Assume others may know something you don’t. That’s what you would want and need if the situation was reversed.

•      ENJOY life. Yes, work hard, and yes life can be hard, but still enjoy the journey. Joe would say from time to time, “If I am sitting on my porch at age 85, I want to be talking about what I did, not what I regretted not doing.”

I liked his definition of success. “Success is the continual accomplishment of worthwhile goals and being balanced in these five areas of life; spiritual, family, financial, emotional and physical,” he said. “That way, you can enjoy your life and help others enjoy theirs.”

•      STAY in faith. He would often quote Romans 4:17: “The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” No matter how good things are or how bad they get, stay in faith and call things that are not as though they were.

•      PRAY about everything, all the time. He served as one of a 100 men in our church as a Pastor Prayer Partner. Those men gave me strength through prayer when I had, at times, no strength of my own left to give. Moreover, he was faithful in the 6 a.m. Men’s Prayer Group on Monday mornings. That same group prayed for you Dawn and your family.

Joe recognized prayer as key in the Christian life. He would say, “Dynamic living is free of fear and worry; a life filled with expectation and joy all the time. That’s only possible through prayer”. Prayer was a part of who he was, even at the end of his life. When he was being taken into ICU, he had Dawn call Pastor David Chauncey to ask the church to pray. He asked her to call me to pray with him. I was meeting with the new Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Director, Noah Wilbanks when they called, so we prayed together. Then, Dawn called two days later via FaceTime and Joe, on a ventilator, hardly able to speak, but we prayed together.

I sent this text to Joe after we prayed and Dawn read it to him:

“Joe, this is BDR (Big Daddy Rabbit)! I am speaking to SBD (Sir Big Dawg)! God has this! It was a special moment when we talked by phone today and prayed together. We have prayed many times together, many places, under many different circumstances, but none more special than this moment when we met with God before His throne, appealing for the great Physician to do His miraculous work. And He is doing it - right now - at work in your body and your inmost being. The angels surround you, your family is beside you, and as always I am fighting the spiritual warfare with you.

I am keeping the coffee hot! We will be drinking together soon!

I love you Joe, my friend and "partner in crime,” taking down the spiritual enemy and strongholds! We will be back on the frontline together soon!” PG

Well, we’re both still on the front line, just different ones now. Mine is here and his is there. We will be on the same front line again one day in God’s providence.

There were so many other lessons that he taught simply by living them out in his daily life. We are all stronger for them. Joe was a friend. One definition of friend is “the one who walks in when others walk out”. I’ve always liked that definition. Joe never walked out - no matter what. Another definition is “a true friend is one who helps you become your best self.” Joe was that.

This is a transcript of a handwritten note that I sent Joe in 2004:

4/01/04

Joe,

This note—now on paper—has been written in my heart for sometime. A person is fortunate to have even the number of friends you can count on one hand. Men who are honest, open, committed, non-judgmental, and supportive. This is the kind of friend you have become to me. And I value our friendship deeply.

I found myself time and again wanting to do something for you. But what can be done for a man who already has what money can buy and about everything he wants? What I think I can give is simply the best of myself—to be honest, open and supportive—and to seek to love you in ways that call both of us to our best selves. For that I’m committed.

Pastor & Friend,

Gary

That sums up the friendship. We were always calling one another to our best selves, away from fear, mediocrity, and less than best responses to the changing circumstances of life. We called for higher values, larger visions and servant living. Fortunate among men and women are those who have such a friend. As Glenn Bess aid the other day, “The more I was around Joe, the better I wanted to be”.

Joe was a fellow Sojourner

We both knew we were on a journey to an ultimate destination. The scripture I was reading when Joe went home was Revelation 19: 6-8: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

As I was reading, in that moment, Joe opened his eyes and looked up. I believe he met Jesus and Joe “rejoiced and was glad” as he met the Lord “bright and clean” by the blood of Jesus. As the lyrics of the song say, “This Blood,” proclaim:

“There is a blood that cost a life,

That paid my way, death it’s price,

When it flowed, down from the cross,

My sins were gone, My sins forgot,

So I’ve come to tell you he’s alive!”

The Cross of Christ was a focal point of Joe’s life. He wore a shirt often that had a spike in the form of a cross and the words, “This shirt is illegal in 31 countries.” He loved the hymn, “ The Old Rugged Cross”. Joe was not ashamed of the gospel and lived out Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Yes, Joe has taken his place on a different front line. How do we know? The Bible teaches that Jesus prepared a place for us (John 14:1-3). It’s a place of worship (Rev 5:13), celebration (Rev 19: 3), good food (Matthew 8:6), and relationships with big guys like Abraham and Moses, Peter and Paul and loved ones in the faith (Luke 16:19-31). 

It is also a place of service as referenced in so many scriptures:

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”  (Rev.1:5-6 NIV)

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10 NIV)

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Rev. 22:3 NIV)

His “servants will serve Him!” Joe served Him in his life here and he is serving Him right now there. As Joe might say, “You can bet your movie money on that.”

This celebration of the faith and life of Joe, but this service is not about Joe. It’s about Christ in Joe and through Joe. It’s about Joe trusting in the “shed blood of Christ” so he could proclaim (from “This Blood” again):

“My sins were gone, my sins were forgot

He lives to make me whole

I owe my life, my all

He’s coming back for you!”

It’s about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: “For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”

It’s about the Son of Man, who was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men who put Him to death (Acts 2:23).

It’s about how “…He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

It’s about why “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our salvation” (Romans 4:25).

Joe was not a perfect man, he was forgiven by the blood of the perfect God man Jesus Christ. There are no perfect among us here–there is not a one of us who doesn’t stand in need of the Lord’s mercy, grace and forgiveness. The perfect One is among us, and He is the one who can and will forgive us and put us right with God. This is why the Bible teaches we should love, forgive and encourage one another because we all stand in need of forgiveness.

In keeping with the practice of the Prophets, the Apostles, the early lay leaders and believers, and in keeping with the desire of Joe, I extend to you an invitation on behalf of Christ to receive Christ as your savior. The Bible says:

“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NIV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9. NIV)

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13 NIV)

Let’s bow together.

You can make a life changing decision right now. If you would like to confess your sins and receive forgiveness and as the Bible says, “Become a new creation in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV) just quietly look up at me and I will pray with you. I am including those of you who are with us by live stream. You can pray right where you are. 

Maybe you are a believer but have drifted from your faith and commitment, and like the Apostle Peter, you are ready to renew your love and commitment to the Lord. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you.

Maybe as a follower of Christ you have become apathetic toward the mission mandate the Lord gave to all of us to share the gospel with others close by and far away. The Word of God is clear on this mandate:

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor. 5:15 NIV)

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV)

Now, you are ready to own your personal responsibility to this end and practice what you believe and teach. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you for open doors to go.

One other thing I want to make clear. Although the church gathering has been hindered with COVID, the Bible teaches the church is the body of Christ and that we are “not to give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

You may be ready to find a church home, a place to grow and serve. This church or any other Bible believing church will welcome you. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you to find a church family.

Amen!

Thank you for being here to honor Joe and support his family. Some of you are from a distance…Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Florida and more. Thank you for those who have joined us by live streaming from around the country and world.

The last hymn we sang over Joe was “He Lives”. Pastor Mike Taylor is coming to lead us in singing together. Then Bill Lassiter, charter member of Westside and man of prayer, will lead is in our Benediction.

P.S. 

You will be pleased to know that there were those who responded to every appeal in the invitation, except to join the church. Among those, the family celebrated the son in law of Joe confessing Christ as Saviour. He was baptized a few days later. Moreover, not only responses to the invitation in the service, but we have many responses by email, text and calls from those ready to participate in the missions endeavor as Richard Jennings said, in regard to his team, “First and foremost we all felt the need to get back to the front lines.”

I trust that all of us who heard and read this message will be strengthened in their faith in the Lord, and on our commitment to His COMMISSION.

P.S.S.

The complete memorial service can be viewed on youtube by searching “Joe Fincher”.

Intro to Fincher Memorial 

 By Gary Crawford

AVM Co-founder and friend, Joe Fincher went home to be with the Lord September 5. 2020. As the Bible says, “Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev 14:13) 

Below is the message I shared at his memorial service September 13, 2020 at Westside Baptist Church, Gainesville, Fl. It is my prayer that you will find gratitude in your heart for a life well lived, encouragement toward your own God given dreams, and a challenge to pursue God’s calling upon your own life. 

It is my commitment and the commitment of the AVM Board, AVM participants, and team leaders to move forward in faith toward a strong river ministry in 2021 and beyond. Your continued involvement and support will enable this commitment to be fulfilled. 

A note from you to his widow Dawn Fincher would be an encouragement and appreciated by the family. Her email is dawnof5@aol.com or by mail 4072 NW 37th Terrace 32606. 

If you would like to give to AVM in honor of Joe and to assist in this time of transition you can send your support to Amazon Vision Ministry PO Box 357595, Gainesville, FL 32635. You can also give on-line at AmazonVisionMinistries.com. If you would like for it to be in honor of Joe please indicate so we can let the family know. 

Thank you for all, 

Pastor Gary 

Founder AVM

My friend and brother in Christ, Joe Fincher, went to be with the Lord on September 5. Below is the excerpt from my words at his Celebration of Life service held September 13 at Westside Baptist Church.

Joe arrived in heaven last Saturday. I imagine his first question was likely, “Where’s the coffee?” You see, Joe loved coffee. When we were in Israel two years ago, we had a bad cup. Joe said to me, “I have been to two world fairs and a goat roping contest but never had coffee this bad. It’s battery acid.” He immediately told the waiter, “Give us another cup!” 

In the Lord’s gracious providence, I was by Joe’s bedside in Shands ICU when the Lord called him home. Though sedated, he had a pulse and some slight movements. While I was sharing the last scripture that I had selected for him, he opened his eyes, looked up and drew his last breath. His wife Dawn, my wife Ingrid and I sang two hymns over him that expressed our love, and we each said a prayer of gratitude and provision for the family. Joe loved the sunsets in the Keys and on the Amazon River. The Lord granted Joe a beautiful last sunset that evening with family, scripture, prayer and singing as the sun dropped behind the horizon.

I want to frame my message around a few scriptures I shared with Joe in those final moments. It is personal and contextual to encourage the family. At the same time, my hope is that it adds value to your life–for the rest of your life–with much to think and pray about.  In the midst of our sadness, I want us all to leave encouraged, comforted and challenged.

The first scripture was Psalm 73:28: “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” The second was Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Before I was Joe’s friend, I was his Pastor. In 1984, Joe and his family came to Westside and it has been my privilege to see their three daughters come to faith, baptize them, perform their wedding ceremonies, and now to know and love their grandchildren. If his older grandchildren don’t linger and I do, I may see them married as well!

Dawn, I asked the Lord for a special verse to encourage you today and He gave me Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel and watch over you.”

To Joe’s daughters, I want to remind you that the Bible teaches to “honor your parents is to honor the Lord.” You have honored and loved your dad well.

To his three son-in-laws, I want to say, Joe has deeply influenced your life and I know you have committed to caring for his daughters and forwarding his legacy of faith.

To his grandchildren, the Bible says “grandchildren are a blessing from the Lord.” I want you to know that the mention of one of you always brought a smile to Joe’s face. 

To Judy, Joe loves you as his sister. I heard you say, “Joe was always my protector,” and what a wonderful gift that was to you.

Joe was a Committed Christian 

Joe led a family of faith, which is a heritage from the Lord, and we rejoice with you. He loved his family. That’s not only my observation, but my experience and their testimony. Though he faced difficulty growing up in his own family, he was given the opportunity to know Christ at an early age. He received awards for consistent Sunday School attendance and was once known to be the only one at church on a blizzard Sunday, other than the member who came to open the doors.

Early on in his life through his faith in Christ, Joe could say from his own heart the lyrics we sang from “This Blood”:

“My sins were gone, my sins were forgot,

I’ve come to tell you he’s alive,

He lives to make me whole.

I owe my life, my all,

And He’s coming back for you!”

That early decision for Christ made all the difference in not only his life, but also for two generations of his family and literally thousands around the globe. He loved the Lord and he loved his family until the end. It was a special gift God gave them to all be together in the Florida Keys just before he returned and fell ill. Memories were made there that will last a lifetime…part of the sunset the Lord gave Joe.

Joe also loved his church. He would say now and again over the years, “Westside is the only church I have ever been a part of that had consistent unity and never split.” He was so grateful and proud of that experience for he and his family. And so was I.

He was the kind of church member that encouraged his Pastor and the people. He was faithful in giving the tithe and giving generously. In 2001, we were able to relocate Westside Baptist on time and under budget because of the generosity of Joe and Dawn and so many other church family members. It was a testimony to the faith of our lay leadership and church family. It was a glorious day when hundreds of our church family members marched down Newberry Road from the old site to the current beautiful land the Lord miraculously enabled us to purchase. Today, the church steeple you can see point toward heaven is because of the generosity of Joe and Dawn.

Joe also took church attendance seriously and was a constant in Sunday School, (he and Dawn were in my late wife, Freda’s class). He was deeply involved in events like the Wild Beast Feast, providing game and excellent options for the silent auction (like their place in the Florida Keys). Through staff leadership and strong involvement from the church family, the annual event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for the youth ministry. Those resources contributed to many youth coming to know Christ, and being mentored into strong leaders or committed to vocational ministry.

Joe owned the Gator shop, had part interest in Gator Plus and was also supportive of Westside’s “Gator Day.” It was the primary event for the next year’s ministry, preparing and training several hundred lay leaders. It was so important that we would say “so goes Gator day - so goes the year.” Joe and his family left a deep imprint of support for leaders and ministry direction.

In the last 36 years, I can’t think of any ministry that has not benefited in some way by the commitment of Joe and his family. Along with dozens of others like them, Joe and Dawn were deeply committed to investing spiritually, financially and relationally to Westside. That investment grew a small group of huddled believers into a global influence for the Kingdom of God. We enjoy the ministry of a church like Westside today because of the focus, sacrifice, hard work and strong faith of those who have gone before us. To honor them and our heritage is to honor the God who empowers a righteous heritage.

Part of Joe’s heritage also includes family members fighting in WWII. His dad was a paratrooper and part of the men who stormed the beaches at Normandy, experienced the hell of it, and survived it and other missions behind the lines. For his bravery and sacrifice, his dad received the Purple Heart. In this grievous day in America when we see the Bible and the flag burned on the streets here, remember those who died on 9/11, and see our country fighting for her soul, it is an honor to Joe and his family to have the Christian flag, and the American flag before us today. Both serve as a tribute to the heritage of those who have paid and are paying the awful price for the freedom we enjoy. Joe would have pledged both many times:

“I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Saviour for whose Kingdom it stands; one Saviour, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.”

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Joe was a churchman. It’s fitting that we gather in church for the celebration of his life. He was also a mission leader. Although his business kept him on the road traveling for many years, he was supportive of missions before he was able to go himself. Then, one day at the Center for Performing Arts, where we presented Westside’s Easter Passion Celebration sharing the gospel with the city, Joe asked me to meet him in front of the auditorium. He said, “I told you the day would come when I would go. So, I am telling now, anywhere, anytime, anyway.” It was that kind of missional thinking that marked the early believers, and Joe lived it out the next 25 years. If fact, he was planning his next trip before this year’s end.

Shortly after making that commitment, he boarded a plane with me and four other pastors to a pioneer area of Brazil. That might have been the first time of many that he said, “This is a fine mess you got me into!” That first trip established a mission partnership to work in the city of Boa Vista. At the end of the three-year partnership, 17 churches were planted, a city Christian business men’s group was formed, and a women’s pregnancy center was birthed. A Bible Institute was also formed by working with the city government and doors were opened for sharing the gospel into the schools.

The second trip into Brazil, Joe wanted to go to the Amazon River to do…what? Yes, he wanted to fish for peacock bass and share the gospel. My son, John was with us. We fished, and of course, Joe caught the first and the biggest fish or so he said. Then we went into a few of the 44,000Ribeirinho villagesand shared the gospel with those who had never heard the name Jesus Christ. 

That experience birthed Amazon Vision Ministries (AVM) of which Joe is a co-founder. From the beginning, we coordinated our efforts with the International Missions Board (IMB) and the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC). Now AVM is approaching its 20th Anniversary! According to Eli Pares, our Brazilian leader with us from the beginning, the Lord has graciously allowed us to see His Hand with 30,000 people who have come to Christ, 235,560 seen medically and 146,600 dentally, 40,000 seen for optometry, 19 men called as Pastors, 25 churches planted among 478 villages, 125 leaders trained and now leaders training leaders. We have river property in Paracatuba with the vision to yet build a training center. God has indeed favored the faith, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who carried the love of Christ to those who had never heard his name.

The vision of AVM is to “bring the hope of Christ to the West Amazon Basin.” It took 18 years, but two years ago we arrived in Leticia, Columbia (the west end of the Amazon) where Brazil, Peru and Columbia meet. The gospel has now been spread through villages along the approximately 2,000 miles of river terrain.

If he were here, Joe would say “thank you” for making the vision become a reality and for seeing this work grow year after year. It’s difficult to envision AVM without Joe Fincher. But if he was here today he would say, “It’s hard not to see AVM moving forward until we have saturated the villages with the good news of the gospel. There is work still to be done, let’s do it!”

His commitment to “anywhere, anytime, anyway” was not just for Brazil but for the nations. It was for Greece, where a church was planted in Athens, the city where the Apostle Paul preached the gospel in a hostile environment. And it was for Kenya, Africa to help a struggling Baptist Seminary in Nairobi and locate an unreached people group, now known as the Tharaka and Turakana people. It was here that Joe and I met Linus Kirimi, who has since planted 27 churches, trained leaders, provided for two orphanages and is feeding the Tharaka people in a time of severe drought, locusts and COVID. 

It was in West Africa, South Africa, and the Congo where we have come alongside our gallant missionaries, Jeff and Barbara Singerman, as they spread the gospel through storytelling and music.

It was in China to reach the Yao people, an unreached people group high in the Southwestern mountain range. After 12 years of sharing the gospel and training leaders, according to our primary International Mission Board guide and translator, 600 churches were planted among the Yao people!!

It was also for Peru where we found the Ayacucho unreached people group after hiking 12,000 to 13,000 feet in the Andes mountains. This was the most physically demanding mission trip of all. We stayed in partnership for the Ayacucho for years and now there are churches spread across the mountain range. (On this trip when we finally returned to the city of Lima, Joe found a coffee shop and came out with two venti-size cups-one in each hand!)

And it was also for Argentina to advance the great work of Word of Life. Joe developed many friends there who grieve his loss, give thanks for his support and celebrate his life of love and contribution. I recently received a message from one of those friends, Danielle Noeagra, who we first met there 20 years ago. He expressed his gratitude for a recent gift of support.

Finally, it was for Israel, where a spiritual journey was turned into a mission opportunity to support those working under dangerous circumstances in closed countries.

Among these commitments to the nations, Joe was dedicated to praying and supporting Global Missions 365, a non-profit mission that my wife, Ingrid and I lead with 13 partners in seven counties.

Joe and I liked to say we were “partners in crime, stealing the souls of men from the evil one.” For Joe, missions was not a sight seeing tour, a spiritualized vacation, or an opportunity to travel with good people. It was a passion for Jesus, a personal investment and risk. It was all about sharing the gospel and trusting God for measurable outcomes. He left a lasting imprint of a man of faith and courage everywhere he went.

The Apostle Paul said in Acts 20: 21, 24, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus....I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to God’s grace.” That’s a strong statement and I would guess beyond the experience of most of us. But I’ve seen Joe go to the hard and hostile places and with conviction say, “We are going to share the gospel here even if the hair lips the boogey man.” I’m not sure what that meant other than let’s get it done.” 

I pray that Joe’s passion would increase among us as we ask God to forgive our lethargy and compromise. May revival be brought to our hearts for God’s mandate to share the gospel across the street and around the globe.

Family, church and mission defined his focus. That was my relationship with Joe as Pastor.

Joe was a True Friend

The second Scripture I shared with him was as his friend. Joe and I shared a deep friendship and he was always positive and didn’t complain, no matter the circumstances. That’s one reason I liked to travel with him. He was always philosophizing or had a joke or a story to tell. He had a love for adventure, whether it was riding Snake Mountain on a Harley, snow skiing in Utah, water skiing in Florida, scuba diving or fishing in the Keys, hunting in Argentina, pulling in sailfish in Costa Rica or hanging on a zip line!

While we wrestled with the issues of ministry and missions, we walked together as friends through the changing circumstances of life and family. My late wife, Freda, fought a 10-year health battle, enduring two stem cell transplants and primary treatment a thousand miles away in Arkansas. It was Joe, as a friend, who stayed in faith with me through the painful “rollercoaster experience.” I was supported through his prayers and the prayers of our precious children, beloved church family and friends around the world. Although the time ended up being the hardest imaginable personally, it was the most blessed with the church relocation and growth locally and globally. Joe was always there, never doubting. I will always be indebted to him (and all the others) who were there until her last breath. 

There have been sayings, so called “Joeisms” I want to share a few that have encouraged me along the way. They helped me stay focused when every chip seemed faced down.

•      Love is the weapon that kills all hate. (as his son-in-law Donniesaid, “He could go to war with you in an argument and love you and have your back the whole time”).

•      Forgiveness kills all fear.

•      Proper prior planning prevents poor performance, produces a paycheck and promotes prosperity” (This one is in my new book “CLARIFY SIMPLIFY AMPLIFY”)

•      Grace makes opportunity - faith takes opportunity.

•      Whoever does the right thing first is the most powerful person in the room.

•      Patience is how you act while you wait.

•      Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity.

•      Stop being concerned about how long you’re going to live. Be concerned about how you live.

•      We live life forward but we understand it backwards.

A few life lessons were reinforced in my life through my friendship with Joe. Again, everyone can learn from them:

•      STAND firm in what you believe. He would say, “People have a lot of differing agendas for your life instead of helping you find and live out yourcalling. Stand with your shoulders squared. Do not become small for people who refuse to grow.”

•      NEVER give up. As he would say, “The impossible I can do quickly, the easy will take a while” or “this may be harder than a woodpecker’s lips in a petrified forest but we will get it done.”

•      GIVE the benefit of the doubt. Assume others may know something you don’t. That’s what you would want and need if the situation was reversed.

•      ENJOY life. Yes, work hard, and yes life can be hard, but still enjoy the journey. Joe would say from time to time, “If I am sitting on my porch at age 85, I want to be talking about what I did, not what I regretted not doing.”

I liked his definition of success. “Success is the continual accomplishment of worthwhile goals and being balanced in these five areas of life; spiritual, family, financial, emotional and physical,” he said. “That way, you can enjoy your life and help others enjoy theirs.”

•      STAY in faith. He would often quote Romans 4:17: “The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” No matter how good things are or how bad they get, stay in faith and call things that are not as though they were.

•      PRAY about everything, all the time. He served as one of a 100 men in our church as a Pastor Prayer Partner. Those men gave me strength through prayer when I had, at times, no strength of my own left to give. Moreover, he was faithful in the 6 a.m. Men’s Prayer Group on Monday mornings. That same group prayed for you Dawn and your family.

Joe recognized prayer as key in the Christian life. He would say, “Dynamic living is free of fear and worry; a life filled with expectation and joy all the time. That’s only possible through prayer”. Prayer was a part of who he was, even at the end of his life. When he was being taken into ICU, he had Dawn call Pastor David Chauncey to ask the church to pray. He asked her to call me to pray with him. I was meeting with the new Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Director, Noah Wilbanks when they called, so we prayed together. Then, Dawn called two days later via FaceTime and Joe, on a ventilator, hardly able to speak, but we prayed together.

I sent this text to Joe after we prayed and Dawn read it to him:

“Joe, this is BDR (Big Daddy Rabbit)! I am speaking to SBD (Sir Big Dawg)! God has this! It was a special moment when we talked by phone today and prayed together. We have prayed many times together, many places, under many different circumstances, but none more special than this moment when we met with God before His throne, appealing for the great Physician to do His miraculous work. And He is doing it - right now - at work in your body and your inmost being. The angels surround you, your family is beside you, and as always I am fighting the spiritual warfare with you.

I am keeping the coffee hot! We will be drinking together soon!

I love you Joe, my friend and "partner in crime,” taking down the spiritual enemy and strongholds! We will be back on the frontline together soon!” PG

Well, we’re both still on the front line, just different ones now. Mine is here and his is there. We will be on the same front line again one day in God’s providence.

There were so many other lessons that he taught simply by living them out in his daily life. We are all stronger for them. Joe was a friend. One definition of friend is “the one who walks in when others walk out”. I’ve always liked that definition. Joe never walked out - no matter what. Another definition is “a true friend is one who helps you become your best self.” Joe was that.

This is a transcript of a handwritten note that I sent Joe in 2004:

4/01/04

Joe,

This note—now on paper—has been written in my heart for sometime. A person is fortunate to have even the number of friends you can count on one hand. Men who are honest, open, committed, non-judgmental, and supportive. This is the kind of friend you have become to me. And I value our friendship deeply.

I found myself time and again wanting to do something for you. But what can be done for a man who already has what money can buy and about everything he wants? What I think I can give is simply the best of myself—to be honest, open and supportive—and to seek to love you in ways that call both of us to our best selves. For that I’m committed.

Pastor & Friend,

Gary

That sums up the friendship. We were always calling one another to our best selves, away from fear, mediocrity, and less than best responses to the changing circumstances of life. We called for higher values, larger visions and servant living. Fortunate among men and women are those who have such a friend. As Glenn Bess aid the other day, “The more I was around Joe, the better I wanted to be”.

Joe was a fellow Sojourner

We both knew we were on a journey to an ultimate destination. The scripture I was reading when Joe went home was Revelation 19: 6-8: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

As I was reading, in that moment, Joe opened his eyes and looked up. I believe he met Jesus and Joe “rejoiced and was glad” as he met the Lord “bright and clean” by the blood of Jesus. As the lyrics of the song say, “This Blood,” proclaim:

“There is a blood that cost a life,

That paid my way, death it’s price,

When it flowed, down from the cross,

My sins were gone, My sins forgot,

So I’ve come to tell you he’s alive!”

The Cross of Christ was a focal point of Joe’s life. He wore a shirt often that had a spike in the form of a cross and the words, “This shirt is illegal in 31 countries.” He loved the hymn, “ The Old Rugged Cross”. Joe was not ashamed of the gospel and lived out Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Yes, Joe has taken his place on a different front line. How do we know? The Bible teaches that Jesus prepared a place for us (John 14:1-3). It’s a place of worship (Rev 5:13), celebration (Rev 19: 3), good food (Matthew 8:6), and relationships with big guys like Abraham and Moses, Peter and Paul and loved ones in the faith (Luke 16:19-31). 

It is also a place of service as referenced in so many scriptures:

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”  (Rev.1:5-6 NIV)

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10 NIV)

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Rev. 22:3 NIV)

His “servants will serve Him!” Joe served Him in his life here and he is serving Him right now there. As Joe might say, “You can bet your movie money on that.”

This celebration of the faith and life of Joe, but this service is not about Joe. It’s about Christ in Joe and through Joe. It’s about Joe trusting in the “shed blood of Christ” so he could proclaim (from “This Blood” again):

“My sins were gone, my sins were forgot

He lives to make me whole

I owe my life, my all

He’s coming back for you!”

It’s about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: “For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”

It’s about the Son of Man, who was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men who put Him to death (Acts 2:23).

It’s about how “…He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

It’s about why “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our salvation” (Romans 4:25).

Joe was not a perfect man, he was forgiven by the blood of the perfect God man Jesus Christ. There are no perfect among us here–there is not a one of us who doesn’t stand in need of the Lord’s mercy, grace and forgiveness. The perfect One is among us, and He is the one who can and will forgive us and put us right with God. This is why the Bible teaches we should love, forgive and encourage one another because we all stand in need of forgiveness.

In keeping with the practice of the Prophets, the Apostles, the early lay leaders and believers, and in keeping with the desire of Joe, I extend to you an invitation on behalf of Christ to receive Christ as your savior. The Bible says:

“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NIV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9. NIV)

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13 NIV)

Let’s bow together.

You can make a life changing decision right now. If you would like to confess your sins and receive forgiveness and as the Bible says, “Become a new creation in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV) just quietly look up at me and I will pray with you. I am including those of you who are with us by live stream. You can pray right where you are. 

Maybe you are a believer but have drifted from your faith and commitment, and like the Apostle Peter, you are ready to renew your love and commitment to the Lord. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you.

Maybe as a follower of Christ you have become apathetic toward the mission mandate the Lord gave to all of us to share the gospel with others close by and far away. The Word of God is clear on this mandate:

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor. 5:15 NIV)

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV)

Now, you are ready to own your personal responsibility to this end and practice what you believe and teach. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you for open doors to go.

One other thing I want to make clear. Although the church gathering has been hindered with COVID, the Bible teaches the church is the body of Christ and that we are “not to give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

You may be ready to find a church home, a place to grow and serve. This church or any other Bible believing church will welcome you. Quietly look up at me and I will pray with you to find a church family.

Amen!

Thank you for being here to honor Joe and support his family. Some of you are from a distance…Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Florida and more. Thank you for those who have joined us by live streaming from around the country and world.

The last hymn we sang over Joe was “He Lives”. Pastor Mike Taylor is coming to lead us in singing together. Then Bill Lassiter, charter member of Westside and man of prayer, will lead is in our Benediction.

P.S. 

You will be pleased to know that there were those who responded to every appeal in the invitation, except to join the church. Among those, the family celebrated the son in law of Joe confessing Christ as Saviour. He was baptized a few days later. Moreover, not only responses to the invitation in the service, but we have many responses by email, text and calls from those ready to participate in the missions endeavor as Richard Jennings said, in regard to his team, “First and foremost we all felt the need to get back to the front lines.”

I trust that all of us who heard and read this message will be strengthened in their faith in the Lord, and on our commitment to His COMMISSION.

P.S.S.

The complete memorial service can be viewed on youtube by searching “Joe Fincher”.