This week I was asked to lead the Homegoing service for a dear friend and brother in Christ, Marty Dykes of Chesapeake. I met Marty in the summer of 2000 when I was hired as the Associate Paster of Providence Baptist Church. He and wife Norma led a simple life, dedicated to love of the Lord and their family. Their son, Mike became the Youth Pastor and a close friend of mine. 

Marty showed his love for Christ in 3 distinct ways. First, he was a generous giver. He gave to widows, college students, needy individuals and to struggling young couples. He always tried to give quietly and anoymously. If someone were to annouce his giving, that would take the joy out of it for him. He believd his reward was in Heaven.

Secondly, he faithfully supported Missions. Getting missionaries to the field and sustaining them was a personal responsibiity to Marty. He would have rather sacrificed a vacation or a new vehicle in order to help a missionary live at a level where their needs were met. Not many of us have that level of commitment to the Great Commision. 

Thirdly, Marty was deeply conncerned about the lost. He would share Christ with anyone that the Holy Spirit gave him an opportunity to witness to. He would travel to California to witness to a cousin who was terminally ill. He would add on extra days to a trip to visit a family member whom he desired to know their standing with Christ. What an example he set!

As I shared the gospel with his immediate family, I challednged them to pick up the mantle and carrt on his work. What a great reminder to us that the things that are near to the heart of God should matter most to us. (Matthew 6:33)


                                                                                                                                                                                               --Pastor Carpenter