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A GREAT SOLDIER HAS BEEN PROMOTED (From Bro. Forrest Keener -- Oklahoma)
At 1:10 AM, EDT, Friday December 2, 2011 Brother Al Gormley was taken into the physical presence of his Lord and Savior. Brother Gormley had been the pastor of Bryan Station Baptist Church for more than forty years. He and I would totally agree that only God is great, but as far as men go, Al Gormley was a great Christian, and a wonderful soldier of the cross. He stood strong for what he believed, but he always did so with charity and grace. More than once I have known of situations where men treated him, as well as Bryan Station Baptist Church, very unkindly and unfairly, yet I repeatedly saw him react in the very way our Lord instructed him in Mat 5:44. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” He became a great friend to my ministry, and to that of Bethel Baptist Church, of Lawton OK, quite some time before I ever met him personally. From the beginning of his pastorate he had a great ministry to young ministers across this nation. After I met him, our friendship steadily grew, and I can say, I know of no man who I have cause to respect more than Al Gormley. I have known no pastor who more effectively led the church he pastored to meaningfully support mission works around the world. He had become a real part of my life, and I will greatly miss him, but not for long. We who know The Lord Jesus Christ will soon be united in a fellowship that knows neither disappointment nor parting. I will not say goodbye, but rather, See you soon, Brother AL. Forrest L. Keener ______________________________________________________________________________________
I, too, had the opportunity to know Bro. Gormley for nearly 50 years. I can say that I have never known him to be anything but a true gentleman and a man who stood on God’s Word – regardless of the cost. He had a depth of understanding in the Scriptures that few men ever achieve and he had the ability to break down a very complicated doctrine into such a simple way that even a child could understand it. Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchild. Our prayers are with Bryan Station Baptist Church as they lost a former pastor and a great friend. Wilbert L. Ellis Pastor, Grace Baptist Church Florence, KY |
