Welcome home, O blessed of My Father;
For when I was hungry, you gave me food
When I was thirsty, you gave me drink
When I was struggling, you gave me help
When I was down, you lent me your hand
When I was sick, you took care of me
And while in prison, you were there with me.
The year 2021 is still young, yet it has claimed so many lives already! I pause the ongoing weekly series to share my heart on the passing away of the man that first pastored me after I gave my life to Christ and changed from my catholic upbringing to Evangelical/Pentecostal. Reverend Silver was a teacher of the Word. He fed my desperate hunger for God’s Word, fanning a passion that has become lifelong. I was not alone, many of us students thronged to his church every Wednesday and Sunday to be fed and those classes! You must show up on time, with writing material or run the risk of being turned back – that was his zeal and the discipline he demanded.
“To have power and not abuse it, is to be truly powerful,” is my summary of Reverend Silver’s life and decades of ministry. He was not there for money and didn’t make much. He was not there for name or fame and didn’t care about those. He was there for God and He served Him with integrity to the end. He was there to teach and he taught every chance he got. He was there for God’s children and he raised not a few. He didn’t leave behind mansions we can point to, yet many giants in faith were sired under his care. Not only was he a great teacher of the Word and in the world of academics, his command of English language was impeccable and his hunger for learning, unquenchable! Any wonder the founding pastor of an Evangelical/Pentecostal Church and venerable reverend of the Anglican Church in addition to his theological qualifications, acquired degrees ranging from engineering to law.
I am not the best when it comes to staying in touch with old friends but Pastor Silver was one of the few I stayed connected to through my countless relocations. When I bore the losses of my loved ones, he was there for me. He prayed earnestly for me like a daughter and I blessed him like a father. I recall one out of many incidents: while at work one afternoon, the Holy Spirit asked me to transfer some money to him. I believe that obedience to God’s Word is a “perishable asset” meaning that it must be timely so I left everything I was doing and settled that. Not long after the transaction went through, I got a call from him, “My car has been down for weeks. Today, I asked someone to come fix it. I had no money but while the car was being fixed, I went to the bank with my faith, trusting God to make a way. I was at the bank when the alert for your deposit showed up on my phone. I walked across, picked up the money and I’m on my way home to take care of the bills.” O the joy I shared countless times with this man who knew I would do anything for him yet he never asked anything of me except to visit, and to never let my love and service to God and His people wane!
He fed many. He helped many. He taught many but I don’t know how many who truly knew how much this servant of God lived by faith, refusing to beg, to be a burden to anyone, or to resort to the popular extortion strategies engaged by many today. Reverend Silver didn’t make money but he made many great. He served full time in ministry and worked full time to take care of his responsibilities. Very deep in the Word, active in the world, and gifted with fascinating hilarity. A servant he was in the beginning, a servant he remained until the end, serving godliness in robes of authentic humility. His life was not easy but he knew how to enjoy a good belly laugh and carried his cross with dignity – a thoroughbred through and through. An example of the Christian faith in truth and in deed. He was far ahead of his time and like his Master, this world did not recognize him. But those who knew flocked around whether he was serving in the city or some remote countryside. Even though many did not realize how much he needed our help, as we celebrate the life of this man who laid a solid foundation of faith, grace and new creation realities in countless soldiers spread across the globe, may we not forget his wife and children. Rest in Jesus God’s General, enjoy the reward due your daunting labor until we meet in the palace of the King we have loved and served through highs and lows. Amen. Good night Sir.
Glory!