Dear Pastor Don, I just wanted to let you know how much I have appreciated knowing and learning from you in the past year and a half. I did not grow up in a Christian home and really had no idea what a Christian home should be like. I respect the way you shoot from the hip and tell it like it is, rather than sugar coating everything and trying to be "Politically Correct." I have talked with you one on one and listen to you on Sundays and I always come away with something to think about. I heard it said, if your Pastor does not touch your heart and make you think about how God reacts to the way you live, then you should find a new Pastor. Some of your words don't make me feel good, but when I change something I should, I feel good knowing it is pleasing to God. At the age of 39, you are the first person in my life that I can try to emulate, knowing that I will not find later on, you were a phony. Thank you for being you and may God continue to bless you and The Rock church.
Pastor Don, The sign of a great leader is one who leads by example. Your ever faithful walk with God sets an example that I have not seen equaled anywhere. I am so glad I know you and have you as my example.
Pastor Don and Sunny have been spiritual father and mother to me since 1981. Because of their diligence and faithfulness in living and teaching God's Word, I have a deeper relationship with God that continues to be the strength of my life.
I would like to say that Pastor Don and Aunt Sunny have been an integral part of my life. They have always been there for my family and me when we needed it. They never hesitated to support us and were always willing to sacrifice that we might be better off. Thank you Pastor Don and Aunt Sunny for your thoughts, prayers and blessings.
Pastor Don has always encouraged me to grow in the Lord. If not for his leadership role in my life I may not be where I am today. I consider myself very lucky to have someone who gives his life and time in such a generous way. Aunt Sunny and Pastor Don have been my spiritual parents for many, many, many years. I could never forget the love that they have shown to me over the years. I know that the Lord has led my steps to the Rock Church since I was five and I will stay with the path the Lord has shown me. I pray that the Lord would bless Pastor Don and Aunt Sunny far greater than anything we could ever do in one day!
Pastor Don, We are so blessed to have you as our Pastor. After a Sunday service, we often know we have listened to a message from God, delivered by one of His faithful and humble servants. We know this because as we talk about your sermon, we will have "heard" entirely different messages, both applicable to ourselves! We thank God for you and ask for His special blessing on you.
Pastor Don, We want to thank you for all you do for us; for the teachings that have touched our hearts and opened our eyes to where we have grown spiritually; for the examples of love and strength that you & Sunny show us daily; for being who you are. We love you and we do appreciate you, and we trust that you know that our home is always open to you and that you can always call on us if you need help. We pray daily for you and yours. May our Lord shower you with blessings.
I am blessed to be one of the sheep in your flock. A good leader lives the word he preaches. Pastor, along with teaching and spreading the Word of God, the example of the life you live is an inspiration and blessing to all that know you. Seeing is more convincing than hearing. You are a great leader in God's army, and your flock is all the better for it because of your leadership.
Pastor and Sunny, I appreciate you mostly because your life is a testimony as to what the Christian life is all about. I know that the trials you have endured the last couple of years have been heartbreaking but you never lost your faith and you totally trusted in the Lord during these hard times. I know without a doubt that you believe that the Lord is in control in every situation and it has helped strengthen my faith because you live it. Yes, I have seen you both tired and weary but I have NEVER seen you beaten and defeated. Thank you both.
Pastor, I would like to thank you for the times I needed to talk to you. I may not have always agreed with what you said, but I was always glad I talked to you and felt peace afterwards. I appreciate you being there.
Pastor Don, thank you for being a good listener. You have been very supportive in our relationship. We appreciate the sincerity you have shown to us, others and to the Lord.
Pastor Don, I am sure God is pleased with the way you are leading His flock. You are always open to hearing His plan for us and leading us in His direction; even when we don't understand and drag our feet. You lead us in many ways depending upon our individual needs and/or the current circumstances. Sometimes it is with a stern voice, sometimes with humor, sometimes with a gentle touch, sometimes with a soft word of encouragement, but always with the love of God shining through. I am so glad that you are the one helping me develop a closer relationship with our Lord.
Pastor Don and Sunny are two very nice people.
Pastor Don has been a very positive presence for me. I'll never forget his teaching on forgiving. Having had a broken marriage, I know how important forgiving can be for all involved. Pastor Don seems to be able to reach out with his love and dedication. His love for the Lord is a covering for his flock at the Rock.
Pastor Don, thank you for always looking over us, loving us, scolding us, encouraging us and especially being a man to hold us accountable to the expectations of God. Thank you for always stretching us further and further to grow in the path of righteousness. Thank you for never giving up on us. We appreciate you and the work you do. Sunny, Sunny is the perfect name for you; always smiling, always ready to lend a helping hand and an ear to listen. Your kindness, love and overwhelming warmth to others has a way to overflow to everyone you meet. Thank you God for putting this ray of sunshine in our lives. We are much richer for it.
We love Pastor Don for his vision of one united country under God.
We are so thankful for our dedicated Pastor and his wife. We are grateful for the time they spend in prayer seeking the Lord's will and what He wants for us.
I want to thank you for sending me the leadership pages each month. I think God knows when to have them show up in our mailbox. It's been one of those weeks that I needed all the outside encouragement I could get. And yes, the Lord sent another one of these this past week or He had you send it. Well, I'm not the writer you know, but I did want to say thank you and please do not stop sending them. All is well here, life goes on, even in Florida; just warmer. Please tell our Rock Flock family that we love them and they're forever in our hearts and prayers.
Pastor, we appreciate your sincerity and dedication and unfaltering love for God and congregation.
Pastor Don really loves the people. He always gives good advice and we love and appreciate him.
We appreciate the honesty that comes forth from Pastor Don. When he teaches us what we should be doing or not doing, he never preaches at "us" but always includes himself as one of us. He is not on an ego trip as some Pastors are; he has openly admitted when he was wrong and apologized . In our book, that shows great character and that is from the Lord. The first time my husband went to a church retreat in 1992 at Mt. Misery, he realized there was something very special about Pastor Don. He said the men at that retreat showed such love and respect for Pastor and that made a great impression on him.
Pastor Don has a heart for God. When we first met him, we could feel the love he has for God and for the people of his congregation. We appreciate him very much.
We love you Pastor Don and appreciate all that you do. You went through such a horrible time last year and yet you continued to do your job. Maybe it wasn't the way you wished you could, but no one could have blamed you if you had taken a leave of absence for a while; but you didn't. We know that had to come from God alone and you allowed yourself to receive that strength from him.
Pastor Don has always been like a dad to me. He is filled with love and compassion, a man who truly reflects the personality of Christ. He has a big heart and he is a wonderful example to everyone. I love and respect him and I am grateful to God for the man that he is. Pastor Don and Sunny are a wonderful example of how a husband and wife should be. Pastor Don, we love you and thank you for all your dedication.
A Poem Of Appreciation From A Member Of The Congregation
A Pastor's Light
You may have
imperfections and flaws,
And may sometimes mess up on some of His laws,
But the light
inside that you share,
Greatly affects the lives of whom you care.
Your
compassion for others and the example you uphold,
Makes me want to follow the Lord and live the way I was told.
Because I can
see in your heart the Lord shining through,
I can come to you always and ask what to do.
We all love
you and I just want you to see,
You're such a good example for the whole body.
You put
everyone's needs above your own,
Your commitment to us all again and again you have shown.
From the
bottom of my heart and I'm sure all would agree too,
We couldn't ask for a better Pastor than you.