This was part of the message our Pastor, Dr. Robert Morey taught on as our service closed at Faith Community O.C. It was a great gathering of saints who have been touched by the life of a man who has been and will continue to be determined, along with his wife and children, never to compromise the truth of the gospel of grace. Pastor Justin Alfred, Dr. Armstrong of Calvary Temple, Pastor Glen Leatherman, Doyle Braden, Tim Barrons, William Wallace ( a Pakistani Pastor who has been blessed by Dr. Morey), and a host of many others gave testimony to the character of a man who is described as a shepherd who is a servant to all and an example of godliness!
After being at Calvary Chapel of South Bay for just about 6 years, I learned a great deal about servanthood, evangelism, and missions work. The Lord used Calvary Chapel of South Bay in a great way in my life. One afternoon while driving, I tuned my radio to a man who was teaching of the doctrines of grace. Being an ardent Calvinist hater, I was captivated by the teaching! Soon after, I realized I had to find this pastor. I had been struggling in my Christian life because I could not live the Christian life I was being taught. All this to say that that afternoon marked the beginning of one of the greatest blessings God would give my wife and I through Dr. Robert Morey and his ministry.
I can say as I look back that our experience at Faith Community OC has been monumental in terms of our growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord. My wife and I have learned so much and have seen the work of grace not only in our lives but in the lives of our brothers and sisters as well. We have seen how the Lord imparts His gifts to individual members within the church to bless one another. We have learned that God reveals His glory to the world through the local church.
We have also learned the heartache that comes when one is determined to stand for the truth. There have been the good times and of course there have been the bad times. The times when we must examine ourselves according to Scripture and then the very difficult biblical task of exhorting, admonishing, rebuking, and even handing over unruly church members over to Satan through excommunication. All these things we have experienced by God’s grace to His glory.
Dr. Robert Morey and his family have been spiritual parents to my wife and I. Scripture says that whoever desires to be great in the kingdom of God, must be the servant of all! This is exactly what I have witnessed with Dr. Morey as our shepherd over the last 6 years. He is a man with the heart of a lion for defending the faith, and at the same time a man who is compassionate, caring, and one who exemplifies what it means to be a servant.
Dr. Morey has taught us what it is to love others in the midst of adversities and in the midst of attacks by those who would claim to be followers of Christ. In these situations I have witnessed those individuals who Dr. Morey has extended his home, wallet, hospitality, visitation in the hospital, the very shirt on his back, viciously curse him, slander, and malign him, all without cause. You see them out there. I stand amazed and baffled how these individuals apostatize in such a way. Christ calls us to bless those who curse us, Christ calls us to love our enemies, so to this day I ask myself the question, how is it that these individuals after being greatly blessed and taught by this man, get angry and bitter to the point of becoming unbiblical? There is no excuse! We pray for these individuals that God grants them the ability to see that they are doing the work of the devil, and to cause them to focus on the glory of Christ, since God is sovereign. Speaking to a few brothers today, they said that were it not for the haters of the ministry, they would not have known about today’s get together, they came as a result of their announcements are were greatly blessed! Praise God. It simply shows us how God uses all things for the Good!
As for us, we thank the Lord Jesus for the 6+ years the Lord has given us at FCCOC. We love the brothers and sisters, the great relationships, the koinonia fellowship, the growth in our body, the exercising of our faith together and experiencing the glory of God while we worshipped together every Sunday! We have been together for this time, and now it is time for us to spread the fragrance! We have indeed this treasure in earthen vessels! We have been equipped and God is moving once again! Indeed He sits on His throne and His sovereignty rules over all! Praise God from whom all blessing flow!
Dr. Morey, you will probably never know how much you have impacted our lives! We bless God for you, Annie, John, and Ruthanne! You have indeed been a great example to us! We love you with the affections of Christ! You have been a Spiritual Daddy to my wife and I, and I’m sure to us all. From the deepest reaches of our soul we thank God for you, and thank you! We’ll always remember your exhortations, your smile, your laughter, the trips, the teachings, your crazy jokes, and not to mention Annies laughter, and good ole Scotty! May God richly bless you my charging Rhino. Keep on keeping on for Jesus! Kick old slew foot in the butt a thousand more times! Fulfill your ministry! We pray for a fruitful time in NY! You are in our prayers dad! It has been a blessing!
Brothers and sisters, feel free to sound off! The Rhino is on the move, surely this is not the last time we hear from him! Get ready……..Acts 20:32-35
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you very much Mario for sharing this! I wish I were there to be apart of the celebration of Dr. Morey’s ministry. It’s crazy that although I was only at FCC for a little over a year and half how great an impact that Dr. Bob has made in my life as a Christian. The little time I spent there under Dr. Morey’s teaching was a blessing, and as you know, I have continued to read through his books and listen to his many Christ exalting, man humbling, Christian inspiring, truth proclaiming, and faith defending lectures. Thank you Dr. Bob for you ministry and for using the gifts that God has given you to equip the saints! Since Mario has included a testimonial about Dr. Morey’s ministry I am inclined to post another here as well.
When I was attending Biola University I received free admission to attend Biola’s apologetics summer conference. Each week after the speaker was finished lecturing the question about the fate of the “heathen” was asked by the same curios audience member. I sat anxiously listening to the rational answers given by these so called “Christian apologists”. Each answer was different because each man’s reason and experience was different. Not one of them turned to the Bible to give an exegetical answer. They were simply dancing around the issue. At the final lecture or “opinion’s meeting” I was listening to the people pleasing answer given by the apologist and I objected that it is not merely a denial of the Gospel that a person is under God’s wrath but according to Romans sin is the issue and all men have that problem! Once again he skated around the issue as to not offend anyone. By God’s grace and His wise providence a man listening to our discussion told me about a church located in Irvine lead by Pastor Robert Morey that he thought I would enjoy. I was blessed to sit under the teaching of a man who didn’t care about pleasing the majority or becoming popular as I observed from the Biola apologist. Dr. Morey cares more about the popularity of God and his teaching is grounded in revealed theology as found in the Bible. I pray that the curious man asking the question about the heathen would come under the influence of a God honoring teacher like Dr. Bob to point him to scripture and “wheel away the rubbish”. Who knows, he lives in the area, maybe he will get his hands on “Studies in the Atonement” and read the section about the heathen where Dr. Morey answers a theological question (go figure) from the Bible! It is sad how cowardly and even heretical pastors get all the money, support, and praise from ignorant Christians while the faithful get ridiculed, criticized, and misunderstood by the same ignorant Christians. Dr. Bob, you have influenced me more than you can ever know and I thank God for your steadfast Biblical apologetics for the Glory of God.
My wife and I wish we could have been there with you all in California. I got an email from Dr. Morey today that described what a wonderful time it was before, after, and during today’s meeting.
Praise God for giving the grace of being blessed today by His presence, His love, and the fellowship of His people! My wife and I truly missed out, and although we were providentially hindered from attending, our thoughts and hearts were with you all today.
Grace and Peace! And may we all persevere in the faith, running to win, never shrinking back, straining forward toward the upward call, by grace, to the glory of God alone!
Great article Mario. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there to see Dr. Bob off. I wanted to acknowledge that Dr. Bob and his ministry had an impact on my growth in the Lord. It because of his great teaching, I was able to understand how to interpret the scriptures. I can now read the bible really grasp it, which has helped me to grow in my faith in Christ tremendously. It’s also helped me to recognize that I am a sinner that needs Christ. I really enjoyed my time there, and the many Monday night studies. Dr. Bob and his family will be in my prayers. Thank you for your ministry and it’s impact in my life.
God be the Glory…
Bradino
Thanks Mario!!
Good, now I have a second opportunity to express my heart regarding Dr. Bob…yesterday fright got the best of me at the mic and I forgot most of what I planned to say!
I wanted Dr. Bob to know that, by God’s great grace, he has turned our family upside down. He showed our daughter that God in His Sovereignty is completely in charge and that death is not something to fear and will not come one minute sooner than it is predestined, relieving her of years of worry. He taught her that there is no “lady luck” but all is of grace! Most importantly he taught her that ALL is to be done to God’s glory and he stood up against church leadership in order to provide her the church stage to dance ballet to worship music…which she did beautifully…to this day people thank her for that blessing, asking when she will do so again!
Dr. Bob introduced our home to the man’s place as prophet, priest and king as well as the blessing of submitting to one’s husband…really…the BLESSING of it!! He showed my husband how a servant-king behaves and he will never forget that weekend in the mountains with Dr. Bob where he was served and ministered to.
Thanks to Dr. Bob for introducing me to Spurgeon! His writings speak to me in a way that make me feel as if they were meant for me. I recently heard that Spurgeon said “Even our repentance needs repentance”…so true! Dr. Bob has made me the Reformed Mama that I am today, showing me that women are soldiers for Christ too! Two days ago we engaged our first Atheists. I have experienced a tiny pinky nail’s (especially compared to Dr. Bob) worth of persecution such as from Chad who commented here, among other hateful spewing, that we at BT would serve Hitler in hell, or Ron Hodgman who blogged that I should really be called ‘Trash Talk Mama’, even my own sister can be seen commenting on “Grace and Comfort Be Yours” that I “have sunk to new lows”– because I write about the false church of Eastern Orthodoxy. No question these things hurt, but as Dr. Bob and my dear friend Stephen have said, they are “badges of honor” in doing the Lord’s work.
Dozens of times Dr. Bob has taught in his sermons how our Messiah walked this earth, doing various miracles, teaching and rebuking those in sin…and what did the people do…they “bumped him awff” (New York accent)! He often said we shouldn’t expect anything different and that in fact the Jesus promises trial and suffering. Our hearts broke to see men that once called Dr. Bob pastor, mentor and friend grow to loathe him, despise and betray him. Though hurting, he walked out his trials in love and grace.
Praise God for this amazing man who has touched our lives in various ways! It was wonderful to hear what all the pastors and speakers had to say about him yesterday, we enjoyed them all. Pastor Armstrong is so cute and always has kind things to say about our dear Dr. Bob, they haven’t even known each long and are an unlikely match, but were fast friends and he always touches my heart with the way he speaks of Dr. Bob.
What an honor to have had meals with Dr. Bob, and to have had his teaching, encouragement and love. May he and his family experience a time of peace and God’s great grace in this next phase of life! We so appreciate them all and will miss them greatly!
God’s grace brothers and sisters!!
Ok, I’m totally lost as to what just happened.
What do you mean Sir Aaron?
Where is Bob Morey going?
The Lord has called him back to NY with his family Denise…
Thanks Dr. Bob for telling us thr truth we will miss you!
I understand that the church just moved to a larger location within the last year. Why is he going back to NY, if I may ask.
While reflecting on Sunday’s service at Faith Community Church, I kept putting myself in the shoes of the Ephesians whom Paul addressed for the final time. How their hearts must have been broken at his words, yet exhilarated by the new scope that Paul’s ministry would be taking on. I felt the same way.
One of the thoughts I overheard from many of the people that were at the service was one of being forced out of a comfort zone. Many felt that they were now responsible for getting the gospel out to a world and church that is not gospel saturated but gospel illiterate.
I for one, intend to accomplish this mission. I call on you who are called to pastor to do the same: to preach the gospel fearlessly, and without shame. I also call on those of you that do not have that calling to begin small groups and to use what you have been taught to equip the church.
Dr. Bob may be entering the third phase of his ministry (writing), but many of us are in the first (apologetics) or second (church-planting) phases.
I am very thankful for how God used Dr. Bob in southern California. My mind goes back to the early days at that mall in Anaheim and then at the Cornerstone Church in Anaheim. How God taught me to hold my life up to God with an open hand, and let God remove or let remain what He wished. How God taught me what was important, and what was not.
The most important thing that God taught me was that the pastor was not just to be served, but to be a servant. Listening to the words that were spoken by those that elected to share, the one thing that struck me was Dr. Bob’s service to the church that God gave him. Even to the end of his time with us Dr. Bob gives us a model of servanthood. He is leaving to care for his mother-in-law. He is modeling the Fifth Commandment which says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Therefore I pray that God will honor Dr. Bob and Annie’s obedience to His word.
Thank you Dr. Bob for not only being a teacher of the Word, but an example of living the Word.
I’ve just confirmed my attendance in LA on the 27th. I hope to see you guys then. Then I can get the whole scoop.
Well said Derek!!
We’ll hang out Sir Aaron……Get some dinner!
Most definately. I am looking forward to see you and Stephen both (and the others if I can fit it in).
We’ll do it, God willing! You up for it brothers?
To Dr. Morey,
I am one of your former students from your Monday night apologetics class when we met in the theater in Bellflower, moved to Immanuel Church, and finally to Faith Community Church. Those three years that I spent in that class are times that I cherish most. Thank you for your fine teaching and godly example of being a staunch defender of the faith and instilling those qualities in us. Also, thank you for instilling in that class a love for reading sound theological books especially those written by the Reformers. When I was in that class I didn’t have time to read those books, but now I cannot get enough of reading the Reformers and the Puritans. Finally, thank for you and your wife’s hospitality and for making us laugh at times during your sermons and reminding us that we can be joyful unto the Lord.
God sovereignly used that time I spent in that class to prepare me for the leadership position that I now currently hold in my church. May God continue to use you and your family mightily for His glory.
Tony Zabala, Deacon
Neighborhood Outreach Ministry
Grace Community Church
Sun Valley, California
Derek,
What did you mean by phases in life? “first (apologetics) or second (church-planting) phases”
Travis,
These were terms that Dr. Bob used. If you look at his life your see this pattern.