These were terms that Dr. Bob used. If you look at his life your see this pattern.

What did you mean by phases in life? “first (apologetics) or second (church-planting) phases”

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

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.