Saints Among Us

When Billy Graham came to Long Island over 20 years ago to hold a crusade, he was questioned by the media concerning the fall of two very well known televangelists which had recently occurred. He responded to several probing inquiries and then made a statement to the press without being asked to. He said, "Last night I looked out of my hotel window here at the Marriott. I watched plane after plane land safely at Kennedy Airport. One after another without any incidence reached the ground with its passengers." He went onto say, "I didn't read anything in the paper about that this morning. But if one of those planes crashed, it would be headlines around the world. You all would be there covering the story instead of interviewing me now." Then he made his point, "Literally thousands upon thousands of pastors go quietly about their work every single day here in the United States with out any fanfare. They visit their people who are sick, pray , listen and encourage souls and are men of integrity. Yet when two well known ones fall you all report it on the front pages. I would love to see you tell of the ones who do their work each day faithfully with little recognition." The past few months we saw two ladies go to heaven who were the wives of faithful pastors of the Bay Shore Church of the Nazarene. Wilma Utter died a few weeks ago and this morning in Boston, Doris Restrick finished her earthly journey. They both served next to their husbands here in this community. Their labor was not in vain. They are among my heroes. Doris and her husband Pastor Bill sacrificed to see this church established here in the Heart of the South Shore of Long Island. She supported him. She loved her the LORD. It is seen in her children. We pray for them today. We remember one of the lessons of her life. Faithfulness will be rewarded in heaven. She heard Jesus say to her this morning at 5am, "Well done good and faithful servant. Welcome home!" Great is her reward in heaven right now. May we follow in her footsteps!