Growing up in Lynchburg I kept hearing about a church across town. They were trying to have 500 in church, unheard of in that day, then we would hear on the next Tuesday they had reached their goal. This kept happening over and over. 1,000, 2,0000, 5,000; you get the picture. This caused quite a stir in a small city like Lynchburg. I wasn't even a follower of Christ at the time, but I knew something unusual was going on across town at the Thomas Road Baptist Church. The pastor's name was Jerry Falwell. He was one of the most controversial pastors of our time. Growing up in Lynchburg people used to joke: when you mention Falwell you either duck or pucker. People either loved him or hated him. There seemed to be no middle ground. Yesterday Dr. Falwell, as I called him, went to be with the Lord after a long and fruitful ministry that touched the lives of millions.

I attended Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 before it became Liberty University. I was able to attend at a fraction of the cost because Dr. Falwell was a gifted fund raiser. My son and daughter both graduated from Liberty and once again it was way below the average cost for a college education. Both my son-in-law and daughter-in-law went to Liberty. Several of the members of my church went to Liberty.

Did I agree with everything Dr. Falwell did and said? No, but I agreed with a lot of it and I am deeply indebted to him for several things:

• He fleshed out what a true vision from God looks like (just travel to Lynchburg to see)
• He displayed unbelievable courage in the face of threats on his life and his family
• He modeled a true pastors heart ( When my sister-in-law's newborn baby suddenly died he showed up at their house when he wasn't even their pastor)
• He was compassionate to a fault (he himself admitted that some of his worst decisions were because he was being too lenient)
• He stayed the course (He finished well, oh God give me the grace to do the same)

The last time I heard Dr. Falwell speak was on television about a week ago. He was thanking God for allowing him to see his vision fulfilled in moving to their new location. It was classic Falwell he was rejoicing in the doubled attendance since moving (12,000), doubled offerings and most importantly the 100's who had been saved since the move. Then he started casting the vision for the next ten years.

No matter what your position was on Dr. Falwell you had to admit he did indeed cast a very long shadow. I for one will miss his vision and influence in our world, he definitely kept it interesting.

Read this blog from another student who was helped by Dr. Falwell, Tad

Got to go have a good day, hope to see you at church tonight.