Memorial Service For William Brock

Our Heavenly Father, we are here this evening with mixed hearts.

!

At the loss of one that we love so dearly and ministered to us all, we would ask this evening

that your name would be magnified in our midst.

Amen.

We want to thank you as a family for coming tonight.

And we appreciate the kindnesses and prayers of many of you over the last several days.

It seems like weeks for us.

It's been very busy and very hectic.

We thank you for coming and sharing this time with us.

We're here to celebrate.

And only those who know Christ understand that.

We're here to celebrate the homegoing of a son, husband, father, grandfather.

And for many of you, I trust a brother in Christ.

And for us who remain, it was certainly a sudden and unexpected homegoing, but not for God.

He understood it was in his timing.

And the family felt it appropriate when we first started discussing the service to have

it on Wednesday night.

And those of you who know my father understand why.

For Dad was convinced that the midweek prayer service was crucial to the success of a local

church.

And prayer was certainly one of the hallmarks of the ministry of his life.

And so it seemed appropriate to be here on this night and share that with you.

Members of the family have been asked on numerous occasions, and I can remember a few, a few times

over the years, why our family seemed so successful.

What was the secret to our upbringing, we're asked.

What did our parents do, right or wrong?

I'm not sure.

And most of us literally chuckle at that.

We kind of laugh to ourselves.

But we know all the imperfections and all the weaknesses and all the failures.

In the lives of the members of our family.

And some successes that have made all of us what we are.

And I guess we know what we are about.

We are just about what Dad was all about.

Products of the grace of God.

And Dad would have hardly identified with 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

I'm going to read a few verses to you as I say a few words to you tonight.

1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning with verse 26.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flag of God

and not many mighty, not many noble are called.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

And base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen.

Yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

We need to remember not to look at Dad's life as a success story.

But rather as a clear picture book that bears the prints of the footsteps of faith.

For faith was surely another hallmark of his life.

He lived by faith.

He prayed by faith.

He walked by faith.

And he stood for the faith.

And I think as a family, we thought there were many chapters left to be written in Dad's book.

A new phase of life with new opportunities to minister, to teach, to build and encourage the church.

But God said, no.

I've written the last line.

And this work of grace is done.

I guess as Paul would have said, you have finished your course.

I'm going to take this small, imperfect earthen vessel which I have used on earth.

I'm going to make it perfect and clothe it with the righteousness of the saints.

And I think Paul put it so perfectly in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 9 verses.

2 Corinthians 5:9

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,

and house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.

If so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.

Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

And we are confident, I say, and willing, rather, to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

We've been receiving a lot of cards, and I appreciate that so very much.

And I went to the mail this morning and pulled out a card, and there was a verse on the front.

And probably a verse that I never looked at much before, nor I guess come to my attention.

In Psalm 29, verse 11, right on the front, this is what it said.

Psalms 29:11

The Lord will give thee strength unto his people, and the Lord will bless his people with peace.

And I trust that will be our portion tonight as we spend this time together.

Thank you for sharing this time of remembrance with our family.

For in a sense, in Christ, we are all family.

One of our favorite things to do is sing the universe that Murrow has written.

Let's begin by singing, Call Unto Me.

And I will show you great and mighty things.

Call Unto Me.

Let's sing.

Call Unto Me.

Call Unto Me.

And I will answer thee.

Call Unto Me.

And I will answer thee.

And slowly, baby, I will sing.

This is the lowest love.

And slowly, baby, I will sing.

And slowly, baby, I will sing.

The highest love.

as a message from the pulpit,

but knowing Ben Kendrick,

I thought I'd better do it this time.

I must confess

that I feel like the homegoing

of our beloved brother, Bill Brock,

is all part of a dream.

This which has touched us so dearly,

dear friends,

happened in God's own way

and in his perfect timing.

Bill, who was one of my dearest friends on earth,

is with the Lord.

His glorious promotion

makes heaven just that much more precious

and dear to us.

When I was asked if I would say something

in this memorial service,

I immediately thought of my 33-year relationship

with Bill and Merle.

Not only was Bill a close friend,

but he was also a pastor of a supporting church,

a mission co-worker,

my boss,

a source of encouragement,

a prayer supporter,

and much more.

I thought of a man

who was my nomination

to the Council of Baptism and Missions

in 1975.

He had the respect

and admiration

of his fellow council members

and was chosen by them

to be their chairman

on two occasions.

Bill also served for three years

as a trustee of the mission.

The last two of those years

as the chairman.

His contribution

to the Lord's work

is beyond human comprehension.

God gave Bill

the blessed opportunity

to minister

to literally thousands of people

abroad and here at home.

To the missionaries

who knew and loved him,

he was a pastor,

father,

and brother.

I thought of a man

who was an outstanding

Christian example

at home and in public

and whose life

was controlled

by biblical principles.

I shall long remember Bill

addressing the congregation,

now class,

then too,

the many times

I heard him say,

now you are aware,

friends.

I recall so well

when he would laughingly say,

no way.

Are you got to be kidding?

I met Bill

and Merle in 1955

during our first furlough

from Africa.

They practically adopted

nine and me.

Bill personally

took the time

to take me around

and introduce me

to Ohio pastors.

He scheduled

my first college chapel

speaking engagement

at Cedarville.

Bill was a practical guy

in every way.

He was always reaching out

to help others

in their needs.

Only eternity

can reveal

the total extent

of his dedicated life.

In 1968,

Nina and I

arrived home

from Africa

for another furlough.

Since our daughter

Pam was a student

at Cedarville College

and our son Pete

was planning

to enroll there,

we wanted to relocate

from northeastern Pennsylvania

where we had lived

during the previous furlough

to the Cedarville area.

The Lord led us

to a house

in Xenia.

Before we moved

to Ohio,

however,

we took several weeks

of much-needed rest

at the houses

of fellowship

in Ventnor,

New Jersey.

the thought of moving

was heavy upon my heart.

One day,

the phone rang.

It was Bill Brock

calling from Columbus.

He really caught me

by surprise.

I didn't think

that he even knew

where we were.

Then he said,

how are you going

to get your furniture

to Xenia?

I don't know,

I answered hesitantly.

I thought I would

work it out somehow.

I figured you might

need help,

continued Bill,

and that's why

I'm calling you.

He then went on

to say that he

and his son Lynn

would leave

after church

on Sunday night,

drive to my hometown

in Pennsylvania,

help load the truck

upon their arrival

in the morning,

and be in Xenia

by Monday night.

That, dear friends,

is the Bill Brock

I knew.

He was a very

special friend

who God privileged

us to have

with us

for a short period

of time.

Those of us

who knew him

loved him.

when engulfed

by the terror

of tempest,

you see

unknown waves

before you

roll.

at the end

of doubt

and peril

is eternity.

Though fear

and conflict

seize your soul,

but just think

of standing on shore

and finding it

heaven

of touching a hand

and finding it

God's

of breathing

the air

and finding it

celestial

of waking up

in glory

and finding it

home.

home.

When surrounded

by the blackness

of the darkest

night,

oh, how lonely

death can be

at the end

of this long

tunnel

is a shining

light

for death

is swallowed

up

in victory.

of

just think

of stepping

up

shore

and finding

it

heaven

of touching

a hand

and finding

it

God's

of breathing

new air

and finding

it celestial

of waking

up in

glory

and finding

it

home.

home.

The first time

that I heard

Brother Brock

preach,

I said to

one of the men

in our former

church,

I said,

whether you agree

with Brother Brock

or not,

there's one

impression

that you just

can't get away

from.

Brother Brock

was God's

man.

He was just

God's man.

And whether

he agreed

with him

or not,

he sought

the face

of God.

Many times

driving along

the car,

if we were

wrestling over

problems,

he would

turn and

he'd look

at me

and with

that twinkling

of an eye,

he'd say,

joy,

what are we

going to do

now?

You know,

he used

that word

joy.

And that

really communicated

something to me

as a young

pastor.

That helped

me many times.

Two months

ago,

Brother Brock

preached a

two-part series

of messages

on the fear

of God.

And those

messages are

still having

impact in my

own life.

I get the

notes out

and go over

them and they

stir me.

I told him

later,

I said,

you know,

after you

preach that

message,

I'll be honest

with you,

for a minute I

almost expected

God to come

out on the

platform.

It was so

real and

so awesome.

And I

understand that

because in

an hour like

this when we're

gathered together,

and if you

don't know the

Lord as your

Savior,

and if you

don't understand

why we're

saying the

things we do,

let me just

point this one

thing out.

When you

belong to

God,

you become a

man of the

book.

And in an

hour like

this,

that's what

really makes

the difference.

It isn't a

matter of how

well-known you

are,

and it

isn't a

matter of

what plaudits

the world

may heap upon

you,

but it's a

matter,

did you know

God,

were you a

man of the

book?

And Brother

Brock was a

man of the

book.

Two of the

passages of

scripture that

stirred his

heart and

stirred our

hearts,

I'd like to

share with

you.

The families

asked that we

share these,

and I think

they're very

appropriate.

I'd like for

you to take

your Bibles and

go back to

Psalm 34.

We make no

apology for

reading the

word of God

at a memorial

service of a

man of God.

And I trust in

the days ahead

we will become

more familiar

with these

passages of

scripture as

Brother Brock

was.

In Psalm 34

we read these

words that

meant so much

to him.

I will bless

the Lord at

all times.

His praise

shall continually

be in my

mouth.

My soul

shall make her

boast in the

Lord, and the

humble shall

hear thereof

and be glad.

Oh, magnify

the Lord with

me, and let

us exalt his

name together.

I sought the

Lord, and he

heard me, and

delivered me from

all my fears.

They looked

unto him, and

were lightened,

and their faces

were not ashamed.

This poor man

cried, and the

Lord heard him, and

saved him out of

all his troubles.

The angel of the

Lord encampeth

round about them

that fear him, and

delivereth them.

Oh, taste and

see that the

Lord is good.

Blessed is the

man that

trusteth in him.

O fear the

Lord, ye

his saints, for

there is no

want to them

that fear him.

The young

lions do

lack and

suffer hunger,

but they

that seek

the Lord

shall not

want any

good thing.

Come, ye

children, hearken

unto me.

I'll teach

you the

fear of the

Lord.

What man

is he that

desireth life

and loveth

many days,

that he

may see

good?

Keep thy

tongue from

evil, and

thy lips from

speaking guile.

Depart from

evil, and do

good.

Seek peace,

and pursue

it.

The eyes

of the

Lord are

upon the

righteous, and

his ears are

open unto

their cry.

The face

of the

Lord is

against them

that do

evil, to

cut off the

remembrance of

them from

the earth.

The

righteous cry,

and the

Lord heareth,

and delivereth

them out of

all their

troubles.

The

Lord is

nigh unto

them that

are of a

broken heart,

and saveth

such as be

of contrite

spirit.

Many are

the afflictions

of the

righteous, but

the Lord

delivereth him

out of them

all.

He

keepeth all

his bones,

not one of

them is

broken.

Evil shall

slay the

wicked, and

they that

hate the

righteous shall

be desolate.

The Lord

redeemeth the

soul of his

servants, and

none of them

that trust in

him shall be

desolate.

Fitting

doxology to

Psalm 34

is Psalm

149.

Praise you,

the Lord.

Sing unto the

Lord a new

song, and his

praise in the

congregation of

saints.

Let Israel

rejoice in

him that

made him.

Let the

children of

Zion be

joyful in

their king.

Let them

praise his

name in

the dance.

Let them

sing praises

unto him

with timbrel

and harp,

for the

Lord taketh

pleasure in

his people.

He will

beautify the

meek with

salvation.

Let the

saints be

joyful in

glory.

Let them

sing aloud

upon their

beds.

Let the

high praises

of God

be in

their

mouth,

and a

two-edged

sword in

their

hand.

I suggest

to you

verse 6

was a

fitting

summary of

Brother

Brock's

ministry.

Sword in

one hand,

the song

in the

other.

To execute

vengeance upon

the heathen

and punishments

upon the

people,

to bind

their kings

with chains

and their

nobles

with fetters

of iron,

to execute

upon them

the judgment

written,

this honor

have all

his saints.

Praise

ye the

Lord.

Brother

Brock will

be missed

by all

of us,

especially

by us

younger

pastors.

He was

a pastor

and a

patient

helper to

us,

to me in

particular.

Just one

word.

We'd like

to extend

thanks to

the family

for loaning

Brother

Brock's time

and effort

to many

of us

for so

many years.

I'm not

on the

program

because we

weren't

quite sure

whether I

would be

able to

do this

or not,

but I

wanted to

talk to

you.

I wanted

to thank

each one

of you

for your

prayers

and for

your

encouragement

and for

coming

tonight.

What a

thrill it

is to

look out

over this

audience

and see

all of

these

who have

come for

this special

time with

us.

Our aim

tonight is

to glorify

Bill's

Savior and

Lord and

the one

whom he

served so

faithfully

and with

all his

might and

sometimes to

us as a

family and

to some

of you

with too

much might,

but that

was Bill.

Bill was

not only my

companion and

lover,

but he

was my

friend and

my boss.

But even

more than

that, he

was my

pastor.

I had the

privilege of

sitting under

his ministry

for about

38 years

because he

taught Sunday

school long

before he

was a

pastor.

And as I

look back,

his unique

teaching of

the word

was most

effective in

not only in

my life,

but in my

children's

lives, as

well as in

many of

yours.

There were

times these

last few

years as

we've been

traveling together,

however, that

I wasn't always

listening as

attentively as I

should have.

You pastors

wise will

understand.

After you've

heard a message

for the

umpteenth time,

you kind of

turn it off,

you know.

But sometimes he

would sort of

catch me off

guard by

forgetting a

point or a

name or a

verse, and

he'd look at

me and say,

can you tell

me, mother,

what it is?

And I,

sometimes a

good answer,

but usually I

would look at

him and I

would just

will him to

remember that.

And then I

would sigh a

big relief when

he did, getting

me off the

hook.

But we had a

marvelous privilege

of serving the

Lord together,

and I think the

last six or

seven years have

been the most

precious of all

because I saw

him 24 hours

a day.

You may not

think that's

great, and

sometimes I guess

it's not always,

but when you're a

pastor and

pastors-wise, it

seems like you're

always going all

kinds of

directions.

But aside from

knowing and

experiencing the

importance of

prayer, that

which impacted me

most in Bill's

teaching was that

on the fear of

God that Pastor

Wright has just

mentioned.

The biblical

definition of

the fear of

God, which was

fourfold.

Obey his

word, respect

his will, hasten

to serve, and

tremble to

offend.

Bill not only

taught it, but

he lived it, and

I can witness and

testify to that.

Now what about

me?

So many of you

have shown

concern and

have perhaps

even hesitated

to ask me,

what now?

Well, I don't

exactly know what

now.

But a verse was

brought to my

attention on

Sunday, and I

went back to it

on Monday and

really looked at

it.

And it just

seemed like the

Holy Spirit had

written it just

for me for this

time.

And that's

Psalm 138,

8.

the Lord will

perfect or

complete that

which concerneth

me.

Thy mercy, O

Lord, endureth

forever.

Forsake not the

works of thine

own hands.

And I think he's

telling me, maybe

he's got a job

for me to do.

My desire, then,

is to obey his

word, respect his

will, and I admit

that's a little

difficult right

now.

Tremble to

offend, but

hasten to serve.

And what better

tribute to my

husband and to

my Lord could I

have than that?

We just want to

thank you again for

all of your cards,

for your prayers,

and for your words

of encouragement,

and especially for

coming tonight to

help us celebrate

Bill's home

going.

Thank you.

Let's say, let's

show us, Jesus is

mine.

Oh, what a

full trace of

glory divine,

heir of salvation,

purchase of God,

born of his spirit,

washed in his blood.

This is my story,

this is my song,

praising my Savior

all the day long.

This is my story,

this is my song,

praising my Savior

all the day long.

Perfect submission,

perfect delight,

visions of rapture

are now burst

on my sight,

angels descending

bring from above,

echoes of mercy,

whispers of love.

Perfect submission,

all is at rest,

I am my Savior,

sure and happy

and blessed,

watching and waiting,

looking above,

filled with his goodness,

lost in his blood.

This is my story,

this is my song,

praising my Savior

of the day long.

All the day long.

This is my story,

this is my song,

praising my Savior

of the day long.

I would like you to turn

in your Bibles

to Hebrews chapter 11,

Hebrews 11:4

verse 4.

Hebrews 11, 4.

By faith,

Abel offered unto God

a more excellent sacrifice

than Cain,

by which he obtained witness

that he was righteous,

God testifying of his gifts,

and by it

he being dead,

yet speaketh.

the family has asked me

to convey to you

their desire

for a number of

spontaneous testimonies

to the ministry

and to the life

of an individual

that was richly used

by God.

Because of the time constraints,

we're going to ask

that between four

and five of you

just come quietly

to the front,

and we want you

to bear witness,

if you will please,

at this time

to the very precious life

and the ministry

of our departed brother.

Don't hesitate,

just come to the front,

please.

I'm Randy Patton.

I'm the state representative

for the Indiana Fellowship

of Regular Baptist Churches,

and I've asked to,

have been asked to come

and represent

the other state representatives

across the nation

that are serving

the various churches

affiliated with

the General Association

of Regular Baptist Churches.

During the meetings

that we have each spring

in Schaumburg, Illinois,

Brother Brock

always challenged us

to think afresh,

anew about our strategies

in helping churches,

and even his input

in this last meeting

set the tone

and the course

for what the theme

of our meeting

this next year.

And I can recall

that during the evening meal

we had together,

I sat next to him

and shared with him

a burden

that my wife and I

and family

were facing

in our particular ministry

that just seemed like

a rock to us

that we couldn't get around.

And during mealtime,

he gave me

such new insight

into that problem

that I went back

and told my home

that the neatest part

of the whole

state reps meeting

for me

was sitting next

to Bill Brock

at supper

and the way he influenced

my life.

We will miss him.

And I've been asked

to convey

to the Brock family

the fact that

state representatives

all across the nation

are praying for you folks

during this time.

He will be missed.

Thank you.

I'm Vernon Miller

from Regular Baptist Press

and the General Association

of Regular Baptist Churches

Home Office.

On behalf of Dr. Tassel,

the Council of 18,

the Baptist Builders Club,

the Publications Committee,

the Finance Committee,

the Annual Conference

next year,

when I think of all of this,

I think of a man

who had a wonderful blend

of spiritual insight

and practical help

and wisdom for us all.

And how we will miss him,

but how we thank God

for the wonderful,

wonderful hope

we all share.

It's a great blessing

and a great joy

to know the Lord

at this time.

I,

on a personal note,

will always appreciate

his straightening

my collar recently

and sitting with me

and saying,

isn't this something

to sit up here

and do all of this?

But then he'd say,

but it's wonderful

to serve the Lord.

And I'm so thankful

for that.

I'm Max McCullough.

I was one of

Pastor Brock's assistants.

And I'd like to just

share with you

the side of a man

that probably many

of you never saw.

A man with a heart

as big as all outdoors.

I remember him

taking a day

out of his time,

drive Carol and I

all around Franklin County

to find us a place

to live.

He loved to shop

for cars.

And, uh,

he found us

a good lemon,

which we drove

for about

eight months,

but traded it in

for more than

we paid for it.

He was a great car shopper.

I remember the day

we painted these beams

and when he came down

all you could see

were his eyes

and his teeth.

I remember the day

we planted his shrubs

out front.

You know,

people don't think

that he did

those kinds of things.

But when we went home

that night

we were both dragging.

He had blisters

on his hands.

That's just the kind

of guy he was.

A super friend.

The whole family

has been a great friend

to my family.

I'm going to miss him

very much.

He was a super pastor,

great friend,

and he loved the Lord

more than anything else.

I just want to share

with you as a family,

I love you a whole bunch.

I'm going to miss your dad,

your husband.

And I thank God

for what he did

to help me

as a young man.

Here comes another

young guy

that I know

he did a lot for too.

I am Tim Bosworth

and I have no titles

to lay in front of you.

But in 1973

I came here

wondering what

Christian education

was all about.

Pastor Brock says,

well, we have a job

for you, come on.

And for the next

ten years

I had the privilege

of working

as a teacher

and an administrator

and a precious opportunity

to be a staff member.

in 1986

the Lord took my mom

and dad home.

He

was a very special person

during that time.

It was he and Merle.

Because you see,

even though I don't have

Brock as my last name,

I feel very much

part of that family.

He taught me a lot

about prayer.

He taught me a lot

about the word of God.

sometimes

I didn't count it

as much of a privilege

to work for him

as I probably should have.

Especially when he was

kicking me in the seat

of the pants.

I will miss him

very much.

My name is Mark Price.

I was one of the

little kids

that grew up in

Maranatha Baptist Church.

And

I remember

Pastor Brock

just a couple years ago

at an

Ohio Association meeting

getting on me

for not wearing a tie.

And

as you can tell

I'm still not wearing one.

But I remember

Pastor Brock

as a man

who scared me

at times.

As a

young child

sitting in a service

I'd fall asleep

occasionally

and you know

if you've been

in any service

that he has a tendency

to raise his voice

and sometimes

I just bolt right up

out of the seat.

but he was also

a man that I saw

a different side of.

I saw a side

that

really encouraged me.

Right now

I'm at

Grace Seminary

preparing for

ministry.

And I know

I can say

not only because

of my family

but because

of my church

and Pastor Brock

and Pastor Brock's

family

that's the reason

that I'm where

I am today.

And if it wasn't

for Maranatha Church

that's where

I got saved.

And I owe

my eternal life

to Pastor Brock

and what he's done

for me

and for the rest

of Maranatha Church.

I'm George Engelman

and I had the pleasure

of serving

with Bill Brock

and the board

at Cedarville College

for some 20 years.

And needless to say

that his counsel

was invaluable

and when he would

open a business meeting

with prayer

you knew

and sensed

that he was

really talking

to God.

I was not privileged

like most of you

to hear

many of his sermons

but he did speak

at the conference

in Iowa

a year ago

and we have

that sermon

on tape

and I've shared it

with a number

of people.

In fact

we listened to it

on the way here

today

and it was

a sermon

on

that's right

on faith

and prayer

and the

theme

was where

Christ was

chasing the money

changes out of the temple

because he said

my house

is the house

of prayer

and he emphasized

the house

of prayer

and we'll never

forget Bill Brock

and thank the Lord

for the time

we had

in association

with him

and we

too

join you

in our prayers

for

Mrs. Brock

and the family.

Seek ye me

let's sing that

Seek ye me

let's stand again

please

Seek ye me

Seek ye me

he shall live

Seek ye me

seek the Lord

he shall live

Seek ye me

that makes us

and the seven stars

and the seven stars

and the two

of the holy

Lord

the night

the city

theorn

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

the name

lip

the name

the name

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

class

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

lip

blue

lip

lip

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Sing to me, O God, I hope you will be here.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Thank you.

This is a very special service for me, and I sense for all of you.

Already we have been in the presence of God, and our hearts have been warmed by this service the family has planned.

Certainly not a traditional service for someone who's gone home to be with the Lord.

This is a very special man.

This is a very special man.

To almost every one of us gathered here tonight.

Probably in different ways.

But most of us have never known a man quite like Bill Brock.

God gave him a very special family, as has been evidenced by many things that we have heard,

not only by the family testifying and sharing their thoughts with us,

but singing together and realizing that the choruses that we've sung were written by Merle,

and the ministry that Bill and Merle have had together.

It was 2.10 on Sunday morning, when the phone started ringing,

and the message came from Lynn.

Dad just died with a massive heart attack.

About 10 minutes later, I was on the phone with Jeff,

and Jeff said,

It's a dream.

I keep feeling that I'm going to wake up

and find out it really didn't happen.

At 3.30, I was on the phone with Merle,

giving her time to get back from the hospital,

and hearing how Bill had just so suddenly,

after they had had a snack and gone to bed,

just instantaneously gone home to be with the Lord.

Didn't tell her he was going,

didn't tell any of the family or any of the rest of us,

but just like Bill.

I guess for most of us,

we didn't realize that Bill could actually die.

I thought about 25 of the leading men in the United States

and the one least likely to die,

and it was Bill Brock.

I mean, he was a picture of health.

He'd get on me for eating lunch.

He always worked through lunch, and he thought I should too.

So I used to call him at supper.

But Bill was spry.

I don't think he had an ounce of fat on him.

He was always in good shape.

He exercised, but what many of us didn't know

is that he had a physically enlarged heart

for many years of his life.

In fact, Bill was not expected to live past 21 years of age

because of some physical difficulties in his childhood and his youth.

He had high blood pressure, which we didn't know.

But I'll tell you something we all knew,

and that is that though the physically enlarged heart was a secret,

as we reflect, we all know that Bill Brock had an enlarged heart.

And I'd like to take this privilege that the family has given to me

to challenge all of us on the man with the enlarged heart.

The Word of God says that God told Japheth in Genesis 9, 27,

that he would be enlarged as part of God's blessing.

God told Israel in Exodus 34, 24,

For I will cast out thy nations before thee and enlarge thy borders.

In Isaiah 60, verse 5,

Isaiah 60:5

Thine heart shall fear and be enlarged.

At least twice it's been referenced by Tom, by Murrow,

of Bill's preaching on the fear of the Lord.

The last series he brought at Cedarville College,

the last three-part series was on the fear of the Lord,

just about 18 months ago.

I am convinced that Bill Brock preached and lived in the fear of God

because God gave him an enlarged heart,

which resulted in an enlarged border of ministry

and made him a blessing to every one of us.

Bill Brock had an enlarged heart for churches, pastors, and pastor's wives.

Bill Brock had an enlarged heart for churches,

and he was under the ministry of M.R.D. Hahn early in his life.

Did you ever stop to think about how much Bill reminded you of M.R.D. Hahn?

They had somewhat the same personalities, if you knew M.R.D. Hahn at all.

They preached in kind of the same way.

In fact, Jeff told me, or Lynn perhaps it was this morning,

that every Sunday morning for as long as they could remember,

they had to listen to M.R.D. Hahn in the hall.

Bill, coming up under the ministry of a man who had a heart for pastors and for churches,

was used of God to build two churches in this city,

the Emmanuel Baptist Church, where he pastored for 10 1⁄2 years,

and this Maranatha Baptist for 16 years.

And then out of that pastoral heart, he was the logical choice

as the council selected him to be our state representative

back some six or more years ago.

And oh, how God used him.

I was sitting up here and just trying to spot all of the pastors who are here from the state

and the assistant pastors.

In fact, I'd like to have the pastors and the assistant pastors from the state of Ohio

and your wives to stand, if you would.

Would you do that, please?

This is a testimony, you may be seated, of these who've traveled,

and there's some from out of state just to say how important

Bill and you, Merle, have been to them.

You're pastors, pastors, no doubt about it.

When any of these fellas got in trouble,

the one man they knew they could turn to was Bill Brock.

He especially was a mentor to young pastors in this state.

And to those churches where there was a time of struggling and problems.

Bill loved problems.

In fact, he just lit up when he heard that there was a problem.

Whether it was at the college or Baptist admissions

or whether it was in some of your churches

or whether some of the kids had a problem.

In fact, we were sitting in the office, some of the family,

and talking this week, and if you had a problem

and you didn't call Bill, he was upset with you

because he wanted to be part of the solution.

He sent out his bi-monthly publication to pastors

and he entitled it appropriately, The Encourager.

But some didn't know it was not unusual for Bill, in a quiet way,

to reach into his pocket and to say to a young struggling pastor,

I think you could use a new suit of clothes.

Let me help you buy that suit.

Only God knows all that he shared in a quiet way.

With not only the men but the women in this state.

When he planned those two-day pastors' conferences at Cedarville,

that was all Bill Brock's idea.

He said, now you be sure, when he would talk to Don Rickard,

he would talk to Martin Clark,

you be sure and have sessions for the wives.

Because the same heart he had for you pastors,

he had for you wives.

So what's all this going to mean to us?

We're just going to take it in, fellas,

and say thank God for Bill Brock?

Are we going to let his life be a challenge to every one of us

to have a heart for the ministry of the local church,

to those churches we already have,

to strengthen them and to start new churches.

And may I ask you this, since Bill Brock isn't around,

who's going to meet your need?

I'll tell you, you guys are going to have to meet each other's needs.

There's going to have to be a new ministry of discipleship in this state,

pastor to pastor, pastor's wives to pastor's wives.

And may God help you men and you women and the rest,

who will know of this service.

May there be a great revival among the leaders in the state of Ohio,

because God has taken Bill Brock out of our midst,

and we want to carry on this ministry that God has given him and Merle.

But he not only had a heart for pastors and churches and wives,

he had a heart for the state of Ohio.

I don't know if Bill Brock ever rooted for Michigan.

I didn't think so.

Praise God.

Bill Brock was Ohio State through and through.

All of his creativity and his energy in the ministry,

the ministry he gave to this state.

Very few men ever do that.

But Bill Brock did.

He had opportunities to go to other ministries.

I had churches who would talk to me about Bill,

and they liked to have Bill,

but somehow as Bill worked through those opportunities

and prayed about those opportunities,

and prayed about those opportunities,

he always stayed in Ohio.

You ever stop to think about those who do this

and the security they bring to the rest of us?

Man, isn't it great to have had a Bill Brock around

for all of these years?

We always knew he was there.

And what he meant to the state of Ohio.

So what's the challenge?

To us.

From this man with an enlarged heart for the state of Ohio,

the challenge is this.

Bill Brock is no longer our crutch.

We can't lean on him anymore.

Now we have to pull together.

And in this state of Ohio,

we have to carry on what he started

and go on to new heights for the glory of God

as a state of association of churches.

And I pray that as the council gets together

and as you think about all the things that are coming,

that this day of prayer that's coming up this fall

will be the greatest day of prayer you've ever experienced in the state.

At the state meeting that's coming in Columbus and Westerville

in just a few months,

that it will be the greatest state meeting that we've ever experienced.

That will go on and as God sends another man in

to be the state representative to build upon what Bill and Merle have started to the glory of God.

Bill Brock had a heart for the general association of regular Baptist churches.

He served as a member of the council of 18.

He was on the Baptist Builders Club board.

He counseled and prayed often with our national representative, Paul Tassel.

He was always working to organize anything he could for the association.

And he wanted this annual meeting this next June in Columbus

to be the best attended, greatest meeting in the history of the GARP.

He'd get on the phone, he'd say,

Paul, I have 50 churches lined up

that I want to bring busloads of people to the national conference every night.

We're going to raise the money to pay for the expenses of the national conference

before the thing ever gets started.

I walked up to one of the council members last night,

I said, by the way, who's the chairman of the national meeting in June?

He said, guess.

It was Bill Brock.

Bill Brock.

He was the spearhead behind everything that was going on.

So what's our challenge?

One of the challenges to me

is that Bill Brock, as he viewed our association,

listen closely, never had a narrow view of our association.

He never thought we were the only ones who were serving God.

He taught us praise the Lord.

There are others out there who are standing for the same Bible

and preaching the same Bible and building churches

and doing missions and doing the work for God

and praise the Lord for them too.

May God give us that kind of balance and that kind of perception

that I believe honors God as Bill's attitude honored God.

The challenge to us is to continue to support

through our finances and our energy and our prayers

our national association.

Bill had a large heart for missions.

You've already heard from Ben.

He served on the board of Baptist mid-missions,

past chairman of the general council,

presently chairman of the trustees,

made trips to Brazil and to Central African Republic

and Chad and Ghana.

But his heart for missions went beyond that.

Anything he could do to support missions,

financially, encourage missions, pray for missions.

Bill did that.

Even as Ben said, if it meant driving a van

to take a young missionary's furniture

and deliver it across two states,

he did it.

What's the challenge to us?

Men and women, not only pastors but lay people,

we have to look beyond our own local church.

We have to look beyond our own community.

We have to look beyond our own state and our own nation.

We've got to do the job of reaching a world for Christ.

We're going to have to have more missionaries.

We're going to lose 50% of our workforce out there in mission service to retirement

or through coming home in the next 10 years.

How many of you young people are willing to take Bill Brock's place?

Have you been willing to say,

Lord, here's my life.

Use me any way you want me to.

And maybe that's on the mission field.

I see some boys and girls out there.

Boys and girls, have you ever given your life to Jesus and said,

I want you to do whatever you want to do through me,

just like Bill Brock did with his life.

There's some young couples

who are still wrestling with God's plan for your life.

You may be in business like Bill Brock was in business for 10 years

before he stood behind a pulpit.

I don't know what God has for you.

All I'm saying is God wants your life.

And we need those who are going to reach a world for Christ.

Bill had a heart for Christian education.

Started Maranatha Christian School.

I can remember when he brought me in this building

and showed it to me and how thrilled he was with this gymnasium.

He was recognized as one of the leaders in Christian education in our state.

For 31 years he served as a trustee on the board of Cedarville College.

You heard George Engelman testify,

one of the most respected men on our board.

We waited to see where Bill wanted to go

and what he had to say.

In the last 35 years during the Baptist days of Cedarville College,

no doubt two of the most significant trustees have been George Milner.

And Bill Brock.

Dr. Jeremiah and I not only feel the loss for the college,

but Bill Brock was one of our dearest friends.

We called him often.

We counseled with him often.

An insightful man who had that rare combination of business skills,

pastoral ability, spiritual discernment,

combined with great vision,

and a willingness to step out by faith and take risks for God.

He used to often say to Dr. Jeremiah and to me,

let me know how I can help you.

If you need anything, just let me know.

What's the challenge?

The challenge is that Bill Brock saw the value of investing your life in young people.

And really when it's all said and done, folk, when we've left this earth,

if we can take our lives and pour them into young lives and be multiplied to the glory of God,

we've lived a life worth living.

What an investment.

It's not how much money we have and how we invest our money as much as are we willing to invest our lives in you.

May God help us.

Bill Brock had an enlarged heart for others.

He had a servant's heart.

If you were to evaluate how Bill Brock spent his time,

very little could have been found spent on self.

Like our Lord, he was always looking how he might help somebody else.

This unassuming, bright man who probably never told you,

you know what he majored in at Calvin and Wheaton?

Latin and Greek.

When the boys told me that they started laughing, they said,

we always knew he was a little different.

I never knew anybody majored in Latin and Greek.

Bill Brock did.

Don't ever forget he was a very intelligent man.

Yet he was organized.

He was an administrator.

He was business-like.

He had a sense of humor, but he was a sensitive man.

A genuine compassion for all with whom he came in contact.

Did you know what he was doing the day he died?

He mowed his lawn,

and then he went over and mowed his neighbor's lawn.

Then he came in and helped Merle mop the floors.

Had a snack.

Went to bed.

And went to heaven.

But the fact that he mowed his neighbor's lawn

was so indicative of the heart of Bill Brock.

The challenge?

If ever we needed people in our churches with the servants hired, it's today.

People who will not say, what will you do for me, but what can I do for you?

May God give us that spirit from the life of his dear servant.

More importantly, Bill Brock had an enlarged heart for his family.

The investment of his life goes beyond the time spent at Emanuel Baptist, Maranatha Baptist, Baptist Mid-Mission, Cedarville College,

and all the various organizations to which he gave hours and days and months.

To that time he spent with those six children.

To that time that he spent with those six grandchildren.

And what we saw up here tonight is Ben Kendrick leaned over and said,

Man, what a testimony to the grace of God.

How many families do you know intact knowing the Lord and serving the Lord like that?

Praise the Lord for this testimony by this family tonight.

He had a heart for his mother, who's seated here in the front.

In her 80s.

And all how he loved his wife.

I have never, never known Bill to be around.

But what Merle wasn't close by.

One of the things as I sat around the table with the administrators on Monday morning and we started talking about Bill,

one of the men said, I never saw Bill Brock treat his wife with anything but dignity and respect.

The challenge to us?

Let's build families like that.

People, no matter how we spend our lives, when it's all said and done, it's how we spend our time with our families and what God does to our families that's really going to matter for all eternity.

May God give us the priority on the family as Bill had it.

And most important of all, Bill Brock had a heart for God.

This pastor Tim Kenoyer gave me this verse today, 2 Corinthians 4-7, when he spoke of Bill.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.

Truly, it was the treasure we saw in Bill.

Never the earthen vessel.

He lived his life concentrating on being God's man.

A man of the word.

Remember, the boy said, they couldn't find any white on the pages of his Bible.

Marked his Bible all off.

Had an interesting verse.

Psalm 119, 32.

I will run the way of thy commandment when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

He loved the book and preached the book and lived the book with an enlarged heart.

But the theme of his life, the concentration of his life was prayer.

I said his major was Greek and Latin.

I don't think so.

I think his lifetime major was prayer.

Out of all the men that I've called across this state, the people I've talked to just in the last three days,

they all keep coming back to this fact.

No man ever influenced me so much in my prayer life as Bill Brock.

So the challenge.

For us as believers, I listened to a tape this morning of Bill and he asked us,

how's your prayer life?

He said, you know, the average Christian prays less than five minutes a day.

Oh, the challenge to us to get our prayer lives in order, to get our Bible study in order,

to get our practical Christianity and obeying the word of God in order because of the life of this man.

And then someday we too can hear like I am confident, Bill,

well done thou good and faithful servant.

You ever stop to think about how many people, servants of God,

are blotting the landscape,

moral catastrophes,

and thank God for a Bill Brock who lived his life and leaves this earth without block.

Praise God for such a model and example.