I received the news that Sherman Moyer died last week. I was a twenty-six year old pastor when we planted the Open Door Church in Novato in 1976. Sherman was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Novato. Sherman had been a senior pastor for many years. He loved Jesus, and he loved others regardless of their church affiliation. He was a mentor and role model to me at a critical time in my life.
As our church grew, I was faced with many challenging situations. How should I respond when a man puts a satanic curse on me after we removed him from one of our discipleship houses? What is the best way to bring loving discipline when a leader falls into immorality? How do you respond to a woman who has a great heart for those in need, but also gets into continual strife with other ladies in the church?
Pastors face many unexpected challenges in their churches. Some leaders have no qualms about kicking people out of the churches when they cause trouble. I was often conflicted about how to handle church discipline. I didn’t own the church. Jesus was the head of the church and it belonged to him. The disciples were his children. I was a shepherd who was responsible to care for the Lord’s people. I wanted to lead them and care for them the way Jesus did.
When I was faced with a dilemma about what to do, I wanted to know how Jesus wanted me to respond. Sometimes Jesus’ or the apostle’s words in the New Testament give me clear guidance about what to do. Other times the Holy Spirit will guide me to a solution. However, there are times when it is very helpful to process decisions with someone who has wisdom and loves the Lord. Since Sherman loved Jesus as much as anyone I knew, I talked with him about decisions that perplexed me. He was my go to counselor when I wondered what Jesus would do.
In 1983 Sherman and several former members of First Baptist Church joined our Open Door Church in Novato. We worked together on the same staff for a short while before we asked him and his wife Kathy to move and lead our Open Door Church in San Francisco. A few years after we moved to Phoenix, Sherman moved back to Novato to lead the Open Door Church there.
After all these years, I don’t remember the sermons Sherman preached. I don’t remember most of the decisions we made in our countless leadership meetings. I don’t remember many details of the times we disagreed about ministry decisions, or the times I disappointed him. I do remember Sherman’s kindness, gentleness, love, and grace. I remember how valuable it was for me to know a man who knew the word of God, loved the church, and would speak the truth to me in love.
I have been reading the Arizona Republic almost every morning since we moved to Phoenix in 1984. We have been able to plant a great church and start wonderful ministries in our city. I also did radio programs here for over thirty years and TV ministry for years. However, if I died today, my family would have to pay to put an obituary in the Arizona Republic. The overwhelming majority of people in Arizona have no idea I exist.
Does my obscurity mean I have failed? I don’t think so, but it helps me to put my priorities in focus. When I play golf, I often walk past the mansion where Glen Campbell lived for many years. When I point it out to guys younger than forty, they all ask the same question, “Who was Glen Campbell?”
“He was a famous county singer who did TV programs and had many hit songs like Rhinestone Cowboy and By the Time I get to Phoenix.”
They give me blank stares. They haven’t heard his songs either.
Fame can be very fleeting.
Yet, those who know what Jesus would do, and do it, have eternal life.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for my friend Sherman. May his family be comforted and his reward be great in your kingdom. As I think of my friend, I remember I still need the wisdom to know what you would do, the faith to follow through and the courage to do it.