Homegoing service for Victor Charles Jr.

It can be quite difficult to speak the words of comfort for a service when the person you are referring to was someone you grew up with.

Someone you referred to as your big cousin.

I’m not going to refer much to the early days of my cousin.

Most of us had our days where we did what we wanted to do or did what the streets taught us to do.

But I’m going to refer to my cousins later days.

I’ll never forget the night my uncle Huck hosted a family movie night and cookout in his backyard.

That was one of the most precious nights to me as it relates to Karen and Vic’s life.

With most of the family unaware of what took place, my wife engaged in a life altering conversation with Karen, which led to her and Victor surrendering their lives to the Lord.

It also led to them showing up at Flourishing Families Ministry which is the church that I Pastor.

They were hungry to know about God their creator. They wanted to know and understand what He said to them through the scriptures.

They felt the love that was present through his people.

I’ll always remember one of the purest questions I received from Victor.

I had mentioned the book of Job in one of my messages and after the message Victor raised his hand and said, “I don’t see a book called Job in the Bible. I see one called job.”

And the most precious thing about it was that he was sincere and not one single person laughed at the question.

From that point on, Karen and Victor became important parts of the FFM team.

They went from treating me as Cousin JB to Pastor J.

I watched him serve in the ministry until his body gave out.

I watched her take care of him and still serve in the ministry.

And not one person would have questioned her if she said I can’t serve anymore because of my responsibilities at home.

Karen, I will always love you and have your back for taking care of my big cousin.

To the rest of the family and friends assembled here today.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

There is a grieving going on here, but it is different for some than for others.

We will all miss my big cousin being here on earth with us.

He was one of the coolest cats you’ll ever know.

He was a huge sports fan.

He was a huge music fan.

He loved to two-step.

He loved his family.

He adored his wife.

He loved the brotherhood of FFM.

He loved God.

But those of us that are in Christ will see my big cousin again.

We will see him forever in eternity.

One thing I can promise you is that my big cousin hopes that everyone assembled here today that has not surrendered their life to Christ, will make that decision today.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And this phrase whoever believes in is not just a head knowledge of.

Believes is a Greek word pisteuo (pistovo) which means to trust in, to accept as true, and to put into the care or protection of someone.

This is what my big cousin wants for his friends and family.

Let’s not get it twisted.

The human body originated from the dust of the ground.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

We all will go at some point and time unless God ends this thing while we’re still alive.

When your body returns to the ground, where will your spirit spend eternity.

Jesus said this:

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

My big cousin lived by believing in Christ so the real him will never die.

That body may have ended, but he is now present with the Lord.

God loves us all and you will never know love like the love of God.

But to know the love of God you must surrender your ways and thoughts over to His ways and then your blinders will fall from your eyes and you will begin to experience the greatest love of all.

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

I’ll end with this passage.

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Karen as the days from your husbands passing get further and further away, and the calls cease and the visits dry up, know that nothing will be able to separate you from the love of Christ.

And you will always have your FFM community to do life with.

We love you.

If you heard these words today and something pricked your heart to surrender your life to Christ, come and see me when we dismiss.