Funeral Service Dr. Biberstein

A Service of Christian Worship

Celebrating the Life of Rev. Dr. David D. Biberstein

11-1-24

Prelude: David Williams on the organ (starting around 10:45am?)

Like a River Glorious – arr. Lani Smith

May the Mind of Christ My Savior – arr. Jack Schrader

Blessed Assurance – arr. John Ness Beck

How Great Thou Art – arr. Janet Linker

Precious Lord, Take My Hand – arr. Diane Bish

Note: We will have the slideshow pictures showing in the sanctuary

Welcome, Scripture Reading, and Prayer: Rev. Rick Schwartz

You may be seated!

On behalf of the family of Rev. Dr. David Biberstein, we want to welcome you to a service of Christian worship celebrating the life of Dr. Biberstein.

My name is Pastor Rick Schwartz; I serve here at First Missionary Church in Berne, IN, and it is an honor to help lead his memorial service today.

First of all, we want to offer our condolences and sympathies to Joleen, Thad, and Dathen, and your families. We are thankful that he is with the Lord Jesus Christ—Jesus was and is his Savior, Lord, and Treasure, and we firmly believe that as the Apostle Paul said, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Dr. Biberstein has experienced gain, because He is with the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, we also know that death is described as an enemy in the Bible. Death was introduced way back in the book of Genesis chapter 3 when Adam and Eve first ate from the tree that God told them not to eat from—and both physical death and spiritual death were the consequences.

So if you are here today and missing and grieving over Dr. Biberstein’s death, that’s appropriate. Jesus was angry at death before he raised his friend Lazarus from the grave. So we encourage family and friends to pour out your heart, your emotions, your grief to the Lord, for He is our Shepherd.

I personally got to know Dr. Biberstein in a couple of ways…

1. First, Dr. Biberstein pastored here as a senior pastor, an interim pastor at First Missionary Church here in Berne from 1988-1992. He was the guy who hired my dad, Jim Schwartz, as the youth pastor here when my parents came off the mission field from Haiti and moved back to Berne, so Dr. Biberstein, is my first memory as a little boy of what a senior pastor was and is.

2. Second, I had the privilege of having Dr. Biberstein as my professor at Taylor University Fort Wayne, formerly Fort Wayne Bible College from 2003 – 2007. And many of us, his former students think of him not as Dr. Biberstein, but as Beebs, or Dr. Beebs…because he was so personal—and he taught us not as a professor removed from us—but as pastor who loved us and shepherded us.

And I am very tempted to start telling all sorts of stories about him…but I will do that later in the Memories section…

Because if he were here, I think he would the focus of his service first and foremost to be not about him, but about God, about Jesus Christ.

In fact, I remember, sometimes as a student around him, I would carelessly use the word “Awesome.” “That game last night was awesome.” “Awesome job.” And if Dr. Biberstein heard me use the word “awesome”, he would pause, and get real serious and say “Schwartz…” and stare me in the eyes…you just used a word that should only be reserved for God. Only God is awesome. Remember that Schwartz.”

“Sorry Dr. Biberstein…please don’t lower my grade…”

And I have never forgot it.

So I want to read a passage, a very famous passage, one of Dr. Biberstein’s passages—because He always described the work of pastoring—not as a CEO, or a manager—but shepherding.

And we shepherd—He shepherded people—out of the Psalm 23—because God—He is the Shepherd. He is the awesome God. And God is your Shepherd today as you grieve and thank God for Dr. Biberstein’s life.

Let me read it.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley, a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Let’s pray…

I want to invite Brian Habegger to sing “That Beautiful Stream.”

Beebs loved music—you will see that reflected today in our service.

This was a song that Dr. Biberstein knew well—not just in English but in German.

And an invitation to seek God and drink only from Him, nothing else.

Special Music: "That Beautiful Stream" (Brian Habegger sings; Mike Wilson - piano)

Congregational Singing: (David Wiliams - organ; Mike Wilson - leads singing)

"To God Be the Glory" (verses 1, 3)

"How Great Thou Art" (verses 1, 3, 4)

Memories: - Rev. Rick Schwartz

I have the privilege of reading a few memories of Dr. Biberstein from some of his former students.

From Pastor Kent Norr, Senior Pastor at Pettisville Missionary Church in Ohio.

“When I enrolled at Taylor Univ./Fort Wayne for Pastoral Ministries, Dr. Dave & I had an immediate connection. We were both from Berne. My dad and Dave were friends. He understood my farm background; and he helped me become the pastor I am today. He championed the call to ‘preach the word’ and to ‘shepherd’ well the people God entrusts to us.

Dr. Dave leaves a rich legacy of steadfast faith in God; a confident hope in the gospel; and a deep love for people.”

From Pastor Jeff Lawson who lives in Saint Cloud, MN pastoring South Long Lake Church and working bi-vocationally as a chaplain at Coldspring Granite Company) “I attended 1985-1988 and then came back in 1995 and graduated in 1997. It was during my second stint that one of mine and Bib's best buddies, Bryan Heinen died from a brain tumor. I was taking an exam and Bib's waited for me to finish and then called me in the hall to tell me that Bryan had passed away. We held each other in the hall and cried together. We then prayed for Bryan's family.

He was always Pastor to me. I loved him very much!”

From Jared and Kate Gutierrez, former students of Dr. Beebs, and missionaries now serving in Guatemala…

Kate writes:

My husband &; I met &; began dating at TUFW. A favorite date spot was a small, Mexican

restaurant just off of Rudisill Boulevard. One afternoon we walked inside the restaurant & our

professor, Dr. B and his wife Jolleen, were also eating there. We said hello & hugged them, and

then sat down at our own table to eat. Dr. B. and Jolleen finished their meal & left before us. We

enjoyed our food & when it came time to pay our bill, the waiter let us know that the nice

gentleman and his wife – who we’d been speaking with earlier – had paid for our meals.

As two young, broke, crazy-in-love college students…tacos were delicious, but FREE tacos were even

better! We didn’t fully understand it at the time, but Dr. B. & Jolleen had planted a seed of

generosity in our hearts. Dr. B’s. classes often focused on discipleship, but Dr. B’s. everyday life

& marriage to Jolleen lived the art of discipleship.

A few years later, Dr. B. was the man who

took us through premarital counseling, with an understanding & focus on the calling that we

would one day be full-time missionaries in Guatemala. We’ve been married for 15 years, have

six children have been living and teaching at a Bible Institute in Guatemala for the last nine

years. Our house is located on the Bible school campus & our home is a place where college

students from all over Central America are welcomed inside each school year to eat & fellowship

together. We often serve…TACOS.

From Michael Sprunger:

Sprunger is a former student, now serves as a Hospice Chaplain through Parkview says (and is related), and like a good relative has some good insights:

“One of Biberstein’s stories that he told was that he saw a possum on his property, and attempted to shoot it with a .22. rifle. It was near his car, and he ended up shooting both of his front tires.”

Mike writes that Dr. Biberstein spoke at one of their churches retreats—this is a church called Berne Evangelical Church—Beebs spoke at their fall retreat. And Mike drove him off and dropped him off at his place. While at Dr. Biberstein’s home, Beebs gave him a tractor ride and while on the ride, the tractor ran out of gas. He couldn’t see in the tank since he was too short.”

Mike also writes “that Dr. Biberstein told the story when his wife Joleen was criticized and treated poorly at a Bible study at one of their churches. Beebs told her that he would resign right away for her if that’s what she felt was best…”

From Jay Platte, Dr. Platte who taught at FWBC, and was dear friends with Dr. Biberstein:

Through many years Dave and I have been connected. Ambassadors quartet, including a coast to coast tour in the summer of 1965 and the first year of Singing Collegians. (Ambassadors quartet toured extensively from Fall of '64 to Spring of "66. Dave sang 1st Tenor and played 3rd trumpet.) His wedding. We had contact in one form of another in the intervening years. Then as head of the Pastoral Ministries program. I had the privilege of joining him in Worship class, where I gave input of hymns and songs. Frankly, that was one of the most fulfilling times with him. I always appreciated his faithfulness to God’s word and spiritual encouragement. This world has lost a great man, but we know he is with the Lord. Praise the Lord.

From Shawn Harrison who pastors at Grace Missionary Church in Celina, Ohio:

This picture hangs in my office at Grace Missionary. Shortly after I started, I stumbled across it and hung it up. If you look closely at the church sign, you'll notice who the pastor was at the time: Rev D. D. Biberstein. And this is why the picture now hangs in my office.

Pastor Dave would move on from pastoring Grace to teaching at Fort Wayne Bible College (also known as Taylor University Fort Wayne / TUFW). When I started in 2003, he was in charge of the Pastoral Ministries program. I had no desire to be a Senior Pastor; I wanted to be a Youth Pastor. But I had signed up with Pastoral Ministries so I didn't have to take a foreign language.

A few years after graduating, I met up with him for lunch because I needed his guidance. For a year, I had been wrestling with God about stepping away from youth ministry and becoming a senior pastor. Beebs looked at me with his famous grin and chuckled, "About time, Harrison. What took you so long?" He had always believed that this is where I belonged, that this was God's call upon my life, what God had wired me to do, to pastor a church and teach them how to love God and live out His word.

Aside from my family, Biberstein was my biggest cheerleader. I am where I am today in large part because of him. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. He pushed me when I wanted to throw in the towel. He inspired me; he taught me; he mentored me.

His love for Jesus and God's glory deepened my own love for Jesus and God's glory. His love for the Bible and teaching others became my own love. ("Always remember the 5 G's - God's glory, God's greatness, God's goodness, God's guidance, and God's grace. Teach your people the 5 G's.")

David Biberstein was my professor, my mentor, and my friend. His life impacted mine in so many ways. I am forever grateful to him for pouring into me everything that he did, especially what he taught me about the God who saved me and called me. When I look at this picture, I am reminded of these things, of my friend and the goodness of our God.

Beebs - Now you're truly beholding the glory and greatness of God ... Can't wait to see you again.

My dad, Pastor Jim Schwartz who currently serves as a Pastor at First Mennonite Church in Berne said this about Dr. Biberstein:

“When we came back from the mission field in Haiti to Berne, I was 32 years old. Dr. Biberstein was senior pastor here at First Missionary Church in Berne. And Dave heavily recruited me to be the youth pastor at First Missionary Church. I probably would not have gotten back into youth ministry were it not for Dave and ended up staying 26 years in student ministry from 1989 to 2015.

I know for me personally...as a student of his…

1. I took Dr. Biberstein’s preaching courses—he was the professor I first learned to preach under and still use his training in my weekly sermon prep.

2. I also remember vividly his pastoral theology courses. And each class was very interesting…because he would randomly call one of us students to come forward in front of the class and be in the “hot seat” for the day, where we were the “Pastor.” And Dr. Biberstein acted role playing. In fact, I learned from Joleen that the focus of his doctoral research was using role playing in the classroom.

a. So one of us students would play the role of pastor and he would play the role of one our congregants who would come to us with an issue or problem.

b. Beebs was always extremely entertaining. One of his most used “characters” was Deacon Ralph, who represented a difficult leader in his church that would come to him with a problem.

c. I know for my role playing—he acted out a congregant, a groom who came to his own wedding drunk, and I had to lead through it.

d. One of the role plays involved a man who believed he was demon possessed and Beebs was shrieking, screaming—really getting into the role.

e. Former student Marsha Boyanowski said, “Can't begin to say how much Biebs changed my life and way I looked at ministry. He had a deep impact on me and my husband as we navigated through Taylor U. I'll never forget having to play his "wife" in his role plays in class and the"fight"we had, the way he walked me through my granddaughters'death and the honor he bestowed on both me and my husband by giving us the pastor's heart award. He will be truly missed but I'm sure he's at Jesus's feet now. Love you, my friend. Marsha boyanowski”

f. Each class was about 20 to 25 minutes of role playing (and I don’t think any of us did well) but then we discussed these real life scenarios.

3. I will always remember him as a Pastor Professor—he knew his stuff and taught well, but he always did so from a Pastor’s heart.

4. I will always remember him as a man who loved his wife and family…Joleen, he would often talk affectionally about you in class, almost embarrassingly so—showing us the importance of loving our families well. He would talk about how Monday night was family night—popcorn night.

5. I will always remember Biberstein as a man who loved the Lord—he had a passion to know the Lord, and He wanted us to know and teach the Lord. He was very concerned that modern American churches were too light and fluffy. That we really didn’t focus on God or teach people about God from His Word. He absolutely loved the Lord and wanted others to love the Lord, too.

We are all thankful for the legacy that Beebs had on us.

Special Music: "Footsteps of Jesus" (Brian Habegger sings; Mike Wilson - piano)

Message: Rev. Dr. Raymond Hylton - (using Isaiah 40)

Congregational Singing: "Amazing Grace" (David Williams - organ; Mike Wilson - singing)

Benediction: Rev. Rick Schwartz (I will also give final instructions and invite everyone to lunch)

A few instructions before I close our time in prayer and Scripture reading:

1. After today’s service, we will be headed to MRE Cemetery just west of Berne for the burial and committal service. You are welcome to join us.

2. Following that committal service, we will come back to the church and eat lunch together in the gym. The gym is located back in this area. Anyone is invited. If you are coming back from the cemetery, we encourage you to park in the back parking lot and enter through the gym entrance—door #6. And we will continue to fellowship and honor His legacy.

Let me read Scripture and then close in prayer.

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, this:

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray…

At this time, I want to invite the funeral staff forward.

The funeral staff and myself will lead Dr. Biberstein’s body out through the center aisle.

And family we ask that you follow us out.

Once the family has left the sanctuary, then you are all dismissed.

Postlude: "Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah" (David Williams - organ)

Pallbearers:

Thaddeus Biberstein

Dathan Biberstein

Josie Biberstein

Dan Study

Mark Herman

Gavin Devito

Dr. Biberstein

Committal Service:

It is a joy and honor to be with you as we celebrate Dr. Biberstein’s life today, and right now as we prepare to bury Dr. Biberstein’s body in the ground.

Just a few reminders about God’s Word as we prepare to bury Dr. Biberstein’s body…

Reminder #1: We are reminded that death is an enemy. We were not created to die, but to be with God. Back in the Garden of Eden at the very beginning, death was introduced as a consequence to when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. So if death feels very unnatural and like an enemy today—that’s why—it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Reminder #2: But death is not the end of the story. Since Jesus Christ came, lived, died on the cross, and rose on our behalf, death can be dealt with because Jesus dealt with sin and thus dealt with death. And that is good news! Jesus took the death penalty for our sin on our behalf if we believe and trust in Him.

And so We are reminded that because of that, and because Dr. Biberstein’s hope was in Jesus, Dr. Biberstein is not here. His body is here, but his soul is present with the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Jesus, while hanging on the cross, told the thief next to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” So we can know confidently that Dr. Biberstein is with the Lord Jesus Christ right now. We are simply burying his body. Reminder #3: Even though it is very hard for us, for Dr. Biberstein, Scripture says it is actually better. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…

So Scripture says that to die and depart is actually gain—why? Because we get to be with Jesus. So we miss him and we grieve for him, but we rejoice with Dr. Biberstein that He is with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Reminder #4: Because of this truth, Scripture says we do not grieve as those who have no hope. In other words, it is very appropriate to grieve today—missing Dr. Biberstein (even Jesus wept at his friend Lazarus’ death).

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says: 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. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. If we are still alive when Jesus returns, Scripture says: vs. 15 “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Vs.16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Some powerful words there! We believe that one day Jesus will come back to this earth, and bring all those who have already died with him (including Dr. Biberstein!)(or us too if we are in Christ) And if we die in Christ now before Jesus returns, If Christ is our Savior and Lord, we will see Dr. Biberstein too! So both for Dr. Biberstein and for us, we will be with the Lord forever. Today is more of a see you later than a good bye. Finally, #5—Scripture says that for Dr. Biberstein and all those in Christ, they will get a resurrection body. When we die, our souls go to be with Jesus, and our bodies go to the ground to decay. But one day, Jesus will give us a new resurrection body like his. 1 Corinthians 15 says: The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (it is like Jesus’). We have hope that one day, Jesus will return and give a new resurrection body to all his people. A body that doesn’t decay, get sick, break down, or die.

Let’s pray.

Father, we thank you for the time that you gave Dr. Biberstein on this earth, and the tremendous blessing and leader he was to his family, his university and students, his churches, and community. We thank you for him. At the same time, we also miss him, and grieve.

So I pray that you would comfort this dear family and friends who miss and love Dr. Biberstein. Walk with them day by day, Embrace them; wrap your arms around them.

But we are reminded we have tremendous hope—b/c of Jesus, He lives, and we will one day see him again.

So Father, we commit Dr. Biberstein’s body to the ground, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, knowing that Dr. Biberstein is not here, he is with you, and one day you will raise and give him a new resurrection body when you renew all of creation. Thank you again Father for the tremendous hope we have in Christ.

Turn it over the funeral home. Please take all the time you need out here today.