Why do I love Jesus?

Because He loved me first. Because He loves me! He gave His all for me and I now get to live my life in service to Him bringing glory and honor and praise to him.

That’s how Uncle Allan lived. Whether it was that smiling face at the door of church, or that boystrous voice on the old, old story Singing her up. Or that person you heard unashamed to witness or pray whenever, wherever!

I stand here today priviledged to speak at the funeral of a man I loved dearly, he was always there for me, and was so proud of me no matter what.

Everyone needs someone like Allan Forsey in their life.

Someone asked me the other day if my Uncle was a Christian. I laughed not to be rude but the fact that this question was asked about Uncle Allan made me smile.

Anyone who knew this man knew about Jesus. He had zero inhibitions about sharing his faith. Uncle Allan loved his family and friends no doubt, but he loved the Lord with his whole heart.

Makes me smile when I think of this because Aunt Madonna and Uncle Allan made sure that they shared the gospel with all they came in touch with. They not only shared it but they lived it.

They were never wealthy but they had wealth that no one could touch.

Matthew 6:19–20 KJV 1900

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

You see they had met Jesus and He made a world of difference in their lives.

You may ask why do I love Jesus?

It all began when my Aunt and Uncle brought me to church. There was not a Sunday that I didn’t miss. I was so proud to sit next to them in church. Uncle Allan always had candy tucked in his pocket and a pen for me to sit and scribble with.

We may wonder if I heard a thing. But if you sit next Uncle Allan you heard him singing top of his lungs whatever hymns were being sung. Why? Because he had a personal encounter with the one he was singing about.

He had gained the riches of eternity because he had placed his life in God’s hands. Did he have it easy? No, but he faith in God was that constant that got him through whatever came his way.

Not only would he sing but he would testify, and shout the pastor through with his amen’s and praise the Lord’s and don’t forget Hallelujahs in that strong Grand Bank accent that never ever left him.

Every chance he would tell us about how Jesus died on the cross and not only did he die but rose again and that is worth shouting about!

He knew that salvation means to be born again. Where your name is the new name written down in glory! He rejoiced about that always.

The Bible was the road map of his life. It was always out and well worn and King James version too.

He would want all those in hearing today to know this Jesus that He loved and served. He most importantly would want his loved ones and friends to be ready.

You never know when death may come and he would never want us to miss out on eternity with Jesus.

John 3:3 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Salvation means to be born again and not only born again but filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 3:5 KJV 1900

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Uncle Allan believed this with his whole heart and made it his life’s goal to tell others this too. He was not clergy but he was loyal to his church. Wheather it was Grand Bank, Point Leamington or St. John’s. He helped however he could. He led song services, Crusaders leader, prayed whenever called on, attended seniors cottage meetings, broadcast tapings, ushered and the list goes on.

Uncle Allan was often first one to church. Sunday was God’s day and everyone knew it was a day to attend church, everyone who knew Al Forest that is. He never missed going. Going to church was high priority for him. You’d see him trotting off looking dressed to the nines to church and so proud to be doing so.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

As a little girl, I was Pentecostal from the get go. Yes, it had a lot to do with my Uncle. My nan and pop lived away in Ontario and when they came home in the summer they wanted to take me to church with them. They attended the Salvation Army church and so off we went. I loved to go to church. When I got there I would not go in the SA church building. You see that was not the church I was used to attending and I kicked up a stink, so much so pop had to bring me down to the Pentecostal church. Because I said this is not my church I need to go to Uncle Allan’s church.

Some may say I was brainwashed. But I didn’t care. For sure Uncle Allan didn’t care. He loved that and whomever he came in contact with heard that story as he would tell it with great pride.

I gave my heart to Jesus as a child. I grew up singing in church and being a part of things And dedicated to my church. My uncle set a good example that way for me.

I was blessed to be loved by wonderful people. God blessed me with a wonderful family. People who spurred me on no matter what.

I remember being in university and it was a time when it was easy not to go to church. There were times all the church talk could have gotten on our nerves. I will admit I felt that.

But in the Forsey household especially you would be loved lots and you would also hear about God.

When I attended MUN I used to use the excuse I couldn’t go to church because I didn’t have a ride. Boy was that a mistake to say in Aunt Madonna and Uncle Allan’s presence. They made sure that could never be an excuse and came picked me up and brought me to Elim with them.

They helped keep me grounded in my faith even when I felt like giving up.

When I told Uncle Allan and Aunt Madonna I was going to Bible College. The smile on their faces is something I would never forget.

When I finished school and didn’t get a church right away. Down he went to head office telling PAONL leadership they were crazy not to hire me.

Everyone needs an Uncle Allan in their life.

If you went contrary to his beliefs you may get the classic nod of disagreement. Which I love to remember.

But he would not hate you or get angry. He would steer you in the right direction according to the word of God.

Psalm 60:4 KJV 1900

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

Uncle Allan has lived his life according to God’s Word the Biblical banner of truth and would never veer away from that.

God saw him through everything in his life. When trouble arose what would he do?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I remember hearing him give thanks and praise to God for all that things he had done for Him. Anything he had around him he said it was given to him by God. God was always acredited to giving him anything he had. That was evident in all our conversations.

He knew how to pray. If you were sick. Call on Uncle Allan to pray. He wasn’t ashamed or afraid to pray wherever he was.

When Michaela was in the hospital that burden hit him hard. He was so concerned for her. He was having trouble with mobility then but he made the trek down to visit with us in the hospital.

He didn’t come for a social call, although I know he wanted to see us.

He came to pray.

You see God made a difference in his life and when you have had a life changing encounter with Jesus you have to tell the whole world!

My sweet uncle took this seriously.

His motto for his life was summed up in two things:

Matthew 22:37–39 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

So to his family and friends today I close with this. Don’t put off tomorrow what can be done today.

Philippians 3:14 NLT

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Be ready for eternity. If you knew this man you knew about Jesus. He never put off the chance to share about the Lord.

I also care about who will take up that genuine love and concerned for our family?

Who will be the one to pray us through?

Who will be the one to set time aside to seek His face on behalf of the coming generations should God tarry.

Who will witness without inhibitions?

Who will sing and shout glory to His name?

God’s grace begins to prepare us for holy living and the ministry of witnessing to others. Once we have a transforming story, we are mandated by Jesus to tell the story.

Scripture tells us that we must always be ready to tell others the good news.

We must be prepared as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient.

Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction” (CEB).

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15,16, “When anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready … Yet do it with respectful humility” (CEB).

Let us make sure we are prepared not only to meet Jesus one day face to face, but that we are ready to meet Jesus in the faces of those in our path each day.