Forrest D.
Moyer
For over fifty years, Forrest D. Moyer was a preacher of
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Born in 1929 and raised in
Texas, he began devoting himself to preaching while still
in High School. Since about the age of 16, he was preaching
weekly for small congregations around his home town of
Childress. He worked in local congregations in Texas,
Idaho, New Mexico, and California, spending the bulk of the
last forty years living and preaching in California.
1996 was a rough year for dad. He was beginning to
experience chest pain and exhaustion. His doctor put him on
a diet hoping that his apparent heart problem would show
signs of improvement. In November, he held a gospel meeting
with the group I work with outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.
This would be one of his last full week meetings. He did
not feel well then, and he was scheduled for some tests
shortly thereafter. Hoping that minor procedures would be
all that was needed, the news was not good. He had six
blockages and needed open heart surgery. On December 18,
this surgery took place, but with severe complications.
However, he did recover initially, and all seemed to be
going well. Within two months, he was able to preach once
again. Since this was his love, no one could keep him from
it.
Dad’s appearance of improvement rapidly changed in April.
He held a weekend meeting in Salinas, California on April
11-13, and was expecting to hold week-long meetings the end
of April and first part of May. His pain became
intensified, however, and he had to go back into the
hospital on April 25. His heart being in a severely
weakened condition, it quit pumping for him in the early
hours of April 30. It was just too weak to keep going. At
age 67, Forrest D. Moyer had preached for the last time.
But let no one think that his influence will not be felt
again. He devoted his life to preaching the gospel, and he
died doing what he loved to do, prepared for the eternal
abode for which he yearned. Over 400 people attended his
funeral in Fresno; and hundreds more will attest to the
good influence of Forrest Moyer. Hundreds of people that he
taught, baptized, and taught some more still carry the
light of his torch. His writings, books, and sermons are
still just as strong as ever: he still speaks.
As for me, I have lost a father, a friend, a mentor, and a
counselor. I miss him greatly. But I hope to carry on with
the legacy he left. Before his surgery in December, he
wrote letters to each of his children stressing the need to
serve the Lord. I want to let others see his great concern:
"May God grant you continued growth in the word and in your
ability to communicate that word. Remember what God told
Joshua: ‘turn neither to the right or to the left...’ Keep
away from extremes and from those who are extremists. Work
toward peace among all brethren through God’s way. This can
be done without compromise. Let love for all be a part of
your ministry.
"I do not have a very big material legacy to leave to you.
But I pray that the legacy of striving to live for God will
be of far greater value than anything else I could ever
give.... What I can offer to you is to live as Paul
directed Timothy: ‘But the goal of our instruction is love
from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere
faith.’ These bring the real joy in life."
With God’s help, I can fight the good fight of faith and
lay hold that the eternal inheritance in heaven (1 Pet.
1:3-4). Dad certainly helped give me the teaching and the
tools to make it so. How can thanks be adequately
expressed?
On the grave marker of Forrest D. Moyer will be the words:
"love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere
faith." May all who see this be reminded of a man who gave
his soul to the Almighty God. And may we all be encouraged
to live our lives with the same resolve. More than ever, I
look forward to being in Heaven, in that "wonderful home of
the soul."
Doy Moyer
