MY GREATEST HERO

MY GREATEST HERO

It is truly hard to believe how quickly time flies. Twenty years ago today at around 7:00 PM, my greatest hero slipped into eternity and went home to be with Jesus. There are times that I must admit that I really feel cheated. Cheated because Zach, Tanner, Lindsay, Emma Grace (soon to be born) and Baby Welte (soon to be born) will never know their "Pop-Pop" Welte on this side of heaven.

From the world's perspective, he was really a nobody. Yet at his Memorial service over 450 people stood in line for hours to greet our family. The local funeral director told us later that in all his years of doing funerals, he never saw one like this.

His childhood was a difficult one. He was raised in an abusive family with a Dad that beat him and sexually abused his kid sister for many years. He was sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle for survival. He became an alcoholic and lived a life of sin. Somehow in God's sovereignty, he met my Mom. They fell and love, and by her the example of her life, Dad wanted what she had. Pastor Walter J. Dick, former Executive Director of Montrose Bible Conference and now with the Lord, had the joy of leading my Dad to Christ and then married them. Under his ministry my Dad grew in his Christian walk and began to use his God-given gifts for the Lord.

He loved to sing and was encouraged to develop his gift. Throughout his lifetime he sang in various churches in the Philadelphia area as well as ministering in the prisons with the Salvation Army.

Back when we were young kids, Dad and Mom took us to Wildwood, New Jersey for a week. Walking down the Boardwalk we discovered the BOARDWALK CHAPEL. We stepped inside while a service was going on and the rest is history. Before we knew it, Dad was asked to share his testimony and sing, and that began an over 35 year involvement with that ministry.

Despite two heart attacks, strokes, colon cancer, and other physical challenges, Mom and Dad spent several summers as house parents at the Boardwalk Chapel. The week before Dad went to heaven, he was asked to give his testimony and sing. The song he chose was WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS. The last line of that great hymn reads: "Love so amazing, so divine! Demands my soul, my life, my all." After finishing the hymn, Dad sat down on the front row and had a massive stroke that affected the brain stem and never regained consciousness.

My Dad wasn't perfect, but he sure left us a wonderful legacy about the joy of serving Jesus. In the world's eyes, he was a nobody -- but because of what Jesus Christ did in his life, my Dad was a SOMEBODY. Dad, you are still my greatest hero! I love you.

THIS WEEK ON KESWICK TODAY, Colony of Mercy graduate, Tom Paschke, shares how God has been at work in his life. Listen on-line at www.americaskeswick.org.