March 21, 2018
Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Sometimes, the simple things in life mean the most. Such is the
case that I am about to share with you. In April of 2005, we came to
this church on Guilford Avenue called, Grace Baptist Church. In about 2
week, I was involved in teaching the Sunday School class. That's when I
began to notice something. Every Sunday morning, there would be a
fresh cup of water next to the podium. Then, I began to see Brother
Dean Marion coming into the room with a little tray of cups of water for
the speakers and for the piano player. Everyone got a cup of fresh
water, each Sunday morning. At times, I would be teaching the Sunday
School class and then preaching the morning or evening service. Each
time, there was the cup of cold water present. Mark 9:41 says, " For
whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye
belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his
reward." Last Wednesday night, Brother Dean brought in a cup of water
for me and placed it on a special wooden tray that he had constructed in
a glass coaster so as to not stain the wood finish. I drank half of
the cup of water after I taught the Wednesday night service and set the
rest of it on the coaster. This past Sunday morning, the same cup was
still there, half full of water. The two white dots in the parking lot
that marked his Dean's parking spot were unoccupied. He had a fall and
did not come to church. Then, this morning, he had some pains and the
rescue squad was called, but brother Dean Marion has gone on to glory to
see his Savior face to face. He will be missed to say the least. I
will especially miss him each time a cup of water is brought to the
pulpit or teaching podium. Over the past years, Dean faithfully brought
to me over 2,500 cups of water. Of course, Brother Dean was faithful
in a lot more than my water. He often was the first one at church,
opening the doors and setting the thermostats throughout the building.
His handiwork is seen on the book racks on the backs of the chairs in
the assembly room and in the large cross hanging behind the pulpit over
the baptistry. Other woodworking can be seen throughout the church. He
would recognize a problem and then fix it. So, I will miss Brother
Dean Marion, the cups of water and the smile with which he greeted
people as they came into the door of "Grace Baptist Temple,'" then,
"Grace Baptist Church." and finally, "New Grace Baptist Church."
Praise God for a cup of water from one of the servants of the Lord Jesus
Christ. May we all be just as faithful in the endeavor that God has
given us to do in the place where we are.
Pray for Deana Bea and other members of his family in the passing of Brother Dean Marion.
Just imagine, being face to face with Christ your Savior!!
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