![]() ![]() He touched too many lives for it to be otherwise. ![]() No one was surprised that an overflow crowd gathered at First Millersville for Dan’s funeral. Dan served in virtually every capacity of leadership in the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association and was on the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board until his failing health – due to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease - prevented him from doing so any longer. He loved sports and used it to share the gospel, serving on the board of directors of Sports Crusaders, an organization dedicated to making Christ known through sports. He also understood the kingdom was worldwide and sought to expand it on more than 30 mission trips. He was a shepherd of the highest order to the flock which God entrusted to His care. He was a wonderful husband for the 42 years he was married to his wife, Cathy, and was loving dad to two sons.ĭan, you might say, was your typical Missouri Southern Baptist pastor. ![]() For more than 25 years he pastored First Baptist Church Millersville in rural west Cape Girardeau County and as a friend told me recently, no one in the community was more respected than Dan. So it is no small thing when a pastor dies.ĭan Hale died March 16 at the age of 62. They are known community-wide, often being the first on the scene of a disaster or tragedy, no matter the weather conditions or the time of day or night. Pastors are personal friends as well as spiritual shepherds in a world of wolves. Most importantly, they faithfully stood in the pulpit every Sunday and preached the Word of God, perhaps leading us to the Lord and helping us grow in our relationship with Christ. They were there on our spouse’s deathbed, comforting with Scripture, prayers and tender words. They were there for the birth of our children and later, leading the dedication ceremony and the church to make a covenant to provide for their spiritual nourishment throughout their lives. They were there when we got married, leading us in our sacred vows before God. They were there when we were sick, praying for healing. We share many of life’s most important events with them. Certainly the death of a friend impacts our lives, particularly when that friend is our pastor. The death of a family member is the most profound. One of the most difficult changes to deal with in life is when death comes to someone near us. ![]()
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