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A Tribute to Charles Willis |
This Countdown pays tribute to Charles
Willis, our brother in Christ who died Sunday, March 12, in
Kinston, North Carolina. He was only 65.
We will miss him. He died of
increasing complications as a result of the stroke he suffered in August of
last year. High blood pressure runs in the
family.
A family memorial is being held in New
Jersey. It was Charles' wish that his ashes be scattered at the
grave of his father, Ralph Victor Willis. Besides brothers and sisters,
Charles is survived by his mother, Beatrice (87). Charles is also survived
by three adult children, Gregory, Bonnie and Brenda, and one
grandson. Gregory, who has some knowledge of the Bible, was beginning to
ask the kind of questions that may indicate he is searching for the truth.
Charles had three brothers, Ralph Jr., Howard (deceased), and Larry. He
also had three sisters, Bernice, Shirley, and Ida.
When Charles was born in Philadelphia,
PA in 1941, as the world plunged into World War II, God knew that He
was going to use Charles - but Charles did not know it until 1997. That is
when he responded to the Gospel message that had changed so many lives
before. He had seen and heard Herbert W Armstrong on TV, but did not ask
for counseling until more than a decade later. God granted Charles
repentance. "The goodness of God leads
to repentance." (Romans 2:4) Charles was given teh gift
of faith in Jesus Christ as his personal savior. "By the
grace [of Christ Jesus] you are saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of
God." (Ephesians 2:8)
Beatrice had not heard from her son for
twenty four years, and she did not know if he was dead or alive. Charles
had studied law at one time, but then his life took a turn for the worse.
Too embarrassed to return home, Charles moved away. When he came to
himself, he asked, "What must I do to be baptized?" He expected to hear
the answer, "study and pray." Instead, much to Charles' chagrin, he
was told, "Go see your mother." He answered, "Do I have to?" He was
told, "We are a commandment keeping Church - and one of the ten
commandments is - "Go see your mother!" It was the hardest thing he
ever had to do - but his actions and attitude were clearly - fruits of
repentance. "Bring forth therefore
fruits meet for repentance." (Matthew 3:8)
Charles' conversion began in earnest
when he was given God’s Holy Spirit at baptism in 2001. "Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts
2:38)Charles was 65 years
old when he died, but God had completed the conversion process in him that takes
place on this earth. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians
1:6)
Charles' life and journey to conversion
is a picture of God's loving intervention. His is a classical example of
how one is called out of the world to become a child of God. He grew in
grace and knowledge to the point where he will be useful to Christ in His
millennial rule. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: ...but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)
A friend said of him, "He'd pick me up
- Charles was quick with a 'good word'." His brother said of Charles,
"Everybody loved Chuck - since he was a kid." It is interesting that
Charles responded to a calling that was going to every nation. It was a
gospel message that was supported by brethren who were more unified than any
other group had been for thousands of years. Charles believed in the
unity and oneness of the brethren. "That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me." (John 17:21) "He that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved." (Matthew
24:13) Charles was faithful
till the end.
There
were three ladies who were constantly by Charles' side during his
ordeal in the hospital after his stroke. One of them said, "Charles is the
dad I wished I always had - I have known this man as my step father since
I was eleven years old."
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Brethren,
Passover is less than a month away. Passover trials are heavy this year -
please continue to pray for one another. The Passover and footwashing service
will be observed this year on Tuesday evening, April 11th. The Night To Be
Much Observed is the next evening, April 12th. The First Day of Unleavened Bread
is Thursday, April 13th. "Passover At Home" Audio Cassette tapes are being sent
out. If you are planning to keep Passover alone, or with a few
brethren, and you are in need of a Passover tape, please send us your
request as soon as possible.
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"This Gospel of the Kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
(Matthew 24:14)
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