Honoring Gordon Green

We were honored to present Gordon Green with the Distinguished Service Award during our Celebration Sunday service on May 19th. Pastor Brad Warkentine wrote this beautiful piece to recognize Gordon’s service:

One of the great texts in the Old Testament is Micah 6:8.
        He has showed you, O man, what is good.
        And what does the Lord require of you?
        To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Don’t you find encouragement when biblical truth is embodied in the life of someone you know? If God can do such works of grace in their lives, perhaps there is hope for you. The words of Micah have been coupled for weeks in my mind and heart with Gordon Green. I have known Gordon Green for 40 years and he has been a close friend and confidant for more than half of those years.

Micah asserts the Lord has showed us what is good. He then follows the assertion with a question, “What does the Lord require of each of us?” He answers his own question: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

In Gordon Green I have seen a good man…dare I say a righteous man. In him I have seen a person who given evidence of goodness and righteousness by acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

“TO ACT JUSTLY”
Gordon was always a leader among leaders. His words while serving on the board were few. Most often he would sit and listen, and when all others had finished he would calmly provide the wisdom the board needed to do “the right thing.” He backed his words with his actions. He also was among the few laymen that a pastor knew would provide sound confidential counseling.

“TO LOVE MERCY”
It is with interest that we read those words. It is not a matter of just being merciful. A great many things may cause us to have mercy. However,  Micah talks of one who loves mercy. This person delights or finds pleasure in mercy.” 

There was a very dark period in my ministry when I needed to make a decision that could have had a profound negative effect on a person’s live and maybe even mine. When I told Gordon I needed to call the District Superintendent, Gordon cautioned that if I called, I would not be able to keep a lid on the situation. My response was how could I stand before the congregation if I remained silent. He prayed for ME. 

Gordon was not concerned about a cover up. Unlike so many, his heart had already jumped to mercy, love, redemption.  Why does the church shoot its wounded? Gordon was far beyond those who drag another down, so they have the appearance of good. We have a debt of love to his merciful kindness.

“TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD”
Who ever saw or heard Gordon toot his own horn​? He consistently modeled “Loving God and Serving People.” Even that beat up antique putter, which he used to defy gravity on golf green, speaks of his gentle walk with God. It wasn’t hard to lose to him, because he was always the better “man”.

Thanks my friend for a life well lived.

-Rev. Brad Warkentine