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Joshua Weaver Went to Glory

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I know that I have not posted in a while… but for a reason. I was out of town and then I received the news that my dear brother and former Worship Pastor here at Shepherd of the Hills Church, Joshua Weaver, had died and gone on to be with the Lord on January 1, 2008.

Joshua was a Godly man who blessed my life and our church each and every time he led worship. I wanted him to be the first thing I posted about in 2008 and I did NOT want to post until after his funeral, which was today at 11:00 a.m.

The service today was a celebration of his life. We sang a couple of the songs that HE had written and Coach Bobby Brasswell spoke for a few minutes. There was a choir called Voice Of Praises that Joshua used to belong to, and they sang a couple worship songs. I spoke for about 30 minutes, honoring his life, encouraging his wife, Irene, and referenced the scripture in Philippians that says “to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” It was a wonderful service, and I am sure that Joshua would have been pleased, and I believe that the Lord was glorified.

I want to encourage you to pray for his wife, Irene, that God would strengthen her each and every day.

Joshua, my dear brother, I know you are in a better place, and I know that you are with Jesus. Thank you for letting your light shine here at Shepherd, and thank you for using your gifts in leading us to worship the Lord with songs of praise. You are so missed, but we are thankful that you are at Jesus’ side. We shall meet once again “on that beautiful shore.” We miss you, we miss your presence, we miss your voice, we miss your smile, and we miss your worship.

In love,
Pastor Dudley

Kisa Renee Hughes

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Kisa Renee Hughes was born on September 23, 1973, in Harbor City, California to her loving parents, Ronald and Barbara Hughes. She was the first born of five children, Kilee, Ronald Jr., Solomon and Gabriel. She accepted Christ into her heart at an early age and her devotion continued throughout her life.

Kisa spent the first part of her life in Orange County, California where she attended various Christian schools. As an adolescent she moved with her parents to Riverside, California where she first atttended University Heights Middle School and later John Wesley North High. During her freshman year Kisa was introduced to basketball and volleyball. She received top honors in both sports.

In 1991, in fact, she was selected to represent the USA in the Junior Olympics for basketball. She continued her basketball career in college. She received a full-scholarship at Cal State Fullerton where, in her freshman year, she was selected as Big-West “Player of the Year.” In her sophomore year Kisa was once more drafted with a full-scholarship – this time she was to play basketball at University of California Los Angeles. Once transferred at UCLA, she continued her record setting career by leading the PAC-10 in field percentage with .577 mark. Among the many honors that Kisa received throughout her career, she is remembered for being nominated for All-Pac-10 Conference selection in 1995 and for being ranked second in Pac-10 rebounding and field goal percentages, also in 1995. Finally, in that same year, she received honorable mention All-American by Basketball Times. Perhaps Kisa’s greatest achievement is that she was only one of four players at UCLA to have scored 30 points and 20 rebounds in a single game during her career. In 1996, Kisa completed her college career securing a place among those players who had been ranked on the all-time school rebounding list.
Upon graduation, Kisa was recruited to play professional basketball internationally. She did so in China, Germany and Austria.

Later she was employed by the City of Los Angeles where she served as a Youth Development Specialist for the Rewarding Youth Achievement Program. Kisa was instrumental in assisting youth in the urban community with reaching their educational and employment goals.
Kisa also participated in the American Heritage Tour Program, where she visited college campuses and historical sites throughout the country. Her main goal was to expand the minds of youths by showing them something outside of their own neighborhoods. Kisa assisted over 200 youths in getting accepted into colleges and universities all over the country. Two years into her city service, she earned the position of Interim Educational Director for the Youth Opportunity Program where she had oversight of many educational projects. She was an inspiration to students and staff and a true champion for education in the Watts community.

With her 6’4″ height, magnetic personality and compassion for others, Kisa was the very image of a reserved “gentle giant.” She was a long-time member of Athletes in Action, a worldwide Christian fellowship for athletes. In addition she was an active member of the The Shepherd of the Hills church in Porter Ranch, California. She will forever be remembered for her loving spirit, her strength, dedication and passion for what she believed.

Tony Award or Oscar Award?

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Tony Janacito passed away this past week. He was 92 years of age. I visited with his wife, Jane, last night for a few minutes on the phone, while most of the world was watching the Oscars. People were engaged with interest, wondering who would garner the next golden Oscar statue, or gazing upon the style of clothing that the movie stars were wearing.

Meanwhile, I was chatting with Jane, who lost her husband, which was, indeed, a far greater concern to me. You see, it’s when you lose your husband, wife, or any loved one, that things take on an eternal perspective.

Many of you do not know Tony, but trust me, there are a LOT of people who DO know Tony… Because every Sunday of his life, with very few exceptions, Tony led someone down the aisles of our church to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In all my years of ministry, I have never met someone who so diligently led men and women to salvation. Every Sunday, I’d see Tony walking down the aisle… and to his side would be someone that he had befriended and led to the Lord, and now they were stepping forward to accept Jesus as Lord.

Talk about receiving a trophy!!! When Tony got to heaven, he received his heavenly reward. There are many people who are grateful to Tony for taking the time and the interest to be concerned with their eternal soul.

Tony, I want you to know that you are going to be missed in a mighty, mighty way. Our church will never be the same without you. You were a true soulwinner. God used you in ways most people only dream of. Thank you for always being concerned about the lost.

May you dwell in your heavenly home with your eternal rewards forever and ever and ever.

One Year Ago… Pastor Tim’s Dad

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One year ago today, Pastor Tim’s Dad went on to Glory. The picture up above is a picture of Tim and I and his mother Judy the day of his daddy’s funeral which was organized by Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah. I remember flying back to a little town back in Illinois for his funeral and I watched as Tim spoke to a room full of people that had known his dad. In front of family, friends, Christians and non-Christians I watched as God gave Pastor Tim the strength and words to address that audience. Every one of you would have been proud of Tim as he fought back tears and stood as a messenger of hope and preached a message of salvation to those who had come to pay their respects to his father. It is a moment I will never forget.

Yes.. the picture of the old house that I posted on my blog a few days ago was the house that Pastor Tim grew up in. Tim gave me a tour of the home and the area that he had grown up in. It was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out in the country.

But we were there for Bill Winters funeral. Tim’s dad was a great man. A gentle man with a gentle spirit, a farmer, a teacher, a father, a friend. I rarely ever look at Pastor Tim, that I can’t help but think of his father Bill. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. For Pastor Tim is also a very caring, loving, gentle man. A father, teacher and friend.

Will you do me a favor today? Will you pray for Pastor Tim today? And just ask God to strengthen and comfort him. It’s never an easy thing to come to a day like today and not struggle to some degree. Timbo… I love you and I thank God that you are the friend of all friends. May you continue to bless us the way your father blessed others.