A Rock Solid Servant of God

Last weekend I spent two days in Southern California. I attended a celebration service and funeral for my uncle, Jose Ibarra. Uncle Joe was married for 68 years to my mother's sister, my aunt Isabel. This past July, there was a celebration marking my uncle's seventy years of full time ministry. At 87 years old, Jose Ibarra was teaching Bible school classes and part of the leadership team of Templo Calvario in Santa Ana, California. A week ago Monday, he died suddenly from a heart attack.

Uncle Joe was part of a generation of Hispanic ministers in the Assemblies of God that helped pave the way for what has become the fastest growing segment of the AG. He pastored several churches and served as an officer in two Spanish AG districts. He also served as a national AG representative. Over  seventy years of ministry he mentored countless numbers of young ministers and helped strengthen churches up and down California. He was a leader at a time when the Hispanic Assemblies of God was expanding and reaching thousands of immigrants pouring in from Latin America. He was a leader at a time when there was never enough money or resources for what needed to be done. The offerings given by Hispanic Christians come from lower salaried jobs and resources. Most Hispanic churches still struggle financially because incomes are lower than English speaking churches. Most ministers of his era lived very modest lives. They lived in modest houses and drove economy cars, usually very used. The ministers of his generation worked incredibly hard and set a work ethic standard for generations that will follow.

On Friday night I rejoiced at the celebration service to hear all the stories, humorous recollections and the testimony of people deeply affected by his life. While there will be sadness, loss and grief, there is also  a tremendous admiration for a life lived in this manner. Two words were used over and over, "integrity" and "righteousness". He was a man of the Word, preacher, teacher, and he lived the Word of God.

Uncle Joe set the bar high. O God, help to keep that bar in sight as we live our lives. As a minister, may that bar propel to the highest that you want for me and from me.