Peace in my heart

by Em on April 4, 2012

I read the email from Stephanie. It started with “It is with the saddest state of heart that we find ourselves today”. Oh no, I thought. Someone is ill and needs our prayers. As I read further down into the email, it said “I am so very sorry to tell you that our Pastor, Dr. Foster, passed away last night”. Wait. Did she say Dr. Foster? Our pastor? This can’t be. Am I reading this right? Did she mean what she wrote? I had to read it over and over to make sure I understood. Tears flowed down my face as I came to accept the reality that it was true, Dr. Foster had passed away. Selfishly, I thought, what about me? I wasn’t ready for him to leave. He was teaching me. I was listening. I was learning. I needed to learn more. I wanted to learn how to have peace in my heart. I wasn’t done learning and he wasn’t done teaching.

I sit here with a heavy heart, devastated about his passing. I have never been personally introduced to Dr. Foster. He shook my hand twice maybe three times. After one service, he asked me how he did. He was trying to have a conversation with me, but all I said was awesome job – nothing else. I wanted to tell him, thank you. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, your love for GOD and all people, your honesty, your great sense of humor. I never got to tell him all I wanted to tell him. I never got to know him personally yet, he made a huge impact in my family’s lives.

I sit here, afraid of what is to come. My spiritual leader is gone. Who is going to lead me now? I learned from Dr. Foster to trust GOD’s plans. Because of his teachings, I have some peace in my heart. Rest in peace, Dr. Foster. Please say hello to my grandmother for me…until we meet again…

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, HE is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

3 comments

Em,

I feel the very same way you do. I wasn’t finished learning from this man whom I respected so much. Our leader has been stripped away from us and although we are all unsure of what is to come, we must trust that God will provide us with someone to carry that torch, ignited by our pastor.

Dave would want The Gathering family to continue to grow and for the movement he started to progress for years to come.

I know that because of the lessons we have learned from Dave, after all the dust settles from this tragedy, we will all be able to say that we are “still in one peace”.

by Ryan Sweeney on April 4, 2012 at 9:42 am. Reply #

I first attended the Gathering as part of an attempt to heal a broken marriage. The marriage stayed broke but I found the first spiritual shepherd of my life. With David Fosters words I understood. I am a better man because of Dr Foster. I will trust his teachings and expect more spiritual guides. While I wait I will “suit up,show up and do what God blesses”.
I trust Gods plan.

by David on April 4, 2012 at 10:33 am. Reply #

A Pastor that rides a Harley!!?? That was cool! “Why have a hobby that involves wearing a helmet?!”
I remember so many of his quotes –
“people are messy”, “get-up, suit-up & show-up”
I listened to his podcasts even when I lived out of state. We have prematurely lost one of the great Pastors ever – he related the Bible to today’s world so well.
I am so sorry – Dr. Foster will be sadly missed by many.

by Linda Sanders on April 4, 2012 at 9:55 pm. Reply #

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