Howard Hendricks, for 60 years a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, is now with his beloved Lord, seeing Him face to face.  As stated in this portrait at the Dallas Seminary site, Hendricks “directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond.” I am one of those.

A master storyteller and illustrator, here is the Hendricks story that has stuck with me more than any other (I used this story to open a sermon from Leviticus in 1998:

Early this year a long-time friend phoned Howard Hendricks, Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. It seems that this friend was moving to the Dallas area and wanted Howard’s recommendation for a church to attend. “Well, tell me, what kind of church are you looking for?” asked Howard. The friend laid out a long series of requirements, including the theological position of the church, the quality of personal relationships, and the absence of cliques and groups. Howard responded, “Friend, you’re looking for a perfect church. I don’t know of a church like that, but if you find one . . . don’t join it. You’ll ruin it!” Howard went on to tell his friend, “Do you have people in your church? Well, if you’ve got people, you’ve got problems.”

But Hendricks’ primary impact on me was indirect. He and Ray Stedman were at Dallas Seminary together and became lifelong friends, hammering out together theological issues and, particularly, philosophy of ministry issues. Ray was my pastor at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto at a particularly formative time, and one of the most influential pastors and preachers in my life. You can read about the relationship of Stedman and Hendricks at these links (first, second).

So please join me in thanking God:

Father God, thank You for the faithful ministry of Howard Hendricks. Thank You that You take ordinary men and use them to accomplish extraordinary tasks. May Your work through him continue to multiply to Your glory, in Charlotte and throughout the world.