Yuba-Sutter Grace Church
  • Info
  • Articles
  • Sermons
  • Location

A Eulogy for Don Fortner (1950-2020)

5/2/2020

1 Comment

 
Don and Shelby Fortner are dear to my wife and to me, and to all the saints in Marysville for their faithful labor in the Gospel of Christ. My wife and I met Don and Shelby 25 years ago. They came to our lunch table where we were sitting by ourselves in the back corner of the dining hall at the Mission Springs conference center in California.

Don had the heart of a lion for the truth of Christ, yet he was as gentle as a dove to poor and needy sinners.

He was a pastor of pastors, a leader among leaders, a man among men, because he loved to serve in the Gospel those who could never repay him.

He was loved by those who love Christ, and hated by those who love their works.

He was charged with antinomianism, yet he was the hardest working, faithful servant of Christ I have ever known.

Like John the Baptist, Don laid the axe to the root of those who trust their own works, as the Prodigal’s elder brother labored as a servant for a reward.

Ordinary people of no reputation loved Don. Theologians of high reputation refused to learn from him.

His large voice echoes still in my memory. It speaks of God’s sovereign grace for the salvation and comfort of sin-laden sinners, against the cries and opposition of proud-hearted, will-worshipping legalists.

I cherish his superlative writing skill, his keen observations, his organization and his ability in a single pass, to capture the greatest Gospel truths in commentary and in lyrics with poetic meter.

I remember and admire the grace given to him in his tireless love for Christ, his love for Christ's Gospel and his love for Christ's people.

He was a gift from Christ on His exalted throne to His blood-bought Church (Eph. 4:7-16).
​

I remember his ability to tenderly woo trembling sinners to trust Christ, and his fearless warning to all who would not trust only Christ.

Don preached as if I was always lost, warning of judgment to come; and he preached as if I was just saved, squeezing out Gospel milk for newborn babes.

Don said so many things I will remember. He said so many more things I wish I could remember.

Don was like the cherubim, who continuously look in satisfaction to the blood sprinkled on the mercyseat in the presence of God, in admiration and worship of the Lamb of God who sprinkled His blood there for helpless sinners.

Don saw Christ as God's mercyseat. He saw Christ as the propitiation to God for our sins (Rom. 3:25). He worshipped God in thankful admiration at the atonement He made for the transgressions of His elect people in the blood of His only begotten Son, when our sins were taken from us, laid on Him, and made Christ’s own (Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21).

And Don was like the cherubim who guarded the way to the Tree of Life, lest any sinner attempt to approach God without the blood of God's dear Son, without a sin-atoning Mediator, without an Advocate and without an Intercessor.

Don was my teacher, my preacher and my pastor. I am honored to call him my dear friend.

Soon, we will join him in the bosom of our Savior, and there, we shall together lean upon His breast. There we will forever worship Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

Then we shall be satisfied in eternal, joyful delights, which can only be seen now through a veil, but then, with Don, we shall see Christ face to face, without sin, dressed in the beauty of Christ’s own righteousness (Isaiah 45:24-25; 54:17).

May our great God and Savior grant grace to Don’s beloved wife Shelby and the saints in the congregation where Don served for 40 years, who have been so much used by God in the ministry of the Gospel. May Christ grant all of us grace to know Christ, and be found in Him, dressed in His righteousness who reigns on heaven's throne, where Don now praises Him in unspotted, unfettered, unending praise.
Rick Warta
1 Comment
Angelo P. Demma link
4/5/2021 06:52:39 pm

Wonderful Eulogy. Don Fortner was as it were a mid-wife who helped birth Grace Bible Church, now in Hayward Ca. He was a blessing to me and my wife Ruth. He made Christ more lovely more desired and more clear a savior than any other I know.
Blessings to YSGC

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Pastor Rick Warta

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly