The Unexpected News:-
So, do this because you guys are not in a position right now to where it seems like you want to and there are times where where matters that are more pressing up and we want to to cover those things. so, let me go ahead and and give me one second. Have heard the news of Vodie Bakam dying. Have a little bit of a a more more familiarity with Vodie Bacham than some, not that we were we were friends or anything like that or whatever. He couldn’t pick me out of Atlanta, but he came to our church a couple times and preached. And the reason why he did so was because his sister went to our church. So, his family went to our went to our church.
Meeting the Man Behind the Message:-
So, we got a chance to meet him. And when tell you that he was one of those guys that what you see or what you hear on TV or on different reports, that’s how he was. Now, do know what he was like back in his deep recesses or when he’s by himself? Couldn’t he was the salt of the earth. He was the But from what got to experience, what got to see, he was exactly what you saw, he was genuine. Whether you like him or not, right or wrong, that was him. , what you would find with him was that Vodie was really kind of a passionate person in terms of his his pursuits. You didn’t see very many people, especially, and this was a good thing. remember remember this conversation coming up. told you guys that my former mentor was a man by the name of Dr. Willie Balden. And one of the things that you did not get to see often, and just call it what it is, you don’t you didn’t get a chance to see a lot of blacks who decided to pursue the academic realm.
A Scholar and a Servant:-
Vod was a president of a university of a of a Christian college in think it was Zambia. Whereas he had a lot of opportunities in America. There was a time in the the late 90s, early 2000s where Bod was in demand in the states. Now, he stayed in demand obviously, but he could have got if there was a church looking for a pastor, they reached out to him or for him to plant a church here in the Texas area. And so, but that’s not what he wanted. Bodie seemed to be enamored with the word of God, with teaching and causing other people to learn the word of God. That was that was his passion. Now, he was also very good at at apologetics. And he would also venture into social issues as well. Some would agree, some would disagree. What he believed, he believed. What he stated, he believed. He was not a person who would just something, yeah, just for a check or just because it was the way. As a matter of fact, you would see him going against the grain, especially socially. He was one of the guys that at a time that he was speaking kind of on conservative things for black people. whereas at that time, a lot of blacks just weren’t speaking out politically, socially about conservative things.
Unapologetically Bold in a Shifting Culture:-
And thought that this week or next week would actually release that video on generational curses with some of what ‘ve stated also because we agree. And remember being in a meeting ing with we were there, me and some other ministers with our pastor and him just listen them . And this was one of the reasons why my former pastor wanted me to go into seminary and to pursue my education in seminary that his point was you couldn’t you couldn’t and this something that Vodie agreed with that it couldn’t hurt as a matter of fact you would you would appreciate what you would learn you would appreciate how they push you if anyone has been to seminary you’ll know that they push you they don’t tell you at least at least if it’s a good seminary they don’t tell you what to think, but they just tell you to think and back up what it is that you’re .
A Different Kind of Preacher:-
Who is Vodie Bacham?” Vod who? That’s a weird name. And he’s got a and he’s got a weird last. His first name is weird. His last name is weird. Who names your kid? Vod and Bacham. What kind of what kind of name is that for a black guy?And then when he got up to to to speak like, okay, this guy, man, okay, this this guy has a command. Now, remember this at a time where we’re not looking for the average kind of the stereotypical black preacher that you might have seen with the hooping and so forth, you know, just teach the word. And he did so in an entertaining fashion. Don’t even remember what a sermon was. just remember like, okay, he he did a pretty good job and people were clapping. People were like, that guy, amen. Remember the conversations afterwards though about making sure that you study the word and pursue your education grow. If you don’t go to seminary or Bible college, spend as much time as you can studying the word even in school. Spend as much time as you can learning his word. And so he was he was he was who he he was. Apparently apparently he touched a lot of people. Now obviously that that’s That goes without ing, but watch YouTube today. Watch what people about him. People give him his flowers. And this has been one of those years, right? A a lot of people a lot of folks have passed away this year. don’t get to the point to where you think that, wow, you know what? God is doing something. No, God God isn’t doing anything different than what he’s been doing.
The Impact of a Life Well-Lived:-
As a matter of fact, thought that he was old, a lot older. He was only a few years older than me. So, , which tells you that you your time on this planet isn’t very long. , but just let me just read this. , founders ministry informed the public that Vodie Bacham died earlier in that day suffering an emergency u medical incident. Doesn’t really what it was or what it is. , but that he suffered some sort of emergency medical incident. know he’s obviously, if you all remember, has had some heart issues. And so, in 2021, he had full-blown heart failure. And so, there was, , need for him to have surgery. So, , as a matter of fact, he ended up having quadruple bypass surgery. Now, this is coming per their per their ministry. And so, his health issues, though they were, didn’t keep him from what? from trying to still do what he loved, his passion, which was preach the gospel, which was to teach, was to be an apologetics giant, was to be someone that u you could, and let me just this, whether you agree with maybe his doctrinal points, vodka, and didn’t agree with everything. thought that he didn’t didn’t agree with him on srael and his esquetology, which is fine. As a matter of fact, what was funny was that was a point that Dr. Baldton brought up that because his esque esquetology was that even then there were some things that he disagreed with at the time.
His Final Chapter:-
The best part about Vodie Bakam was just who he was and that he was kind of an encouragement to other people to see that yeah, you know what, there are men out there who who don’t have to hoop and don’t have to put up gimmicks to preach. Another former pastor that is Tony Evans, he didn’t have to do that. , my former pastor, Dr. Balden, he didn’t have to do that. Bodie Bacham, he didn’t have to do that. And so it was just an encouragement and just even to be around them even for a short amount of time that was an encouragement.After David served the purpose of God in his own generation, he fell asleep and was laid among his father. After Vodi served his purpose, what? That’s what you want on your tombstone. Or at least that’s what you want people to think about you when you pass away after you have served your purpose. Now, there are plenty of people who serve their purpose. There’s a bunch of people who regretted what their life had become. There a bunch of people who had regrets either in the hospital bed e while they’re in prison, while they’re in the street as they’re dying. There’s a lot of people who have regrets.
Final Thoughts:-
The Bible s though for David after he served his purpose of God, the purpose of God in his own generation, he rested. You pour this out as a as a memorial, as a as a way of ing this is being for for for for your use for however you want to use me, Lord. This is this is it. This is it. for am being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. You want to be able to like Paul, like David, or like Vodie, have fought the good fight. That that’s really what you want, ladies and gentlemen. That’s what you’re after. You want to be able to fall asleep. You want to be able to go to the Lord. You want to be able to die and be brought to heaven with that not on your mind, but on the mind of other people. You want to you want others to that of you.