Every person you meet and get to know is a special creation of God.  As you get to know them, you are changed to some degree as you hear their life-story and are affected by their personality.  Every time you interact with a person your life is altered in some way.  There are just a few individuals in your entire life that leave a profound impact on you.  There are people who almost grab your heart instantly.  They are magnetic and you are drawn to their love for the Lord, their positive attitude and their overflowing words of encouragement and thanks to you.  They come into your life and you feel totally blessed yet at the same time embarrassed.  You are blessed because practically every contact with them leaves you feeling better about yourself and about life.  They are contagious to be around.  Energy and enthusiasm seems to ooze through their pores.  They make you feel that life is exciting and every moment should be filled with joy and gratitude.  You feel embarrassed because you always feel that you receive more from this person than you can ever give to them.  A person who has affected my life and many others in this manner is Pastor Don Fregeau Sr.

Time and space will not permit me to accurately convey how much Pastor Don has meant to me and my family.  Don has been an inspiration and example of a great man and godly Christian.  I had the incredible privilege to lead Don to the Lord over twenty years ago.  I still remember sharing with him the simple gospel message using 'the Bridge' illustration and allowing him to carefully consider the offer of God's grace and mercy found in Jesus Christ.  I finished sharing the gospel with Don and asked him to call me, no matter what time it is, when he makes the decision to accept Christ into his life.  Don did and I received a phone call at 10:00pm one evening as he celebrated and confirmed his decision to trust Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Don's growth and maturity in the Lord have been nothing less than miraculous.  Don immediately dove into the Word of God, devouring regular readings, studying God's Word and believing God's Word.  He understood how critical the Word of God is to a person's spiritual walk with the Lord.

Don did not hesitate to join a small group and even lead a small group.  Don has consistently participated and even led a small group for the better part of twenty years.  One person commented to me that he has been in a small group with Don for over twelve years.  Don had an insatiable appetite for God's Word.  He longed to know more and one of the Bible studies he led just started in the book of Genesis and went through the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. Don so looked forward to leading and teaching those Bible studies every Friday night.  

When most people his age are putting on the brakes, looking for ways to 'ease out of ministry' and 'enjoy retired life', Don slammed his foot on the accelerator and gave a whole bunch of people who were around him whiplash as we tried to just hang on for dear life.  Don understood what it means to 'love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your heart'.  Don truly served the Lord.  I can't begin to name all the "projects" he did around the church.  It became customary at church board and congregational meetings for everyone to look at Don if something needed to be done with wood.  It became customary to hear people casually say, "Oh, don't worry, Pastor Don can build that.  " And He did.  

Don was active in all the work days around the church.  Don put countless hours when we built the Sunday School wing and remodeled the sanctuary.  I can still seem him walking around with his tool belt measuring, sawing and nailing things together.

Don and Penny were one of our first set of official greeters at the church almost twenty years ago.  My brother-in-law was visiting our church for the first time and he told me, "Whatever you do, make sure Don and Penny are always your greeters at church.  They made me feel so welcome, I'm thinking of commuting from southern California every week just to come to your church.  " Over and over again, people have complimented to me how refreshing it was to be greeted by Don as they entered the church building.  Don is genuine and sincere and every person senses that immediately.  He has a tremendous heart of mercy.

When our church was looking for a pastor to take on the visitation ministry our hearts were directed toward Don.  Don stepped into a brand new ministry and developed it beyond our imagination or dreams.  Don recruited teams of lay people to visit our elderly people on a regular basis.  Don trained them and scheduled regular visitations for them and at the same time making many visits himself on a daily and weekly basis.  Year after year we would hear at our Congregational meetings that there were over 300 visits made that year.  People were cared for and loved.  Don's love and mercy flowed from his life.  He touched people with his warmth and interest.  Don will always grasp your hand with his two hands, look deep into your eyes and ask, "How are you my friend?" There are no strangers to Don.  He has the rare gift of making each person he comes in contact with like they are the most important person in the world.  Don truly has the gift of mercy.

That is not to say that Don danced around issues.  At first, Don was confused, perplexed and disappointed with the conduct of some people at church board and congregational meetings.  He would scratch his head in disbelief and be absolutely dumbfounded how people could treat me as a pastor or say things about the ministry the way they did.  Don always rose to the occasion and never ran from difficult issues or people.  When the truth needed to be spoken, Don spoke.  This church is where it is today because of people like Don.  When people needed to be confronted, Don didn't hesitate.  When people needed to be admonished, Don admonished.  When people needed to be challenged, he challenged them.  When people needed to step out in faith, Don implored them to go for it.  Don has never hesitated to stand up for the church and the ministers that serve this church.  Don has defined loyalty and love and I am eternally grateful for his dedication and commitment to this local church.  

Our church is blessed beyond measure through the life and ministry of Pastor Don.  It was with great sorrow I received his letter of resignation as our Visitation Pastor.  I know and respect his decision yet my heart grieves for his absence as an official part of our church staff and elder board.  Psalm 78:72 so accurately describes Pastor Don's life and ministry, "God presented David to His people as their shepherd, and he cared for them with a true heart and skillful hands.  " Pastor Don has truly shepherded God's people with a true heart and skillful hands.  Pastor Don, I salute your life, your service to God's kingdom, your ministry to God's church and your exuberant love, joy and encouragement to all God's people.  We so love you and thank you for your devotion and rock solid commitment to the Lord's work.


In His Eternal Love and Grace,

Pastor Michael Delamarian III