One week ago, on Tuesday, August 26th, Dr. Stan Fowler, long-time theology professor at Heritage Theological Seminary, graduated from earth to heaven.
I had the privilege of working with Stan during my years at Heritage. Stan was a “scholar in service of the Church.” That’s a phrase he coined to describe the role of seminary professors. While it does not describe every professor at every theological school, it was most certainly true of him. Just ask any of the students who had him as a professor. Or talk to one the pastors or denominational leaders who sought out his wise, biblical counsel when facing a thorny theological problem or conflicted church situation.
In Titus 2:2, the apostle Paul instructed Titus to call older men to be “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and in steadfastness.” Stan fit the description of a dignified man—as long as dignified is understood to mean stately not stodgy. He was a stately, a true statesman for the Church in Canada. But stodgy, he was not. He never lost his childlike delight in riding the biggest and baddest roller coasters around. Or his unwavering (but often unrequited) love for the Perdue Boilermakers basketball or football teams.
Linda and I also attend the same church as Stan and Donna—Grandview Church in Kitchener. One of my lingering memories of Stan will be the way he joined the musical worship at church when he could no longer sing. Having lived through a massive stroke that took away his ability to speak, he could have easily concluded he was excused from the musical worship at church each Sunday. He could have simply stayed seated in his wheelchair and listened to others sing the songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. But rather than sit out the musical worship, Stan stood with the rest of the congregation. More than that, he mouthed the words to the songs, though not able to make any sounds.
I’m grateful that Stan is now able to sing and shout his praises to the Lord who saved Him and promised him a resurrected body free from the ravages of aging, cancer, and illness. Stan loved to remind pastors to emphasize glorious promise of a resurrected body. He was distressed this truth is often muted or completely missed at many Christian funerals. He wrote: “In many Christian funerals, there is no mention of our future resurrection rooted in the resurrection of our Lord. The idea of resurrection seems to be a well-kept secret.” Stan did his best to make sure the pastors he trained proclaimed the glorious promise of a bodily resurrection for all who have trusted in Jesus. Now he will personally experience the reality of that glorious resurrection!
Linda and I ask you to join us in praying for Donna and the Fowler family. As I told Donna, I greatly admired the way she loved and served her husband, especially during the final leg of Stan’s earthly journey towards a glorious resurrection. “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality . . . . thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:53, 57).
Rick and Linda Reed 