for Preaching the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ

J.R. never drew attention to himself but always pointed us to his Heavenly Father.  Oh, how he loved his Father in Heaven and he loved to tell us stories about his fresh encounters with Him and how his Father could handle any difficult situation in life.

We remember how J.R. helped direct the traffic of those of us who had lost our way in life and how he would engulf us with a crushing embrace as way of passing on his Father’s love and life. Through J.R., many of us were given a better perspective of life, especially to see life the way our Heavenly Father sees it.

J.R. was everyone’s best friend and a trusted counselor to so many men in the region.  Some would say he was the earthly father they never had. He would often say, “My acceptance with my Father is not based on my performance.” And he would warn us not to get too attached to the stuff of this world or we would miss out on the Father’s love.

You  may never have known JR personally, but just get with someone who did and you will hear countless stories of how he traveled lightly and carried only two things in his bag – love and grace – that sculpted the lives of all who experienced his embrace.

JR inscribed this in his Bible:

I want to know Jesus Christ as the source of my very life.  Not to be someone who is just well informed about him. I want more than knowledge. I want Him alive and active in my spirit and soul; leading me to know His will for my life.  I want a deep personal relationship with Him that touches every aspect of my life.  I want Him to be my very life, day by day, moment by moment and for others to see His life in me.

We’ve miss this gentle giant of the faith whom the Father called home June 14, 2008.

And so it is with fond remembrance and deep affection we pay tribute this day to J.R. Davison and enroll him in the Christian Men’s Wall of Honor.

Tom exemplifies a servant’s heart through his tireless and selfless service to and for others.  His service to our Lord spans numerous years as a Sunday School teacher of middle school students and bible studies for adults.  Commencing when Mountain Christian Church was smaller he not only served on, but chaired  the Board of Trustees, Joint Board of Deacons and Elders, Missions Committee, School Board and just completed many years as an elder.  During these periods of church leadership he actively and faithfully promoted growth and outreach of God’s teachings not only within the surrounding area of MCC but globally in nearly every continent of the world.

God has truly blessed and gifted Tom with abilities in his work life.  Since his early years of service in the US Air Force he entered the field of accounting where he was able to rise to the position of Chief with a major military facility.  These experiences and qualifications were instrumental and transferable to his leadership roles at MCC which facilitated godly growth and connecting.

Tom’s true love is always the Lord, but was able to share a very blessed and content life with his beloved wife  Shelby for 47 years before she passed.  They were blessed with a daughter and although now living with her husband some distance away, Tom is able to sit with his grandchild on Sunday mornings to worship at MCC.

Tom is active in Mountain Men’s Ministry where he is a part of the strategic planning team for impactful yet directed activities, studies and events for men.  He participates weekly in men’s studies as well as taking on several men in a mentoring effort.  He has a passion for growing leaders of men and has participated on teams to further the development of men for service for our Lord.

It is a privilege to honor this brother in Christ, a man who loves Jesus Christ with all his heart yet is so humble that one cannot but want to associate and be with him.  Tom, may God’s blessings continuously be with you.

Submitted by your thankful brothers in Christ,
Mountain Christian Church
Joppa, Maryland
October 2, 2010

Desiring to be the servant leader God called him to be, Arthur was baptized, as an adult, by Pastor Herbert Fitzpatrick at Riverdale Baptist Church and later joined Landover Memorial Baptist Church, currently Woodstream Church. He is a former Woodstream Trustee and a current Woodstream Steward was ordained as a Steward on January 2, 2011.

Arthur loves working for the Lord and patterns his life after one of his favorite scriptures —  Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  He has been involved in several small groups and is a faithful member of the Men’s Institute.  In addition, Arthur has served on the Transportation Team, the Cleaning Team, and the Parking Team.  He is a multi-talented man who enjoys painting, gardening, light plumbing, small electrical jobs, and fixing almost anything.

Arthur is loved and respected by his family, peers, neighbors, and children.  He is an honorable man, a devoted husband and father, and a man full of integrity with a strong work ethic, who will not compromise his testimony as a Christian.

We are glad to show our appreciation and gratitude for God’s gifted servant!

The Men of Woodstream Church
Mitchellville, Maryland
April 9, 2011

Deacon Thomas passionately serves the Lord and His people.  He faithfully attends worship service, Bible study, and Sunday school, and participates in small groups.  The book of Job is one his favorite books of the Bible. As a humble servant, he considers no job too big or too small, including painting and cleaning the church building.

As the first of ten children to attend and graduate from college, Deacon Thomas is committed to education.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Delaware State University and his Master’s degree from Trinity University.  Deacon Thomas is a lifelong educator who retired from D.C. Public Schools and now serves as a Crisis Intervention Counselor in Prince George’s County Schools.  Following the example of his own father, Deacon Thomas diligently discipled his own children as well as many others who did not have the benefit of a godly father in the home.  He is affectionately known as “Coach Mule” by the many football players he coached at Anacostia High School and Bowie State University.

Deacon Thomas enjoys fishing, traveling, landscaping, and photography.  He is a fisher of men, traveling wherever the Lord leads in search of new souls to beautify heaven’s landscape.

We are glad to show our appreciation and gratitude for God’s humble servant!

The Men of Woodstream Church
Mitchellville, Maryland
April 9, 2011

With Honor & Respect,

The Men of Mountain Christian Church
October 2, 2010

Final Promotion Granted at Age 104

Robert Lawrence Fischer was born in Hoboken, NJ on March 6, 1906.  He spent his early years there with his Mom and Dad and older sister Trudeau.  His Dad was the manager of the New York City Chemist Club.

As a boy, our Dad developed a love for ham radio.  In the early 1900’s he put together his first crystal radio set which was a gift from his mother. At 16, Dad became the youngest member of the American Radio Relay League, which proved to be the focus of his later life as a Radio Engineer.

During his high school years, Dad attended the Peekskill Military Academy.  He spent the summers with relatives on Long Island pursuing his other favorite pastimes — fishing and baseball! After his mother passed away when Dad was only 17 years of age, the family moved to Larchmont, NY.

At the age of 24, Dad joined the Naval Reserves as a Radioman 2^nd class.  It was during these years that he began a hardware business that grew to three stores in the Scarsdale area of New York.  He was once the proud owner of a 1932 Chrysler Roadster.

When World War II broke out in 1940, Dad was called to active duty and promoted to Navy Ensign. He served during the war as an electronics engineer in the 8^th fleet located in the Mediterranean, serving in Algiers, Casablanca, Naples and southern France. He was responsible for setting up the communications for the Yalta Conference with Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin.

When Dad returned home from the war in 1945, his best friend George Bisset encouraged him to come to Oneonta, NY for a visit. It was here that George introduced Ruth Dean to Dad on a blind date. After a whirlwind courtship they were married 1 ½ weeks later in Grafton, West Virginia, Mom’s hometown.  Dad was 40 and Mom was 31.  Immediately after the wedding, Dad left for his assignment in Oakland, California, at the Naval Shipyard there. Mom had to stay behind for several months to collect war stamps to be able to make the cross country trip to meet back up with Dad.

Their honeymoon consisted of a cross country trip from California back to New York in 1946. The following year, Larry was born, and 18 months later along came Alan.  At his point, Dad was stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard.  The boys became the center of mom’s world.  They even wore outfits Mom made for them from Dad’s old uniforms.

In 1950, Bob was born and our family headed for Houston, Texas, where Dad was assigned for duty. There are wonderful memories of these days as the Fischer family grew. In 1955, Dad was promoted to Commander and was transferred to Washington D.C. as the Assistant Director of the Shore Electronics Division of the Bureau of Ships. It was here that Dad retired in 1962 after spending a remarkable 32 years in the Navy.

The crystal radio set given to him by his mother charted the course for his life.

Our family moved into their new home in what was then the rural area of Fairfax, Virginia. This became their true family home for the next 50 years.  These were special years with lots of wonderful memories.

A most important, life-altering event came in 1960 when our Mom was introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by a 5-year-old boy in her Sunday School Class. She had been in church all her life, striving to serve and please God by her good works, but without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and the acceptance of His death on the cross as forgiveness for sin.  In the weeks that followed, that little boy’s mother, along with her pastor, Ed Carmichael, showed Mom how she could have a personal relationship with Christ.  Dad’s decision to become a Christian followed several weeks later and both were baptized in May of 1960.

Dad continued working after his retirement as a civil engineer until his mandatory retirement at the age of 70.  It was at this point in their lives that they were introduced to Shaklee nutritional supplements, and they began a new business venture which continued for the next 30 years.  Together, they achieved the rank of coordinator, a position in the company that Dad held until the age of 100. Dad also held many positions at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia where he and Mom were active members for 40 years.

Dad and Mom never started a day without having their quiet time together.  They would read the Daily Bread and scripture and then pray around the world for their children, grand kids, missionaries and friends that they had made over the years. They prayed especially that God would allow them to be a witness in all they did.  They were always ready to give an answer for the hope that they had found in Christ!

Soon after his beloved Ruthie passed away in 2001, Dad finally agreed to hand over the keys to his car and sell the family home in Fairfax.  He moved out to their cottage at Shiloh Farm in Nokesville, Virginia to be cared for by his loving family.

Dad never stopped working and planning ahead for what he would do next!  He never stopped learning and growing as a person. At the age of 101 he was taking golf lessons! His zest for life was contagious, and many of us, many years younger, often had to struggle to keep up with him!

Dad was a pioneer, inventor, patriot, business owner, church member, and a faithful, loving and supportive husband and father. His final days were spent doing what he liked best when he could — working outside, riding the tractors and enjoying the peace and tranquility of the farm.

On April the 21^st, 2010, at the age of 104, God called Dad into His eternal Home, surrounded by his loving family in the place where he had found such great contentment and joy.

Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.

Submitted to honor the life of a man who left us all a legacy of faith and faithfulness, our earthly father, Robert L. Fischer.

Larry, Alan and Bob Fischer
July 2010