Yesterday the world lost one of the most passionate and focused men of God that it has ever seen. Is that a big statement? Not for this guy. He was the biggest supporter for Tour 29:11 and pushed us constantly to persevere through our seasons of growth. Dennis Whaley rocked the Tour 29:11 golf towel on his chair and pictures on his desk. Before I ever met him he told me that he was our biggest fan. He always called us his sons and continually instilled in us how special we were to him and to God. He said, “One day when God opens the doors of influence on your ministry I’ll be standing in the back greeting people, everyone will ask, ‘Who’s the old guy’ and I will tell them I’m the guy who was here from the beginning, saw it from the beginning and these are my boys.” I will miss his encouragement, friendship and love. Last summer Adam and I went to Silver Dollar City with Dennis and his wife Teena. We took an old-time photo with the throwback theme being mobster. It couldn’t be more appropriate for Dennis, he was the God-father. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He was respected, loved, admired and now will be missed.
Adam and I are here in Iowa for events this week but yesterday morning God told me to call Dennis and pray with him, as well as tell him what he means to me. I did, Dennis was recovering from heart surgery and was in the surgical ICU. Like every other time, I knew the “Praise God” on the other end of the phone hadn’t changed from the man that walked around Evangel scouting out his newest proteges and God’s plan for their life. Dennis was a man of faith and a man of prayer. In my selfishness I can’t help but realize how bad death hurts when it hits this hard. What we all need to realize is Dennis has seen Jesus and organized the first meeting to better organize and connect heaven.
