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The Shadow Of Frank Degroot

by   
10/27/2009 / Church Life

Frank Degroot was a friend of mine. We never visited each other's homes or went out to dinner very often together. That's not the true definition of a friend anyway. A friend, I have concluded, is an aquaintance who starts having a positive impact on your life. That is a friend. The opposite effect would be an aquaintance who begins having a negative effect on your life. That would be called an enemy. With this definition in mind it is no great leap to conclude that Frank Degroot was a friend to many souls.

When we think of Frank's ministry, we are tempted to limit him to ACWAM or his role with the Gathering Pace. Well allow me to educate you about Frank Degroot. Frank was a modern day apostle. He never tried to be one. He never said "I'm an apostle" that I know of. He just Was. His apostolic ministry wasn't even conducted with his own carnal awareness. But it did happen. Sure, on an emotional level he was passionate about ACWAM and Haiti and The Gathering Place and it goes without saying that he adored his family. The Frank that I knew, however, was the apostle that operated in Frank's shadow. It was his shadow that ministered to me. I've known it for many years. His effect on me came from simply being in his presence. Have you ever met anyone like that? Just by merely hanging out with that person can change your life. Frank was like that in my life and countless others. His anointing was in his shadow. In case you think I've gone off the Biblical
reservation please read this

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Acts 5:15

There you go. The shadow. Frank's shadow carried an apostolic anointing. He brought unity to the body. He was recently featured in a newspaper article dealing with the homeless and standing right beside him was George Esser, Frank's former pastor. Frank is single handedly responsible for reuniting me with the Gathering Place people even though Pat Storey would be well within his moral right to beat me to a pulp. Even in his earthly departure, he reunites the city in a farewell celebration. I hope those of you present for the event will embrace the invitation to put aside the petty differences and unite under one cause; one fight against a common enemy.

Where's Frank now? Well, according to the laws of thermodynamics he has left his body. And according to the Bible he is with the Lord. Contrary to published reports, Frank Degroot is not dead. He has never been more alive. He has shed this body of death and now sees everthing the way it really is. It is with a certain level of selfishness that we mourn Frank's departure but it is a selfishness God readily expects from us. Frank was a spiritual pillar in this city. We all knew him to be. His vision remains with us. His God is our God. We are seated in heavenly places with Frank. May the eyes of our understanding be opened to that. May we all be driven to our knees with passion and desire to have our shadows filled with the anointing of the bond of unity. Thank you Frank. We love you. We will miss you. We will see you again.

My name is Michael D. Shoesmith. God bless you.

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