Ted Rubesh might as well be John and Ruth's third son. They gave him that moniker. He is a dear friend. I asked him to give the eulogy at the memorial service. Below is a copy of what he read.
EULOGY FOR A FRIEND
John Grant – April 25, 2009 – Ted Rubesh
It is a great and solemn privilege to be asked to
give a eulogy in honor my friend John Grant this afternoon. It’s been said that “great things come in
small packages”. John was a strapping 6’4”,
and for most of his adult life weighed 240 lbs.
Looking back on his life this afternoon, it’s apparent that “great
things” also come in big packages. John
was a big man. A big man in many
ways. He gave big hugs. He had a big voice. He had a big heart. He had a big God.
Of course he didn’t start out big. John came into this world, like everyone of
us, a helpless little baby. A British
baby at that! Born in Aldershot, England
in 1923 to Neville and Faith Grant, John grew up in the East end of London in
County Essex, doing what British kids did in those days … learning the Queen’s
English, drinking tea and playing that most mysterious British pastime …
cricket. He became a life-long fan.
In 1938 at the age of 15, John found himself in a
little Baptist church one evening. As
the Gospel was explained, he felt the conviction of God’s spirit on his heart,
and gave his life to Christ. It was a relationship that he was to take with
him … and treasure … to his final day.
When the Second World War broke out, John eventually
joined the Royal Air Force, loading bombs onto planes that were flying runs
over Germany. It was at this time … he
was discovered … in the barracks shower … singing at the top of his voice. Big John’s “big voice” so impressed the rest
of his dripping audience, he entered a talent show for local troops … and
won! It wasn’t long before John’s voice
was drafted into the RAF entertainment corps, and he was shipped out to India to
sing for the entertainment of Britain’s troops overseas. John never forgot the subcontinent of India
… and in years to come, he was to travel … and sing there again, several times.
John came home from the war, his voice intact …
and plunged into a world of traveling shows and musicals. Stardom … he was sure …was what the future
had for him. But God had different plans
in mind. In 1950, challenged to use his
voice for God’s kingdom, John dedicated the rest of his life … and his voice …
to the Lord’s service. When asked why
he’d given up a promising career in show business, he simply said, “God gave me
my voice. I need to give it back to him”.
In time John met a vivacious American radio
producer named Ruth. They fell in love,
were married in 1952 and eventually gave birth to their two sons, Timothy and
Steve. Based in England, John and Ruth
ministered with a well known British evangelist named Eric Hutchins, traveling
with him to South Africa, Europe, North America and the length and breadth of
the United Kingdom. John became to the
Hutchin’s crusade, what George Beverly Shey was to the Billy Graham
crusade. Singer … song leader, choir
director. God was getting plenty of
mileage out of that big voice.
In 1969, the Grants left England and came to the
United States. They eventually set up home
in Portland, living on the slopes of Mt. Tabor.
John now ministered independently as a traveling singing
evangelist. Traveling extensively
throughout the Northwest and beyond, churches far and wide were blessed, the
Gospel was preached, numbers gave their life to Christ … and John sang … and
sang.
And in the process, the big Briton, with the big
voice, and a big heart for the lost …became our friend. To some of us, he became more than a
friend. He became family. I come from a missionary family with many
years of service on the island of Sri Lanka.
In 1971, when my parents returned to the island for a further term of
service, my younger brother Eugene needed to complete his High School education
here in Portland. The Grant home became
his home. When my oldest brother was
ordained into the ministry and sent to the mission field, it was John who
preached at his ordination service. When
I followed my brother’s footsteps some years later, it was John who preached at
my ordination service. When my mother
lost her battle with cancer in 1979, it was John who sang at her funeral. When I lost my own father to a tragic car
accident in 1985, it was John who in a very real way, became a father to me. As a single missionary at the time, whenever
I returned from my work overseas, the Grant home was my home. John often fondly called me his “third son”,
and it was a description I took great honor in.
When issues of courtship and marriage came up, it was to John that I
turned for fatherly advice. Some of my
sweetest memories of him are the slow lazy morning’s we shared in the Grant
“coffee nook”, talking theology, putting the world to rights … and praying
together.
In John’s later years, he had the joy of traveling
several times back to India … and to Sri Lanka … preaching, encouraging,
counseling … and as always, singing of the Lord he loved so much. The words describing Barnabas in Acts 11:24,
so aptly describe the John Grant we all knew and loved … “For
he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable
numbers were brought to the Lord.” I know that there are
many many people who will stand before the Lord because of John’s testimony and
faithful preaching of the Gospel.
It wasn’t that the road was always easy. His beloved Ruth suffered with severe
altzheimer’s in her declining years.
John nursed her, cared for her, and loved her to the end. John’s relationships with his two sons also went
through many deep and troubled waters.
But this I know. He loved both of
his boys with all his heart, and he prayed for them daily.
The day before John passed away, I received a note
from Steve that his father was in intensive care at OHSU, and was coming to the
end of his journey. I decided to spend the night with John in his
hospital room and to keep watch over this old man who had been such a father to
me. Through the night John struggled
between life and death. His mind was
foggy, and his speech was garbled. But
as I held his big hand, I knew this was a man who loved God and had run his
race well. At one point I began singing
softly to him … some of the old hymns that I knew he had sung and loved.
·
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
·
All the way my Saviour leads me, what have
I to ask beside; Can I doubt his tender
mercy, who through life has been my guide.
·
Day by day and with each passing moment,
strength I find to meet my trials here.
·
My Jesus I Love Thee, I know thou art mine
·
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him; how I’ve
proved him o’er and o’er.
Instant recognition!! His face broke into a smile, and I could see
him mouthing the words along with me.
John was still singing! And though
you could scarcely hear a word he sang, I know the angels were listening. It was his last concert and I know they loved
it. And I know his voice was beautiful.
The next night, April 8, at home with his son
Steve and his family, John was released from his struggles … and ushered into
the presence of the God he loved and served so long. “Well done, thou good and faithful
servant. Enter ye into the joy of the
Lord”. What a party they must have had
in heaven … welcoming the Big Briton home!
John, I don’t know if you can hear this … but if
you can, we want you to know that we love you, we miss you and we’re deeply
grateful for your life. And as a mark of
the esteem in which we hold you, we rise to our feet and honor you now with this
minute of silence …
ONE MINUTE SILENCE
