ONCE IN A WHILE, WE SHOULD PAUSE and lift up those who have played a
large part in our spiritual lives.
This week I was reminded to do that for a long time Christian sister and dear Friend, JEAN FABIAN (or Elizabeth Fabian - I will explain later in this blog).
So I offer this message to this couple in whose home I enjoyed many Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI) Bible Studies, Ed & Jean Fabian.
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HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JEAN! ~ I am remembering back to the early 1990s when your home was one of our Friday Bible Study homes for our Fil-Am Church of Irvine. Without knowing it, you were instrumental in helping me get my first attempt at Christian writing started.
My first effort in Christian writing was my Friends Ministry Christian Newsletter and the only snail-mail addresses (before e-mail and internet) I had then were members of our FACI fellowship.
Dory told me, "Don't send it to them, they may be insulted, thinking you don't believe they are Christians." But I had no choice, having no other addresses. So I mailed out about 100 newsletters.
That week we went to our Friday night Bible study at your home and when we entered you were sitting at the dining table with several other ladies. The first thing you said to us was, "Bill, I got your newsletter and made copies and gave them to my co-workers." I looked at Dory and smiled. She knew why.
Fast forward some years, Dory and I were active in the Fil-Am Church of Corona and one of our new member families was the Quintans family: Jun, Rachel, and their two young sons, Nash and Michael.
One day, after our worship service, during fellowship, I saw a Bible laying on a table and was so excited. Not because it was a Bible laying on a table at church - but the particular Bible which lay on that table - a Harper NASB Study Bible.
In 1987, when I first became a believer in the FACI Bible studies, I wanted to read through the Bible. Each night I would read my Bible: first from a book in the Old Testament, the next night one in the New Testament. All was well until I hit the book of Romans - where I hit a brick wall.
That Friday at Bible study, I talked with Pastor Sam about my problem and he asked, "What Bible are you reading?" At that time the only Bible I had was a King James Version given to me by young Mormon door knockers.
Pastor Sam gave both Dory and me each a new Bible - the Harper NASB Study Bible - and, wow, the difference that made. It became my go-to Bible for many years. Yet finally it began to get a bit worn and I wanted to buy a new Bible. But that particular Bible, published by Zondervan, had gone out of print.
For years I searched for one, to no avail. Then that day at church - there was a new exact copy of my worn Harper NASB Study Bible laying on the table - and I got excited.
It turned out to be Rachel Quintans' Bible. When I asked where she got it, she told me, "My co-worker and friend, Elizabeth Fabian, gave it to me." The name didn't ring a bell that day, but next week I asked her, "By any chance, is your friend Jean Fabian?" When she said, "Yes, but we call her Elizabeth at work" - more excitement.
Rachel and her whole family had become believers in our Fil-Am Church of Corona after attending our Bible studies. Yet I never noticed her Bible until that day.
She told me, "Elizabeth often gave us inspirational tracks and pamphlets at work." I showed Rachel a copy of one of my early newsletters and asked, "Did she give you a copy of this track or one like it?" Rachel told me, "Very likely, for she was always giving us material."
Then I got really excited. For possibly some of my writings had been among those that Jean Fabian had given her - and may have played some small part in preparing Rachel and her family to eventually give their hearts and souls to Jesus Christ.
To complete the circle, in 2019 when I told Rachel that I had been trying for years to find a place where I could buy a new copy of my Harper NASB Study Bible - she gifted me her copy. Circle closed!
Jean, that is a beautiful example of Concentric Circle Evangelism. Like a pebble dropped into a body of water will cause concentric circles to ripple and flow from that one pebble - in a larger sense what we do to share Christ with others can continue to ripple and flow to all the world. One little pebble, or act - and we never know who, where, of when God will use it to share Jesus with folks who need Him.
Maybe, Jean, a piece of my writing became that pebble which you dropped into your co-workers' lake of life and it flowed out to encompass the Quintans family. I can't prove it. But just the slightest possibility that something I wrote may have been even a small part of that Concentric Circle which reached the Quintans family through you, excites me.
Jean Fabian, my long time Christian sister and dear Friend, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO USE YOU for many more years. God bless, Bill
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Jean's daughter, Luisa Collopy, responded: "Bill Gray - Sweet Rachel! Now her son Nash is a pastor!"
Hi Luisa Collopy, Yes, and Dory and I are so proud of him. When we first met the Quintans family at our Corona church, Nash and Michael were middle school students - and Dory was giving them piano lessons.
Both boys are not boys anymore - both are happily married to very special Christian wives and have started their own family. And when I heard that Nash was going to plant a new church, I was so excited. I would have been the first one through the door.
But then Nash told me it would be in Redlands - and I cannot drive that far. So sad, for I would have loved to watch him grow that next step. I guess I can, but only vicariously.
One of the benefits and rewards of being a wee bit older - is watching the next generation grow. In 1987, when I was saved in our FACI Bible studies, we had an active young adult/college student group.
And I was able to see four of them become pastors and marry young ladies in our church. Needles to say, being a part of the Fil-Am Church fellowships in Orange/Riverside Counties has been a rewarding experience for me.
But I owe it all to God and the Godly couple He sent to shepherd me, Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta. God knew that from my experience with a traveling Revival Preacher when I was twelve years old - and all those years I spent running from God because of that preacher, until I was fifty years old - I would need a very special and Godly love to bring me into the family of God.
He sent Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta. whose pure love and ministry illuminated my way to the foot of the cross. Thank you, God - and thank you Pastor Sam & Ida, for because of you I have Jesus' immutable promise and guaranty of eternal life in His presence.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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