By Mel Dahlgren

WATSONVILLE, California—Warren Hill, 62, pastor of the Watsonville church, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Sept. 29.

Losing a dear friend and fellow elder by an unexpected heart attack has been overwhelming. Warren and I regularly spent every Wednesday together visiting, counseling and praying, and we became dear friends. Everyone who knew Warren will always remember his legacy of love. Warren couldn’t contain the love he felt for us. It was like an overflowing river. He rarely missed an opportunity to say, "I love you, my brother," followed by a big bear hug.

A few years ago, Warren took a giant step of faith when he abandoned his hi-tech job as an engineer and became a minimum-wage earner stacking boxes at Office Depot. It was a drastic step he felt he needed to make to bail out of the Silicon Valley circus and redirect his priorities. Although he lived in San Jose, he set up camp in the Watsonville church and set his 1965 metallic green Mustang on weekly autopilot for his new church home.

Why?

Warren had a passion for God that filled him to overflowing. He gave up the god of mammon for the God of humanity. It reminds me of what Jesus told the rich man: "Go sell all you have and come follow me." Warren said "phooey" to the rat race and jumped in the trenches. And he gave it his all. I overheard another elder say, "Warren ran the last lap of his race with all his might." Thank you, Warren, for your powerful example of faith and zeal for God. I can still hear him saying: "What a joy it is to know Jesus! What a joy!" He devoted his final years of life to serving love to God’s people. God is love. And God filled Warren with his love and he shared that love with everyone, everywhere.

Then comes the curious question. Why did God let Warren die? I don’t know that answer. But I do know that hundreds of people are asking some important questions because of Warren’s death. I, for one, will never be the same. Warren’s death has marked a milestone for me that God is already using to strengthen my life in a critical area that has been my weakest for the last five years. For me, the memory of Warren’s death will be a monument and constant reminder of the grace of God. And I offer this tribute to him for letting God use him to leave an impact on me that I will never forget.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003