Dear Joe,
I received a fax from Tom Lapacka late yesterday, informing me of your father's death. This must be a great blow to you as well as to the entire leadership of the Worldwide Church of God.
I thank God for your father's moral courage in leading the church in the way he did, using Scripture as his only yardstick, and not being afraid to discard traditions when he discovered truth. I know that you were an important part of that process, and the mantle is now on your shoulders. I pray God to give you the strength to continue in his footsteps.
May God strengthen you with his love and grace. And may you find comfort in the blessed hope of our Lord's coming and the resurrection to eternal life of all who love him.
Sincerely,
David Neff
Christianity Today Executive Editor
Gentlemen,
I read with sadness your fax of Saturday, Sept. 23. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this great time of loss. Only from the perspective of eternity will people fully grasp the significance of Joseph Tkach's ministry. The changes made in the Worldwide Church of God under his leadership and yours will live on through the lives of people worldwide. We especially now pray for Joseph as he continues on under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
If there is anything tangible we can do to assist you or to comfort you during your time of loss, please do not hesitate to contact us.
With warmest regards,
Hendrik Hanegraaff
Christian Research Institute President
Aug. 11
Dear Mr. Tkach,
You no doubt have heard of the man who wanted to be a procrastinator but kept putting it off! Perhaps that refers to me as I have been meaning to write to you long before this.
It is to tell you how pleased I have been each time I read your "Personal" column.
Having been raised all my life in mainstream Christian beliefs I have been excited to see the move on your part to this theology and how Christ is the center including his death and resurrection.
I have read about the fall-off in your church and feel that it can only be a temporary situation as these people get to know the real truth. I commend you with great admiration for your stand and trust that God will bring back the drifters as well as many new believers.
Yesterday I had the privilege of again visiting my "old haunts" to record a commercial for New Zealand. I must say it was good to be back! I stopped in to see you before going into the studio and had a nice talk with lovely Amy. She is a jewel! However I was saddened to learn of your problem. You shall definitely be in my daily prayers for a speedy and complete recovery. You are a very special person--a beacon for all of us to follow. My very best wishes to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Art Gilmore
Dear Mr. Tkach,
You may remember that we met you with Jack Kessler and family a few years ago at our home in Malibu, and then on another occasion in your office in Pasadena. We have just come back from an extended research trip in Europe and Syria, and we have learnt the sad news that your father has recently passed away. With my wife, I would like to extend to you my most sincere expressions of sympathy.
Our long-standing association with the Ambassador Foundation has led us to appreciate from within the objectives and goals which your father embodied so well, and to develop a strong sense of personal friendship for so many within the church, and thus indirectly for him as well.
It is in this spirit of a shared affinity for values that, while conveying to you our condolences and the promise of our sincere Christian prayer, we also wish you the strength you and your family need in such a difficult moment.
With kindest regards, I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
Professor Giorgio Buccellati
University of California, Los Angeles
Dear Mr. Lapacka,
Thank you so much for your note of Sept. 23, with the news release regarding the death of Joseph W. Tkach. Please accept my condolences, both personally and on behalf of Fuller Theological Seminary, on this significant loss for your church.
We at Fuller Seminary have been pleased at the theological developments that have occurred under Mr. Tkach's leadership, and we hope that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide your group as you wrestle with important questions about how you can best serve the cause of the Gospel.
Please be assured of our sincere sympathy and our best wishes to you and to your colleagues.
Sincerely,
President Richard J. Mouw
Fuller Theological Seminary
Dear Joe,
On behalf of the General Conference Board of Directors of the Church of God (Seventh Day), I would like to express my deepest sympathy to you and your family at the passing of your father.
I met briefly with your dad during my visit to your campus in April 1994. He struck me as a remarkable individual, full of compassion for people and love for Jesus. His was an awesome responsibility, and many among us admired his willingness to rise to the challenge of his convictions. May the fruit of his labor increase in abundant blessings upon your church in the days to come. Congratulations to you on your new assignment. Our prayers are with you as you pick up where your dad left off.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Whaid G. Rose
Board Chairman, Church of God (Seventh Day)
Dear Brethren,
On behalf of the churches of the Baptist General Conference, I want to commend you for your journey of faith.
You are courageous and an example for many.
I want to be among those who reach out with open arms as part of the family of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yours in Christ,
President Bob Ricker
Baptist General Conference
Dear Pastor General Tkach,
I just heard the news of your father's passing. The members of Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church and Children's Center wish to be among those offering sincerest sympathy at this time.
One did not have to know your father personally to realize how much he will be missed and mourned in the religious community for which he did so much. His mantle has now been passed on and it is with our many prayers for your leadership and church this letter is sent. As you may already know, he will always be remembered in history as the central figure who brought your church body into the truth found in Jesus Christ alone.
In the love and friendship of Christ
Reverend George Mather, Pastor
Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church and Children's Center
Sept. 21
Dear Mr. Tkach,
Her Majesty the Queen asks me to convey to you her sincere appreciation for the beautiful card that you had sent for her birthday.
Her Majesty has just recently learnt about your illness which led to two major surgeries. Although the process of healing might be painful, Her Majesty is happy to hear that you are recovering well. Her Majesty hopes that your complete recovery will be smooth and less painful as time goes by.
Sincerely yours,
Pharani Mahanonda
Deputy Private Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, Thailand
To: Ambassador Foundation
I am sorry to hear the news about the death of Mr. Joseph W. Tkach. Wat Thai of Los Angeles has a long relationship with Ambassador Foundation and the Worldwide Church of God that began many years ago with Mr. Armstrong.
We always appreciate the friendship shown to the Thai people carried on by Mr. Tkach.
On behalf of the Wat Thai of Los Angeles and the Thai community, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Mrs. Tkach, the entire Tkach family and our many friends of the foundation and church.
Sincerely,
In the Dhamma,
Phra Dhammarajanuwat
President Wat Thai of Los Angeles
[ Worldwide Church of God | Worldwide News | December 5, 1995 ]
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1995