Following are comments about Joseph W. Tkach that were included in condolence and sympathy cards sent to the Tkach family.
We appreciate the example of how we should walk in the footprints of Christ that Mr. Tkach provided. He was a man of integrity and full of courage.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Clark
De Soto, Kansas
Your dad will be sorely missed. I had an opportunity to meet him and I found him to be a loving and giving person. I believe that God used him in a special way to bring the church into a bright future of showing love and outgoing concern for everyone no matter the race, creed or color. Under his leadership with Christ as the head, he has given true meaning to unity and fellowship.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wright
Rome, Georgia
Mr. Tkach was certainly an inspiration and role model to emulate. His warmth and love, dedication and hard work will always be remembered by fellow church members. Also his courage to point out wrong doctrine and stick to it, regardless of criticism.
Audrey Pearcy
Paducah, Kentucky
I am a former member of the Worldwide Church of God and although I never met him in person, he seemed to be such a caring and down to earth man.
Mrs. Gordon Schroeder
Jacobsburg, Ohio
Your father's example has helped all of us to grow in faith and strength. We will miss him very much. He truly was a valiant servant and soldier in our Lord.
Robert Walton
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Mr. Tkach was a wonderful loving man. He loved God, the church, his enemies and all of us from the greatest to the least. We will miss him. His selfless love for Christ has laid the foundation for a golden age in God's church. What a wonderful tribute to him and Christ.
Mr. and Mrs. David Gibb
Gaffney, South Carolina
I held your dad in great esteem. I'm glad God used him so well in bringing us close to himself. I'm also glad he was able to witness some of the fruit of his labor before his death. I will miss him.
Mary Crawford
Mason City, Iowa
My life will never be the same because of Mr. Tkach. I thank God for what he showed us, the Bible truths and his outstanding example.
Janie Berkowitz
Wantage, New Jersey
I had always admired Mr. Tkach for his leadership, and I came to respect him more and more as he demonstrated such courage in the face of so much adversity. He will be missed much.
Esther Halvorson
Bellingham, Washington
Mr. Tkach was of tremendous encouragement to us. God gave him such a capacity to express, to live and to love in humility and integrity. It is hard to believe he is gone. We will truly miss him and the loving guidance we received through him.
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Reinagel
Friendship, New York
Mr. Tkach will always be remembered for his outgoing love, his labor of love and for his kindness and thoughtfulness. He really lived a Christian life. He gave of himself, he practiced what he preached, and he cared. He taught us so much, what love is all about, how to put into practice that love toward the whole world. He has strengthened and encouraged us all.
Mr. Tkach has completed what God gave him to do. I can hear God say, "Thank you for a job well done."
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Saunders
Renton, Washington
Mr. Tkach has given his all. I have great admiration and respect for his willingness to follow where God led him. He had great courage in the face of such terrible opposition.
I am so grateful to him, and to God, for showing us about the new covenant and its indescribable blessings. It seems that there is new life in the church since the changes began, and I feel with many others that Mr. Tkach was instrumental in lifting our load.
Nina Prouty
South Bend, Washington
We thought so much about Mr. Tkach. He was a wonderful person and the church grew under his leadership. He will be sadly missed by all of those who knew him. We do share in the pain and the sorrow you are feeling.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Bremer
Danville, Indiana
Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm. Mr. Tkach held a steady course to truth and liberty when God's church was violently tossed about by storms of doubt, deceit and disbelief.
Now he has reached the safe harbor, his victory won, laid down his arms to rest. What a glorious awakening when he receives his reward.
Arlene Shaffer
Pulaski, Pennsylvania
Mr. Tkach helped me through his friendship and genuine love and concern. He will always be a part of my life. Mr. Tkach, with God's guidance, has directed the church with true love.
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hogan
Cape Canaveral, Florida
When Mr. Tkach took office in 1986, I felt for the first time that I had a hammer in my hand to help build the church, no longer did it seem the work was drawing to a close, but was just beginning.
Before he died, he released me from a weight that was fast becoming too heavy to bear, and opened the doors to joy in Christ I never dreamed I'd have. In the past week, I've thought in great sadness, how can we bear to lose such a man.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor
Villa Park, Illinois
Mr. Tkach was a good man, and you don't need me to tell you this. He took time out of his busy schedule to write me and was concerned about my health as I have diabetes and high blood pressure. I will always cherish Mr. Tkach's letter.
Sam Howard
(Member on death row)
I hope these words will comfort you as much as we were comforted by your dad's card he sent us in June when my mom died. We always felt the love he felt for us in the words he wrote and we will miss him greatly.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hammonds
Ennis, Texas
Mr. Tkach's loving and compassionate vision set thousands of people free from a binding legalism that inevitably stops spiritual growth at some point. His leadership will be missed, it must be difficult to face walking in his footsteps.
Annette Smith
Memphis, Tennessee
Mr. Tkach was a wonderful person and a great leader. We respected him deeply for his courage and faithfulness in leading the church.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Johnson
Brandon, Florida
Mr. Tkach was a dedicated man and served God loyally in so many ways. He was also a man of courage to follow his convictions and inspired understanding of God's word regardless of the cost. He was truly a man of God and an inspiration to so many.
Iris Coman
Mayer, Arizona
We really thought Mr. Tkach was an awesome person with tremendous love for all. We will surely miss him.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Mansanarez
Driggs, Idaho
[ Worldwide Church of God | Worldwide News | December 5, 1995 ]
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