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A Tribute to a Faithful Man Missionary Cody Groover 1959-2016
When I first met Bro. Cody Groover he was just a teenager. I remember well when the Lord was pleased to save him, and when the Lord called him to the work to which he devoted his life, leaving a good job, selling his goods, and moving his wife and young children to Merida, Mexico. When I got word this morning (November 17, 2016) that the Lord had suddenly called him home, I was shocked, and immediately thought, Òa great man is fallen this day in IsraelÓ (2 Samuel 3:38); and he will be missed. And I thought of my friend as Paul did of his friend, Tychicus. — Bro. Cody Groover was truly Òa beloved brother, and a faithful minister, and fellowservant in the LordÓ (Colossians 4:7).
Beloved Brother Cody is, to me and to many around the world, Òa beloved brother.Ó It has been more than forty years since the Lord made Cody, his parents, and his brother and sisters a part of my life. What a blessed part of my life they have been! Laboring together, laughing together, and weeping together, we rejoiced in one anotherÕs joys and bore one anotherÕs burdens. I was often in his home and with his family, and he was often in my home and with my family. In all those years, a cross word never passed between us, or even sense of discomfort or regret.
Faithful Minister Bro. Groover was Òa faithful ministerÓ to GodÕs elect, and Òa faithful minister of the Lord.Ó He was ChristÕs servant, and servant to his people. He was used of God to minister to pastors and churches in Mexico, primarily in the Yucatan and in Chiapas. Raised in Merida, the son of Missionary Walter Groover and his wife, Betty, Cody and his family returned to serve with his parents 22 years ago. Since then, the Lord has used him to raise up new gospel churches. He also took on the responsibilities of overseeing The PreachersÕ School in Merida. On my annual visits with the Groovers and the churches in the Yucatan, I always spent a day at The PreachersÕ School. Every visit with men in the school, some I have known for forty years and others just beginning to preach, gave me great joy. The preachers have been well taught, have a clear understanding of Holy Scripture, and demonstrate great love and esteem for Bros. Walter and Cody Groover, expressing great gratitude to our God for sending them to Mexico to bring the gospel of GodÕs free and sovereign grace in Christ to them.
Fellowservant in the Lord Bro. Cody Groover was truly a Òfellowservant in the Lord.Ó He was both greatly humbled by and great rejoiced in the work the Lord God trusted to his hands. In all the years I knew him, since his first conversion, Cody Groover was a man of exemplary faithfulness and commitment. His doctrine has not altered in all those years so much as a hairÕs breadth, but has only become stronger and clearer; and his commitment to the cause of Christ and his joy in the work the Lord trusted to his hands only increased year by year. He was truly Òa beloved brother, and a faithful minister, and a fellowservant in the Lord.Ó As I said, he will be greatly missed.
Don Fortner
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Pastor FortnerÕs
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