A few days ago my Pastor gained his wings. As his daughter Joanna reminded us today during his celebration, don’t cry for him because he is in heaven! I will not cry, but instead, I will remember the amazing lessons he imparted to me. He opened my eyes to many truths about the Word of God. I attended his church for many years until unfortunately due to medical reasons, he had to step down from the pulpit.
When my father was in the hospital in 2009, about two weeks before his passing, I asked him if he would accompany me to pray for him. You see, I wasn’t sure if my Dad had ever accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. As Pastor was praying over my father, he asked him (in fluent Spanish) if he loved Jesus and if he would accept Him as his Lord and Savior. My father immediately smiled and raised one of his hands towards the heavens! My heart skipped a beat knowing my father was saved and ready to be with our God.
Another day as I saw how serenely Pastor carried himself, I asked him how he was able to do so. Calmly, he voiced, “Easy, my dear, I remember all of God’s promises.”
To this day, I too remember God’s promises!!
Enjoy this poem I wrote for him a few years ago from my book Poesia: Bearing my Soul with Each Passing Sunset
“Communing with Her Pastor”
She felt so at peace…as she and her Pastor communed.
They laughed, reminisced, and cried about how good God has been.
He-healing from several strokes a few years ago…She–catching up about her own healing from within…
Hummingbirds aflutter aside…Plants dangling in the wind.
She- back in his familiar home…so precious to her.
As souls and angels serendipitously were intertwined!
(June 2018)
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants”–Psalm 116:15
I will miss you Pastor, but I’m sure I’ll see you again. Of this I am sure!!! I love you.
Mary Ellen Greenlee
May his soul rest in peace in paradise.
As promised by our lord Jesus Christ!🙏
Maida Mascorro
Amen. He truly was a man of God. xxooxx
Yvonne Loya
I’m sorry for your loss 😔 Heaven gained an Angel 😇 My heart and prayers are with you, his family and friends! This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing 💓
Maida Mascorro
Thank you Yvonne. He truly loved people and God and his celebration was awesome!!
Gus Gonzalez
I met Pastor Vinita the first time while I faced a life altering surgery. I did not have a relationship with the pastor, but he entered my hospital room and asked if he could pray for me, I said, “yes” and he did. His prayer was comforting and although we really did not know each other, he took time to lay hands on my infected leg; he prayed When I was training (internship at AGGC), I got to know him as the Man of God the congregation knew him to be; you all were blessed to have him as your pastor. Furthermore, on one occasion while waiting for a client, as I was reading an old, framed article up on the wall, he stopped, and spoke of the years in had served God and how AGGC commenced; he had a vision and he had to opportunity to see that vision come to fruition.
Heavenly Father, I pray he give peace and comfort to his family as they go through this difficult time of losing their father, their friend, and their daddy. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Maida Mascorro
Thank you Gus for your beautiful words. He truly was a man of God and we both were truly blessed to have known and interacted with him. Be well and safe.