I have taken the liberty to hijack the church blog for this special announcement. Today is our Pastors birthday! I have watched this morning as emails from all over the world come in telling Bro. Austin how much they appreciate him.
As I read the emails that come in this morning I am amazed by a few things. One being the reach of our Pastor’s ministry. Young men from literally all over the world have contacted the pastor this morning. Secondly, I am amazed how thankful all that write are for the life our pastor has lived. It is a good thing to live a life that is honoring to God. It is a great thing when you share that life with others around you. Bro. Austin early on in his ministry opened his life to spend and be spent for the people he is shepherding.
One of the greatest testimony of a preacher of God’s Word is not what people from a distance think of him but what the people whoa re closest to him know about him. Working with Pastor/Missionary/Mentor Austin Gardner has been one of the greatest joys of my life. He chooses to love and believe in the people he leads. I am one of hundreds of people who would not be where they are today in their walk with God if Pastor Austin Gardner would not have laid his life down as a bridge to help get me there.
From Mark Coffey…
I am privilege to work with such a visionary that knows it’s his responsibility to glorify the Lord by getting the gospel message to the world. He challenges me and many others on a daily basis to serve the Lord with their lives in that same capacity. I am glad we have the opportunity to work and learn from a man that loves the Lord like he does.
From Philip Bassham…
I met Austin Gardner 3 years ago in Arequipa, Peru. I showed up in Peru because I had heard that there was man there that would be able to teach me about the ministry. I had no idea to what extent he was going to pour his life into mine over the next 3 years. My life and ministry literally will never be the same after meeting a mentor and a friend!
From Tony Howeth
Over the last twenty years, Bro. Austin you have been a friend. When I found out about my daughter having Cf, you called. When I was pastoring, you called to check on me. When I don’t know how to do blogs, you teach me!! You are such a friend and leader. Words cannot and never will be able to describe the love and admiration that I have for you. May God bless you on your birthday and grant you many more.
From Robert Canfield
Pastor Gardner is a wonderful Man of God. He is the most giving, forgiving, loving man I know, and a person that anyone could model. His love for the Bible and God is very inspiring in my life and I am so glad that God seen it fit to place him in my life. I have learned so from him and I truly hope one day that I might have these same characteristics to the extent that Pastor Gardner has. I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday Pastor.
From Chris Gardner
Taken from his blog at www.uttermost.net
Well, today is my Dad’s birthday. I thank God for the parents he has given me. We live in a day and age where men of character are found few and far between. I thank God for all that I have been taught not through what he has told me but by the life he has lived. I do not know of anyone in the world that I would prefer to learn from over my Dad.
I thank God that I know him a little better than most, 33 years of seeing and following the steps of a man of integrity. Dad, thanks for all you have taught me and shown me through your life. I can never thank you enough for all that you have done. I love you, Happy Birthday.
A humorous comment from “Uncle Sam”
Austin Gardner is a great man of God. But he is just a man. Austin Gardner’s barber is a fantastic stylist.
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Thank you so much. I certainly do not deserve this kind words but really appreciate your very nice words. Thanks for hijacking the blog. God bless one and all.
Feliz cumpleaños que Dios te bendiga y gracias por haber dado tantos años para entrenarnos, yo lo conoci en el año de 1992, pero realmente pude conocerlo mas cerca en el año de 1995 gracias por todo porque aprendi y sigo aprendiendo mucho de usted.
bendiciones
christian, jessica, rebecca y arina
desde uruguay
Bro Austin
I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be where I am today with out the influence that you and your wife have had in my life.
I thank you for your love for God that is so very evident in everything you do and say (excpet MAYBE that love of TENNESSEE…) Thank you for your stand and your testimony. I thank God for the opportunity that I have had to know you and that you have been a part of our lives. We look forward to seeing how God will further use you in the years to come.
Wishing you a very blessed birthday,
Corey Godzwa
Thank you very much for your kind words. God bless you and thank you again
Gracias Christian por tu carta y tus palabras tan amables
Brother Gardner, a little over four years ago I arrived in Arequipa, Peru to learn from you and your ministry. Though I had already met you and known about you before then, little did I know the true amount of real difference you’d make upon my life. Despite the loads of stupid things I said and did, you didn’t give up on me and still kept pointing me in the right direction. I would have never gotten to where I am today, nor would get to where I’m going if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for sticking with it, living a life that is worthy of followship and replication for the glory of our Lord. Happy birthday!
Thank you very much Aaron. You are a blessing and I know that God is going to use you greatly!