Thank you. for gathering today for this service. to remember the life of Don and Fawcett and most of all to remember the evidences of God's grace in her life. That's what is so memorable and so...
so thankworthy as we gather together at this time. Donnin was a charter member of this church. Starting together with a group of 19 adults, In nineteen seventy three, And we have, at that time, we had nineteen adults and about. ten others who were teenagers and part part of those families.
So we started with 29 people. I think we had 29 charter members, and we're down to just a very small handful at this time. My wife and I were privileged to be a part of that beginning group. I was 25 at the time. I'm A little past that now.
But the Lord has been so good to us, and I can tell you. that of the charter members Ralph and Don and Fossett were two of the key Charter members. All of them. began with us. All of them gave their consent, their support, their They're enthusiastic participation, but there were some who were leaders among that group.
and Donnan and Ralph were certainly among those. And so in many ways The church that the Lord has established here and continues to sustain and maintain. Yeah, can be traced back to the desires, the prayers, the labors. of Ralph who's now with the Lord. And Donnan, Fawcett, who also is now with the Lord.
I could also tell you about Donna, she had a lot of wonderful traits, a lot of gifts. But the two that I think were most notable were her Art. And her love of children and teaching of children. She was An amazing artist. If you look carefully around the church building and some of the rooms, you'll see some of her art.
On the walls of various classrooms, nursery, and so forth throughout. this building. When Marty and I gather in the living room in our home, we see Donnan's artwork. on the wall and that it beautiful, just absolutely beautiful. She was a talented artist, but she was also a very gifted teacher.
I have learned over the years that there are some people who have a great gift for teaching, but they're not Enthusiastic about all the work they have to put into it, so they do it, but not maybe as enthusiastically as they could and should. And others have a great enthusiasm for it, but aren't particularly gifted. And effective, but I can tell you that Donna was one of those wonderfully rare persons. who was both gifted and fully committed, She put hours of preparation into her classwork. She taught hundreds of children down through the years.
And she is best known around here as Teacher Fawcett. because that's what she was. And we thank the Lord. for her life. I'm going to read the first two paragraphs in the obituary that is in your bulletin.
Donna Parkerson Fawcett went to be with her lord on August 7, 2026. I pause to say what I said to the family earlier, She wanted to go and be with the Lord. She'd been. desiring that and praying for that for a long time. And the Lord answered that prayer on August 7 of this year.
She was born on July 4, 1929. to Elwood Parkerson and Ruth Teague Parkerson in Norfolk, Virginia. After a brief time in Florida, her family moved to Burlington, North Carolina. where Donnan lived for the rest of her life. She married Her husband Ralph Fawcett in 1949 and came to Christ in 1951.
A woman of profound faith, and blessed with a deep love for children, Donnan dedicated the next 48 years to teaching two and three-year-olds about Christ's love for them. What began with a wooden spoon, she painted as a thank-you gift. grew into a 40-year business. in decorative hand painting. And then in the last paragraph you have the list of those who follow her and her family.
those who preceded her in death and those who are yet living.
Well, we're going to have a word of prayer, and then we're going to sing an appropriate song for Teacher Fawcett. Namely, Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so, but let's have a word of prayer first. Heavenly Fathers, we bow in your presence. We come to you at this time that we recognize is first and foremost a worship service. to give honour and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross, that those who trust in Him might have our sins forgiven.
and be given eternal life. We come, O Lord, to praise you for the work of grace you did in the life of Don Fawcett. and for the evidence of that grace working out in her life in such commitment to Christ and such enthusiastic labor for Christ down through these many years. And Father, we thank you for the legacy that she leaves behind. And we pray for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and those who are gathered here today that your grace will fill their hearts with peace and joy.
And that your grace will minister to the needs of every heart that you know to be present at this time.
So bless this time, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Finding a hymnal for those of you on the front row, I think you'll find it under your pew. Turn to 719. In honor of the memory of Teacher Fawcett.
Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible. Tells me so. Shall we stand as we sing together? Jesus does live inside home, for the highlights of ones and heaven belong, they are in the Legislative.
Yes, Jesus must be, yes, Jesus must be, yes, Jesus must be, the lion just is so. Jesus must be the high, and since you open the high, the one shall make my sin. There is coming entering. Yes, Jesus must be. Yes, Jesus must be.
Yes, Jesus was king. The highlights show Jesus was in still in merry and ill. Come is shining from on high, what is your being when I die? Yes, Jesus was free. Yes, Jesus was free.
Yes, Jesus was king, the idols is so. Jesus does me the same, but his mighty all over the way. If I trust him where I lie, he will take me all over. Yes, Jesus was me, yes, Jesus does me, yes, Jesus was me, the Bible does restore. Thank you.
Be seated. Pastor Latour is going to come now. with some personal reflections, I should mention that the second solo, His Robes for Mine, by Bobby Latour. He was not able to be with us today because of a conflict, so it's going, it's a recorded.
Solo on C D, but the words Well Or not. I was going to say the words for the hymn are on the back of the bulletin, but they are not. We'll turn it over to Pastor Latour. Before I share some thoughts with you folks. I was talking with one of the funeral directors.
And when a person lives as long as Donovan did, A lot of her peers have gone on to glory. I assure you, there'd be considerably more people here today if they weren't in glory.
Some of what I share with you will overlap what Pastor said. But I think I'll add a little bit of different colour to it perhaps. We sang Jesus loves me at the request of Dami. It was strategically placed in the program because I'll share what motivated her request to have what might be considered a child song. In an adults' memorial service, and I'll mention that later.
I want to touch on four areas. that were in her obituary. And the first was her teaching, as Pastor said. Upon becoming a Christian, Donna taught God's word to two and three-year-olds. As a charter member of Beacon Baptist Church, he continued to do so.
All told, She poured her life into the lives of these little ones for forty-eight years. Donnon had a knack. for keeping their attention. and getting her lesson across. I'll give you one example.
she would say to these little duffers, One, two, three, and the toddlers would repeat with the Trinity. And I thought that that was special, and I've seen a couple of pictures in her classroom. very innovative and very gifted. I'm tempted, and I think I'll go ahead and do it. Do any of you have children who were in her glass.
Okay, there's probably ten, at least, fifteen, no more than that. Good. I guarantee you, like I said, there's a lot that have gone under glory. A little bit more humorous side of Donna, her artwork. And it was beautiful, as he said.
There's no I saw some yesterday when visiting. one of our members. What began with a wooden spoon is her Obituary says what began with a wooden spoon that she painted as a thank-you gift. Grew into a 40-year business. She did numerous oil paintings for friends and decorative wall painting as a business.
One job that she had was to paint an accent wall in a home that was part of a well-to-do neighborhood in Greensboro. Of course, this was before the days of GPS.
So she scribbled down the directions. on how to get there. She took a left-hand turn. on a very narrow street that she thought will led to the development. Shrubs and twigs from small trees rubbed against the car, stuck in the door cracks, and everywhere else.
Eventually she came out on a wide street in a Ritzy neighborhood. She came to the number of the house that she was assigned to paint the wall. and painted it. went out, got in her car and proceeded to back over the homeowner's trash cans. At the entrance to the narrow road that had gotten her there, she saw a sign stating Bicycle path.
Uh The chair and the top of this excursion was Ralph's face when she drove up looking like a porcupine with branches sticking out everywhere. I can just hear him now: what have you done to my car? And then the the last area that I want to touch on is her legacy, and that is the most important thing about her. Ah done and Dunnan was sick. if I can use that term.
progressively for years. For years, and I'll make a comment of appreciation at the end of this, but she developed a legacy of loving the Lord. right up until the end. Anyone who knew Downhan would vouch that she did indeed love Christ. Hardly a visit went by over the years that she didn't stay to May.
her desire to leave for heaven. This became especially true with the prolonged illness and the death of her oldest child, Ronnie. I close with a word of commendation. To those family members and friends who made it possible for Donna to remain in her home. until the last week of her physical life.
That is a gift. to be able to have your life and or close to it in your own home. Praise God, she's now reveling in the joy of being in the very presence of Christ. with loved ones and friends who've gone on before her. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy Power throughout the universe displays, then sings my soul. My Savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great. The heart, then sings my song. Oh my Saviour God to thee. How great the heart, how great the Lord when through the war.
Woods and forest glades I wonder. And hear the book. Birds sing sweetly in the tree. Peace when I look down From a lofty mountain grandeur. and hear the crock.
And feel the gentle breathe. And when I think That God, His Son, not sparing, Send him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross My burden gladly perished. He bled and died. To take away my sin.
Then sings my soul. My Savior God. What to thee? How great. Yeah.
How great the Lord. Then sings my song. My Savior, God, to thee, how great the heart, how great thou art when Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me. Oh, yeah. What joy shall fill my heart?
Then I shall bow In humble adoration And there proclaim We might god. How great the Lord. Yeah. Then sings my song. Oh, my Saviour God to thee How great the Word How great the Wart Then sings my soul.
Oh my Savior, God to thee. How great the Lord, how great the Lord. Donan's favorite verses were found in the book of Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 through 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, and all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path. I want to share with you just one text from the Old Testament and then one from the New.
for your consideration. Psalm 23 is perhaps the best recognized chapter in the scriptures, whether a Christian or not. A lot of people recognize that. Text. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Because Donna placed her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, She could confidently say The Lord is my shepherd.
And beloved, she knows her shepherd better today than ever before, and she's rejoicing in its presence. One New Testament text is found in 2 Thessalonians 4, 13 through 18. And it can be a real encouragement to believers. Paul wrote, But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren. concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as those who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, Even so, God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord. That we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first.
than we who are alive and remain. She'll be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another. with these words.
Please bow with me for a brief word of prayer. Lord Jesus, those of us who are indeed placing our faith in who you are and what you accomplished through your perfect life and your sacrificial death and your victorious resurrection. We know you as our shepherd. David wrote that you protect your sheep, you provide for your sheep, you You comfort them. And we ask that you will grant Donnan's family that comfort that can only come from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We ask that if anyone here does not know Christ as their shepherd, They will flee to him by faith. And we desire that you would bring glory to yourself through this celebration on Donovan's life. We ask it in Christ's name. Amen. His robes for mine hope.
Wonderful. Exchange Yeah. Cloat in my sin. Christ suffered neath God's rage, draped in his right. Righteousness, I'm justified.
In Christ I live. For in my place it I Blakely to cry Christ. And marvel I to the corn Jesus forsaken God. But estranged from God. But by such love My life is not my own.
Oh, my prayer. My all shall be. Peaceful. Or Christ on Lord His robes for mine. Time, what cause have I for dread?
God's daunting law. Christ mastered in my stead. Faultless I stand. With righteous works not mine. saved by my Lord.
Thy career steath and love. His robes for mine. God's justice is a peace. Jesus is crushed and thus the Father's pleas. Christ drank God's wrath on sin, then Christ is done.
Sin's wages paid, propitiation won. I cling to Christ and marvel. Warm right to the core. Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God. What by such law?
My life is is not my My own my praise, my own, shall be. Before Christ the Lord His robes for mine such angels. Wish none can know. Christ God's beloved. Condemned as low his form.
He is the one. I accursed and left alone. Yeah, Embraced and welcomed home. I cling to Christ and marvel at the cost Jesus for sake. God estranged from God.
But by such love, my life is not My own My praise, my own, my praise, my own. My praise, my all, shall be for Christ alone. Amen. I've chosen as my text today. The words of Christ in Matthew chapter 18.
The chapter begins by saying, At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, Who, then, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Then Jesus called a little child to him. set him in the midst of them, and said, Assuredly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child, like this in my name, receives me.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin. It would be better for him. If a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. I can still remember back in 1973, early in the spring, when I received a phone call from Ralph Osett. I had met him Some few months earlier.
And uh he called me and said um There are a group of us here that Really feel like the Lord would have us begin a new church in our area and we. Would like to ask you to consider coming and being our pastor. Would you consider that? And my initial response was: well, I don't think so. I had several hesitations.
about that particular request. One was I didn't know that whether I was up to the task of organizing a new church. That required a little bit more than perhaps stepping into the pulpit. a vacant pulpit of a church already organized. And so I wasn't at all Sure of my own confidence in that.
Proposition. And there were some other things that made me hesitant, but After two or three weeks of praying about it and considering it carefully, and continuing to communicate with Ralph Fawcett and with Gerald Counce. And with several of them drove down to where I lived at that time in Greenville, South Carolina, the Fawcetts, the Counts, and Margin Otis Holland. All of these folks are with the Lord except for Mae Counts, who's now living with her son Randy in Florida. But they drove back down to South Carolina to meet with me personally and to try to persuade me that this was.
a good thing to do and that hopefully that I would consider that to be God's will. And so that that began the journey of of what became Beacon Baptist Church. And it didn't take me long to realize that Don and Fawcett truly had a gift from God to treat. children in fact Young children. Two and three year olds.
A lot of people would consider that not to be very Profitable. They're too young. Surely they can't learn much about God and the Bible and the gospel at that young age. But that was not the attitude of Don and Fawcett, thankfully. She believed otherwise, she knew otherwise, because she'd been doing this for many years before.
And she was convinced that young children can indeed Learn Significant truths about God, obviously, not all the details that we know as adults. They don't understand Systematic theology, but they understand simple truth about God if He will teach it to them. And so she did that. And it bore great fruit over the years, and it reminds me of what Jesus said. In Matthew chapter 18.
The disciples wanted to know who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom. of heaven. displaying The kind of pride and Misplaced priorities that we, all of us, so often display. They wanted to know when Christ set up his kingdom, which they really didn't understand very well at that time, but nevertheless, they knew that he was to set up a kingdom, and that when Christ set up his kingdom, They wanted to know who's going to be the main associates to the king. Who's going to have the highest place besides the king.
And uh Jesus didn't answer their question. He didn't say, well, I'm going to give... Peter this assignment, and I'm going to give John that assignment, and Andrew We'll have this other assignment. Jesus answered their question, first of all, by answering a question they didn't ask. They asked who's going to be greatest in the kingdom.
Christ began the answer by saying, who's going to be in the kingdom? Not everybody who thinks they're going to be in the kingdom is even going to be there.
So the first thing we need to talk about is how do you get into the kingdom of heaven? And he took a little child. We don't know how old, but could very well have been a two or three year old like Don and Fawcett taught all these years. I rather imagine that it had to be a pretty young child. And Jesus took that little child and set them in the midst of the people, the disciples, and others who were crowded around at that time and wanted to hear his teaching and he said Except you be converted.
And become like this little child, you will in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven.
So much for who's going to be the greatest. The most important question is, who's going to be there? Uh And that's the most important question for us today, isn't it? Who's going to be there? Are you going to be there?
And Jesus points us in the right direction. He says, those who are converted and become like a little child.
Now think that through. To be converted is to have someone, something else. make a change in your life. He didn't say whoever turns over a new leaf, whoever Engages in self-reformation, whoever does this, whoever does that. will become a member of the kingdom of heaven, he said, Whoever is converted, whoever has the power of God come into his life and to change him.
That, of course, we know from other places in the Bible is what is called the new birth. to be born from above. Like Jesus told Nicodemus in... John chapter 3, this religious leader who knew the Old Testament scriptures probably better than nearly anybody else. He was not only a A teacher, but he was The literal translation, a little understanding of what is said there is, Are you the teacher in Israel?
In other words, he was one of the leading teachers in Israel. He knew the Old Testament backwards and forwards, and Jesus said, Unless You are born again. you're not going to see the kingdom of heaven. It's not religion. that qualifies us.
For the kingdom of heaven. A lot of times we want to argue about You know, which is the right religion. It's the Baptist religion, right? No, it's the Methodist religion. No, it's this, it's that.
There's a place for all of these things, and I'm I'm happy to defend and argue for my Understanding that what is generally called the Baptist position on some of these things. Is the biblical one, but I recognize I have brothers and sisters in Christ who have. Other ideas about some of these things, but one of the things that we must all agree on together is that except a person be born from above. Born of the Spirit of God. Unless God comes and creates a new creature in Christ Jesus in the heart.
of a person, that person will not be in the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus said, Unless you be converted. And then there's something that follows that. And surely, unless I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children. you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is it? about little children. that Jesus is pointing to here. The details are not given, except one I'll mention in a moment. But those of you who have had children, or now have children, or are teaching children.
Note that there are at least a couple of things that characterize young children. Number one, they are amazingly trusting. of the adults in their lives.
Now, as they grow older, sometimes, unfortunately, they learn not to be so trusting.
Sometimes the adults in their lives prove not to be as trustworthy. But when they're young, they just trust what they are told. They just trust. There Parents, they trust their Sunday school teachers. In other words, they believe what they're told without questioning it.
And folks? When it comes to the Word of God, that's the way we have to be. You don't have to be a theologian. To be saved. But you have to believe the Word of God.
You don't have to understand all the ins and outs. You don't have to understand every detail and every question. But one thing you need to understand is this. I am a sinner in need of a Savior, and the Bible says that Jesus died on the cross. For those who will trust in him, he bore the penalty for the sins of those who trust in him.
He gives his righteousness, as that song said, to those who trust in him. I believe that. And I believe it because The Bible tells me so. That's why I believe it. I'm not doubting it, I'm not questioning it, I'm just casting all of my faith in trust.
Upon what the Bible tells me. That's the way little children are toward their parents. That's the way we must be toward God and toward His Word. A lot of people are Hardened and skeptical, and I don't know. I don't know if that's right or wrong.
I don't know if that's true or not.
Well, you better get that settled before you die. Because when you die, you'll find out it is absolutely true. It is the word of the living God. It's the God who made this world, it's the God who made us. He knows what's next, He knows what happens after death.
He knows about heaven and hell, He created them. And just like a little child, We say, Dear God, I believe you. I trust you. I acknowledge that I'm a sinner. I acknowledge that I can't save myself and I can't make myself worthy of salvation.
But oh Dear God, I believe your word that Jesus died in the place of sinners like me, and I acknowledge my sin. And I'm trusting Jesus for my salvation. And except you be converted and become like a little child, you'll not enter the kingdom of heaven. But if you will trust Christ like a little child. then we'll meet together in glory some day.
The one thing that Jesus did say in describing the characteristics of little children is Humility. Isn't that what he went on to say? Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Now he's answering their question. Who's going to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
That question aside, first of all, who's going to be there? Those who Trust. The Word of God. Those who believe the gospel with a childlike faith will be there. And then who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Those who are humble, those who humble themselves. It's interesting. We must be converted. God has to do that. But God expects us to humble ourselves.
We all have too much pride. We might as well acknowledge it. I acknowledge that I have more pride than I ought to have. May God help me. Forgive me.
And humble me. But I need to be humbling myself before the mighty hand of God. Those who humble themselves before God, God exalts, the Bible tells us. But a proud heart, God will not. Bless.
God will not receive. And therefore, who will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven? In other words, who will? Have the highest honor. in that eternal kingdom.
Is the Christian who has humbled himself the most. Just like Jesus, Jesus was the king, but what did he do? He girded his himself like a servant and went around and washed the disciples' feet. And what was that? That was an illustration of humility.
And he said, This is the way you are to be. This is the way you should treat one another. And again, how does that come about?
Well, first of all, it requires the converting grace of God. I don't have the power to humble myself like that, but I can call out. To God to give me that power by His converting grace, and then I can work at it. Who's not going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? the one who in pride says, I'll do things my way.
I'll ruin my own life. I'll decide what is right and what is wrong. No, no. Humble yourself like a little child. And say God You're God, I'm not.
You're king, I'm not. Your ruler, I'm not. You made this universe, I didn't. I acknowledge you're right. to tell me what's right and wrong.
And I humble myself before you. I accept that. And I want to serve you. in humility. And that, my friends, is what Teacher Fawcett knew, and that's why she taught little children.
And loved to do so, and they came out of her classes with an amazing amount of knowledge of God and of Christ, Jesus Christ, in the Bible. And that's what we must do. There are two destinies. Everybody in the world is going to be divided into is already divided into two categories and at death will be divided into two destinations. The Bible does tell us about a wonderful place called heaven, but it also tells us.
about another place called Hell. And those who go into eternity. Proud Self-sufficient. confident that they are good enough. For salvation, are going to miss it.
And those who humble themselves. And just trustingly believe the Word of God. are going to be forever. and ever. with the Lord.
What glorious news shall we pray? Father, We thank you for the evidence of your grace in the life of our dear sister. Don Fawcett. We thank you for the gift you gave her to be able to communicate serious truth to young children and the conviction that you gave her that in that in. doing that.
She was not wasting her time. She, like Jesus said, was glad to receive. unto herself little children. And Father, we thank you for that evidence of your grace in her life. We thank you for the assurance we have.
that because of these evidences we see of your grace that we are looking forward to seeing her in heaven some day. And Father, I pray that everyone here We'll be there. With her, with us. with the humble. with the trusting ones.
with those who are casting ourselves completely, upon Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. One more hymn. 36. In your hymnal.
We'll sing. Three of the stanzas of All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name. Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all. For indeed that's who he is.
We'll sing stanzas one, two, three. And five, shall we stand as we say? Oh, mail the boundaries, Jesus sing when angels come. Bring forth the glory of high-love him, and crown him. Bring forth the glory of high-level Him, and crowd Him single is we rest from the door.
Hail Him who sing you, highest grace, and crow Him glory. Please remain standing.
