We were in El Salvador when Dad passed away and the night before he went home to be with the LORD, Ron spoke at Miramonte’s 35th Church Anniversary service.  The message was about the children of Israel crossing the Jordan River when God told Joshua to have one man from each tribe take a stone from the midst of the Jordan.  They were told to build a memorial with the stones so when their children asked, “What do these stones mean?” they could tell of the greatness of their God.  Little did we know that the LORD would call dad home the next day. 

This story was impressed on my (Ron) heart, relating to my dad.  Our lives represent memorial stones to the greatness of our God, and if we recognize this we have the opportunity to share them with our children to strengthen their faith.  Following are the stones that most impress me about my father’s life and how they demonstrate the greatness of our God.

• The first stone tells that God is a Father to the fatherless.  At a young age, Dad and his siblings lost their mother.  He and his next youngest brother were placed in a Catholic orphanage, while the other two children went to homes of family members.  For one year my grandfather had to be separated from his children leaving my father and his brother in the orphanage.  As I try to imagine what it might have been like for a 5 year old who just lost his mother and was separated from his father; I can’t help thinking that he wondered whether he would ever be reunited with his family.  What kind of fears came into his heart and mind as a little boy lying on his bed by himself?   The Father not only watched over him but was also working to provide him with more than a home.  He restored him to his earthly father and provided a mother’s love as well.  My grandfather, Luigi La Gatta married Anna Genna who herself had three children (a girl and two boys).  She had tragically lost her husband a few years before when he was murdered.  Days after their marriage my grandfather and his new wife went to the orphanage and brought my dad and his brother home; now the family was seven children – 5 boys and 2 girls.  God is Faithful! 
• The second stone tells that God provided the perfect help meet for my father; not only to bear his children but to serve alongside him in life and ministry.  Their meeting was very unique in comparison to most.  His bride, Angela Genna, was the daughter of Anna, the woman who took him into her heart as her own son.  My mom and dad grew up together in the same house as step-brother and step-sister.  They lived together for over 82 years and were married for more than 64.  They also shared 43 years of ministry; pastoring the Christian Church of Canarsie in Brooklyn New York. 
• The third stone reminds me of how God provides for His children; “I was young and now I am old; I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread (Psalm 37:25)”  Though my dad served as a pastor for 43 years, pastoring is not what provided for us financially.  For 30 years he was a full-time construction laborer braving weather as well as commuting issues, and never allowing physical injury or illness to keep him from providing for his family.  Before his passing he was the oldest member of his union, celebrating over 50 years of membership.  In looking at my dad as a provider it taught me that I could trust my Heavenly Father’s promise to answer my need even before I ask (Matt 6:8)
• The fourth and final stone is “The Lord is my Shepherd.”  Dad taught us by his life the truest definition of being the steward of another man’s wife. As a pastor, he took very seriously his place in the Kingdom of Heaven as one who is to care for the Bride of Christ.  He and Mom tirelessly served the Body of Christ; visiting, counseling, praying, preaching and teaching; for 30 years as a bi-vocational pastor and 14 years as a full-time volunteer pastor.  Many days I saw him come home after a hard day’s work, clean up, have dinner and then go visit the congregation the LORD entrusted into his hands to serve.  To me his life in ministry was a testimony of what Jesus said “a shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  He not only labored as mentioned above, but he willingly made the necessary sacrifices of time with his family and set aside personal agendas to pastor the flock that God entrusted into his hands.

My memories of being a pastor’s son were not always favorable.  It was not until years later that I grew to appreciate the home God had given me.  Only when I was in ministry myself with my own family and experiencing some of the same challenges as my parents, did I begin to understand the great sacrifice they made and the honor it is to serve the Master.  This formed a fundamental part of my perspective in serving pastors, their wives and their children through Raven Ministries.