My Pastor
Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 15:26: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Our certain hope as Christians is that one day Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes and there will no longer be any death (Rev. 20:4). Jesus will one day cast death itself into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). How we long for that day.
I'm grieved that yesterday, Dr. Reverend Peter Carey, pastor of Wallington Presbyterian Church in Wallington NJ, went home to be with the Lord. He married Molly and me almost 27 years ago. Since then, he’s influenced me in more ways than I could count, mentoring me as a member of WPC, teaching me the Bible, allowing me to minister to kids at VBS, helping me discern God's call on my life, allowing me to preach when he needed heart surgery, and encouraging me to go to seminary. I would not be a pastor today if not for his guidance and example. I called him “Pastor,” because that’s who he was to me. Pastor was more than his title; it was his very identity.
He’s the only man I’ve ever called “my pastor.” I owe so much to him. Anyone who had the privilege to call him “Pastor” would testify the same. I have rarely seen such humility. He never sought attention. His goal was to help everyone he met and to point them to Jesus. Besides his pastoral duties, he served as a hospital chaplain for decades, visiting the sick and dying, and offering them comfort.
Since Pastor’s melanoma diagnosis and the start of his chemo treatments, we spoke several times. I meant to call him last week. Before I did, he called me last Friday. That was the last time we spoke. He learned from previous conversations that my wife Molly was recovering from a difficult case of Covid. While he was suffering the painful and debilitating effects from cancer and chemo, he called to check on Molly! That tells you everything about him. As we were hanging up, the last thing he said was, “We’re praying for you and Molly. God bless you.” I’ll never forget that.
All who loved him will miss him. He's left huge shoes to fill at WPC, in the hospitals where he ministered, and in the lives of the many he touched. I praise God for his life, and that God didn’t allow him to suffer a long and painful death. He’s with his savior Jesus right now. That’s all he ever wanted for himself and for us. Pray for his wife Peg, another humble servant of the Lord. Pray for the saints at Wallington Presbyterian Church who’ve lost a giant. When I go to heaven I'll be looking for him. I think I may have to wait in a long line. I’ll thank him for his life and example of love and concern for people, for showing me grace and humility, and for teaching me what it means to be a pastor.
