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Pastor Bob Jennings Bids A Final Farewell
the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big.
Bob Jennings , co-pastor of Hwy M Chapel in Sedalia, MO., is dying of pancreatic cancer. He has for quite some time now kept an online journal recording his health updates and always with some insight of Scriptural truth and a message of looking to Christ. I have long been edified and encouraged by Bob, through his sermons, articles and videos. I love this man, and I’ve never even met him. Here, his final farewell to his hometown community of Sedalia, MO., published Sunday, September 30, 2012, in the Sedalia Democrat newspaper, is no exception. His message, God bless him, is always Christ Jesus.
From Robert C. Jennings:
“Dear friends, I submitted the following article to the local newspaper. Someone reported they said it was the 2nd most-read. That could be taken either way, that is, a lot of folks would like to see me gone, or else are concerned about my leaving! I pray it is concern for their souls.”
Pastor bids a final farewell
Terri and I moved to Sedalia with one child in 1983 to pastor a new church which has met at Highway M Chapel since 1987. Alas, pancreatic cancer showed up two years ago. Apart from divine intervention, I’m near the end of the road. Permit a farewell to my dear community.
In the almost 30 years we have raised our five children, lived our lives, gone in and out of the businesses, talked on the sidewalks, preached indoors and out,
and I’ve written maybe 300 letters to the editor. This appears to be the last. The song writer says, “Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away.” Especially being a Christian, I’ve known that life is brief, death is certain, and an appearance before the judge of all the Earth is coming. Yet, my life is more of a “disappearing vapor” than I imagined. Indeed, the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big.
Yes, I’d like to stay on with my family, with my church, and with the souls of men to try to serve. But God’s will is sovereign. And, I am ready to die, in that I was saved from my sins by the grace of Christ 41 years ago. Heaven is OK! This world is passing away, ruined by sin. There is no fix to all the misery. A new president cannot fix the land. Hospitals remain, law courts remain, the jail house remains, the military remains, and tears will continue to fall.
My closing exhortation to fellow-Sedalians is that Christ is the only hope. Make sure you have Him. That’s all one can have, ultimately. All else is stripped away. He will fix you; He will fix it all. He conquered the grave. I go down with a glad shout, “O grave, where is your victory?” When the Lord Jesus returns I will rise again with all the Christians to a new heavens and new Earth. There is a heaven to gain; there is a hell to shun. Farewell to all. It has been a well-spent journey here in Sedalia.
– Robert C. Jennings, co-pastor, Hwy. M Chapel, Sedalia
5 Pt. Salt 
My heart goes out to the Jennings family. I’m always searching for good, sound, doctrinal preaching and happened to come across Pateur Jennings while viewing some Paul Washer videos on U-tube. I immediately took a humbling desire to hear more of his sermons. I would have liked to have met Bob just to soak in his teaching from the word of God. His voice and demeanor reflected a character of a man to me that earnestly, humbly, sought God and delivered what God laid upon his heart truthfully and sincerely. Though I would have been honored to have been in his presence to discuss questions and scriptural dialogue interaction, I know I will have that opportunity some day when by Gods mercy and grace finds me acceptable to come home. Time is a vapor, life here is shorter than most realize and it can end without warning or notice. As Bob would and has emphasized a personal relationship, a right relationship with our God is what’s the most important thing we can have. Thank you my brother in Christ for your devoted, dedicated, service to our Lord and Savior. Thank you for being a man of God and thank you for your sermons, .
To Bobs wonderful family, we are praying for you that you would be strong in the word and comforted by the peace that only the Holy Spirit can bring. Bob will be sorely missed and we love all of you!
The Lord allowed me to meet Bob and see him glorify God with his words, actions and his life. With the spirit of the Lord in me, I laugh at satan and his defeat in Bobs life. The Lord did save Bob and in Bobs own words I would say to all those who dont truly know Jesus Christ; “rise up and seize it, quit being a coward and admit who you are”.
Rob Noble