“For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” 1 Cor. 4:15.

Wayne Shuart became a father through the gospel to hundreds if not thousands. I am privileged to be among them. Few in my life have been as influential as Wayne. His words preached the gospel and taught us to be disciples of the Savior. But it was his transparent example that was the most impactful.

Wayne was not clergy. No bible college or seminary. No vestments or titles. Just a real, human, man, who followed Jesus consistently and exceptionally well.

Therein was Wayne’s impact. A model to follow. It was not a course of religiosity, but practical, day to day living for Jesus, in every area of life.

I met Wayne 47 years ago, when he was 38. By then, he had become a successful real estate developer, building quality homes, with no formal education or training. Wayne, his wife Mary, and their partners in ministry Herb and Helen Selby, had started out on college campuses in the 1960s, sharing the gospel of Jesus, and inviting folks into their homes to hear more. Wayne and Mary specially built a basement for 50 or more to gather on a Sunday night for worship and solid teaching, laying foundational truths for a lifetime. The crowd was unrefined, but drank in the love, hospitality, and training.

Their ministry grew to hundreds. When asked if they were a church congregation, their answer was “no, we just fellowship in Jesus.” They encouraged their flock to attend a church. But as the ministry continued to grow, their answer morphed from lower case to upper case into the name for what truly had become a congregation, “Fellowship In Jesus.” Even then, there was no charter, no budget, no building, no sign. Just the essence of worship, biblical teaching, and fellowship.

And most importantly, real relationships. Their gifts of time one on one, in small groups and large ones, mentoring, and discipling.

Wayne had two ministry passions. The first was to share the gospel with everyone he met. He always had a tract at the ready. But it was Wayne’s genuine warmth and kindness that would disarm strangers. He could not wait to share what to Wayne never became stale, and was always the fresh good news, shared with the enthusiasm of one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. Wayne could truly, personally affirm, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

Wayne’s second ministry passion was discipleship. He authored a systematic plan (Wayne was big on systems and plans) of how to disciple others that anyone can use. His vision was exponential increase: if he could personally disciple three for four (he vastly exceeded those numbers), and each of those would disciple three or four more … . His touchstone verse for this was 2 Timothy 2:2: “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.”

Wayne’s other passions were the love of life and partner in ministry, Mary, their daughters, and grandchildren. Wayne’s love and faithfulness toward his family are enduring sculptures of how he modeled living as a godly man.

Wayne believed in good health and nutrition, long before it was a thing, and self-discipline and organization. Most of the rest of us could never live up to those standards. But Wayne loved us anyway, and it was part of what made Wayne, Wayne.

Wayne’s 85 years were very well lived. Parkinson’s’ Disease the last six years of his time on earth, though painful and exhausting, never dampened his spirit.

I miss Wayne. The day after Wayne passed, as I worshiped in church that Sunday morning, I felt Wayne’s presence worshiping with me – him on one side of eternity, and me on the other – but more joined than ever as together we worshiped along with the myriads worshiping before the throne. It was advent. The message for us earthlings was about the hope of God’s redemption, and the coming of his Son to rescue us. I was thinking about Wayne. That message is no longer merely a hope for Wayne. He is now fully experiencing its fulfillment.

While he was among us, Wayne was our encourager. He continues, now among the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, still encouraging us on, to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the author and perfecter of the faith.