Dear Congregation,

Many of you have been praying for Rev. Dustin Salter, the RUF minister at Furman University who was in a serious bicycle accident last November.  I received news that Rev. Salter died yesterday from complications related to his injuries.  He leaves behind a wife and three small children.  While precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints, it is still extremely difficult for those who are left behind.  While I do not have the first hand experience of the loss Leigh Anne has, I was able to see the grief and loss caused by the death of a friend and young minister (just a few months older than me), Matt Baugh.

We ought not to fear for Dustin, as by every indication and evidence – from his elders, fellow ministers, family and church – he gave a good confession of faith in the work of Jesus Christ alone for his salvation.  But at the same time, we ought not to pretend that death is not the horrible thing that it is.  Death is decidedly unnatural, even though it is universal today.  Death was not a part of the good creation the Lord made (Genesis 1), but was a result of sin (Romans 5:12; James 1:15).  Even our Lord Jesus Christ was angered and disturbed by death when he went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35).  But we must also not forget that Christ can bring much good and grace out of death, even as He did Lazarus’ death, which served to glorify God (John 11:4). 

Dustin knew this, I am convinced, even though I did not know him.  How do I know that?  Because I personally know the God that Dustin served, and I know why Dustin would abandon all the world has to offer to serve him.  Before his accident, Dustin preached this sermon on the Providence of God.  Download it, listen to it, and praise with me the King of Heaven, whom Dustin now knows better than we do, until we meet Dustin again in glory.

Please pray with me this week that:

• God would be especially gracious and merciful to the Salter family
• God would use these painful circumstances to His glory and the salvation of sinners
• God would raise up a powerful ministry at Furman
• God would provide for Leigh Anne and the children in all material ways, through His body, the Church.
  
  

 Here is the article on Dustin:

 

Updated Information on Dustin Salter

Dustin Salter

Monday, March 19th, 2007 by fortworthpres

Today, at 3:40 PM, Dustin Salter went to be with the Lord. Dustin was surrounded by family members at the time of his death, which was peaceful.

We grieve and rejoice simultaneously.  Leigh Anne thanks you for your many prayers and support offered during the past four months. Please continue to pray for the Lord to provide for Leigh Anne, Jacob, Nathan, and Meredith.  They will need both consolation and material provision in the days to come. 

Funeral arrangements will be announced when they are solidified.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Rev 21: 1-7)