Doy Moyer

For over fifty years, Forrest D. Moyer was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Born in 1929 and raised in Texas, he began devoting himself to preaching while still in High School. Since about the age of 16, he was preaching weekly for small congregations around his home town of Childress. He worked in local congregations in Texas, Idaho, New Mexico, and California, spending the bulk of the last forty years living and preaching in California.

1996 was a rough year for dad. He was beginning to experience chest pain and exhaustion. His doctor put him on a diet hoping that his apparent heart problem would show signs of improvement. In November, he held a gospel meeting with the group I work with outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. This would be one of his last full week meetings. He did not feel well then, and he was scheduled for some tests shortly thereafter. Hoping that minor procedures would be all that was needed, the news was not good. He had six blockages and needed open heart surgery. On December 18, this surgery took place, but with severe complications. However, he did recover initially, and all seemed to be going well. Within two months, he was able to preach once again. Since this was his love, no one could keep him from it.

Dad’s appearance of improvement rapidly changed in April. He held a weekend meeting in Salinas, California on April 11-13, and was expecting to hold week-long meetings the end of April and first part of May. His pain became intensified, however, and he had to go back into the hospital on April 25. His heart being in a severely weakened condition, it quit pumping for him in the early hours of April 30. It was just too weak to keep going. At age 67, Forrest D. Moyer had preached for the last time.

But let no one think that his influence will not be felt again. He devoted his life to preaching the gospel, and he died doing what he loved to do, prepared for the eternal abode for which he yearned. Over 400 people attended his funeral in Fresno; and hundreds more will attest to the good influence of Forrest Moyer. Hundreds of people that he taught, baptized, and taught some more still carry the light of his torch. His writings, books, and sermons are still just as strong as ever: he still speaks.

As for me, I have lost a father, a friend, a mentor, and a counselor. I miss him greatly. But I hope to carry on with the legacy he left. Before his surgery in December, he wrote letters to each of his children stressing the need to serve the Lord. I want to let others see his great concern:

"May God grant you continued growth in the word and in your ability to communicate that word. Remember what God told Joshua: ‘turn neither to the right or to the left...’ Keep away from extremes and from those who are extremists. Work toward peace among all brethren through God’s way. This can be done without compromise. Let love for all be a part of your ministry.

"I do not have a very big material legacy to leave to you. But I pray that the legacy of striving to live for God will be of far greater value than anything else I could ever give.... What I can offer to you is to live as Paul directed Timothy: ‘But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.’ These bring the real joy in life."

With God’s help, I can fight the good fight of faith and lay hold that the eternal inheritance in heaven (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Dad certainly helped give me the teaching and the tools to make it so. How can thanks be adequately expressed?