It used to be the custom to write an inscription on the tombstone of a departed loved one in memory of his life and faith.
On the tombstone of C.H. Spurgeon are these words:
“E’er since by faith I saw the stream,
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.”
On the tombstone of T.M. Martin, who preached during the days of the Civil War, are these words:
“A bondslave of Jesus Christ.”
I especially like the words inscribed on a tombstone in England: “till he comes.”
After a devastating flood in which many were killed, the body of a small boy was found. He was never claimed nor identified, so they buried him and wrote two words on his grave marker: “God knows.”
Job wrote his own epitaph. “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” He said, “Engrave this on the rock that marks my resting place.”
The Lord in Hebrews 11:13 wrote an epitaph for Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and all of the Old Testament believers: “These all died in faith.”
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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