My Dear Friend, Dr. Tom Ferguson – Present with the Lord!
Roger & Pastor Tom
On Thursday, May 20st, I was making a follow-up call to my dear friend, Dr. Tom Ferguson, when Jodi (his secretary), told me the sad news that Tom had passed away just minutes before my call. Tom was my nearest and dearest friend. We have been close friends for over 35 years. Tom was my supervisor for eight years in the Northwest District of Foursquare Churches, and my pastor for the past ten years.
Pastor Tom was always a great encouragement to me in my ministry as an evangelist. He challenged me to memorize the promises of God’s Word and to prophetically speak those promises into the hearts of people everywhere. I was honored to minister annually at New Life Center in Everett, WA over the many years that Tom was Senior Pastor there, and more recently at Hope Foursquare Church over the past ten years in Snohomish, Washington.
Pastor Tom was a very “Word focused” pastor. He would always begin the service declaring such words as, “It is written, I John 4:4 that “Greater is He who is with you, than he who is in the world.” – It is written, Rom. 8:37 that “You are right now, More than a conquer through Jesus Christ our Lord: – And It is written, Eph. 3:20, that ”God is able…” Upon hearing three or four “It is writtens” the entire congregation would spontaneously stand to their feet and applaud the Lord!
I am grateful for the close relationship that we have shared together for so many years. In many ways Tom was a mentor to me, passing on to me his passon for souls. Even though he functioned in a pastoral role, he was without doubt an evangelist at heart. We spoke frequently over the phone, having conversations that always ended with an anointed prayer for each other and our ministries. Often, if Gwen and I were in need of special prayer, he would call his entire congregation to stand together and intercede in our behalf. I am so grateful for the spiritual covering that he extended over us and our ministry for so many years.
I am going to deeply miss Tom and the love he extended to me for so many years. Our heartfelt and earnest prayers shall be with Ronda and the family during this most difficult time.
Evangelist Roger Smets