The world has lost an incredible man. God called him home a few weeks ago.
Bishop Sherwood Carthen was the lead pastor at the Bayside of South Sacramento. He was a guest speaker at our church on a regular basis.
I did not have the privilege of meeting Bishop Carthen in person, but was blessed many times over hearing him preach ay Bayside Granite Bay. While at Mt. Hermon this past summer, when my husband and I heard he was speaking there next summer, we did not hesitate to sign up for his week.
Two moments I want to share with you that will remain in my heart forever:
1) I took my boys to see the inauguration ceremony for Dr. John Jackson, at William Jessup University. I sat there, witnessing Godly men of our community, speaking words of encouragement and affirmation to the new president. I was particularly taken by Bishop Carthen’s message. Not only was it affirming, it was also a charge for accountability. I sat there, crying over God’s positioning of these incredible men all in this region, a region we had recently moved to, heeding a call from the Lord, but not knowing why we were here. I realized that Bishop Carthen and these other leaders would be the men speaking into and helping to shape the lives of my boys. Even though Bishop Carthen has passed on, through technology, his teaching will continue to be a facet in our family devotions.
2) I have a friend whom I have known all her life (that’s 44 years!) She has lived a survivor’s life, and was against God for many years. These past two years, though, I have seen a softening of her heart, and whenever she visited us (she lives in Washington), she would join us at Bayside (Granite Bay). A few months ago, she paid us a visit and we attended the Bayside service, with Bishop Carthen speaking. Later that evening, she shared with me that a couple weeks earlier she had given her life to Jesus. Before entering the Bayside service, she prayed silently, “Lord, please show me what to do next. I need to know what to do next.”
During that service, Bishop Carthen actually said, “If you are a new believer, and you need to know what to do next, here are the next five things you need to do.” My friend was shocked and stunned that the Lord used Bishop Carthen to answer her prayer so quickly and so exact. I am forever grateful for his mesage to her that day.
The boys and I decided to attend his memorial service. Our church opened up their video cafe for people to watch it streaming video instead of going to Sacramento for the service. We chose to do that. It turned out to be an incredible five hour sharing of government, community, faith-based leaders, family, and friends.
Instead of it being called a funeral, or memorial service, it was a “homegoing celebration”. There was a running joke from one speaker to the next over who his best friend was. The mayor of Sacramento, the Sacramento police chief, and Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings were a few sharing. Our own worship pastor, Lincoln Brewster, spoke on behalf of our pastor, Ray Johnston, who was recovering from shoulder surgery. All who spoke did an incredible job honoring and incredible man. Even his precious wife spoke and shared. Only by the power of Jesus love was that even possible.
My dapper young men…
‘R’ was thrilled to discover that the Kleenex provided by Bayside was all pixelated. He was disappointed to discover that it was only the plastic wrapping. It was a five hankie event, one per hour…
This past weekend, our Pastor Ray complemented his talk on 2 Timothy with a montage of his speaking at Bayside. You are welcome to watch it here and I pray you are blessed by it.