Sunday, May 6, 2018
My name is Ralph Menichini and I am the Managing Director of 2nd Timothy 3:16 Ministries and a Christian bible teacher. Doug attended our studies for almost a year. Several people I know visited Doug when he was 1st admitted to Crozer and then contacted me advising that Doug wanted to see me ASAP. I was away but came home early and did get to the hospital on April 23rd but Doug was heavily sedated. We didn't speak. I did get a chance to talk with Kim in the waiting room area.
This is what I want you to know 1st hand. Doug believed the gospel of Jesus Christ with all his heart. We discussed the gospel many times. He believed in a blessed life after death for believers who trusted in in the gospel of Jesus Christ; each one dwelling safely in the presence of Jesus Christ. He believed that he was saved by God's grace through faith and even that was not of himself claiming no self-merit. He believed that the faith he possessed could only be credited to God alone who opened up his eyes and ears to the gospel. He believed that as a believer, it was important for him to be a reflection of what he believed around all he came in contact with but he also knew that good works isn't the reason a person is saved. He wanted his reflection to be the evidence that he was saved. He gave all the glory to God believing all that he learned about the gospel as he read and studied his bible and attended bibles studies. Doug learned that he couldn't do any specific work to save himself. Understanding and accepting this gospel, he believed that Jesus Christ accomplished everything that was necessary for him to be saved when Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Doug may now be absent from his body but he is present with his Lord Jesus Christ. I can affirm this is what Doug believed.
May you all be at peace. He was a fine man. I enjoyed our conversations. I will miss him.
Ralph Menichini
