Hello everyone. my name is Justin Simmons. David was a treasured friend of mine.

I recognize many of you from the Metro Church and Mars Hill families, And It is bittersweet to see so many of us together again.

Although we have gone our separate ways, we are in many ways still a family.

We are joined together by the triumph, joy, and pain that we shared.

We are also forever sealed in each others memories through our struggles, conflicts, and disappointments in each other.

Today we come together to honor the life of David Anderson. We share feelings of confusion, guilt, anger, and a deep abiding sadness.

I first met David in the late 90’s at Mike and Susan Robert’s home. I had heard a lot about this mystery man, and how he was such a large part of the Fire by Night ministry that would become Mars Hill Church.

David had a mystical Zen like presence. I imagined him in private prayer, levitating in the lotus position with incense smoke wafting around him.

Later, the Andersons invited us into their home and David became not just the first “Pastor” who challenged me at video games, but who schooled me.

During our time with Mars Hill the community changed we changed our house of worship several times, but I will never forget the tone of my mothers voice when I told her that our church was meeting in a bar, the Reagle Beagle.

“Oh really?”, my mom said, “Do they drink?”

They didn’t.

She would meet David soon afterwards when he officiated the dedication service for my oldest daughter, Chloe.

Yes Chloe, you were dedicated to the Lord in a bar.

David’s easy going and kind demeanor was a big change from the boistrious baptist preachers we had become accustomed to in recent years.

I won’t name names Pastor Scott.

I remember the services at Mars Hill well, and the many hours we spent listening to David talk about the scriptures and the spiritual life. He was no different on stage than if you were sitting in his living room. I was challenged by David to devote myself to prayer and bible study, and the challenge was never condescending. David came alongside me and so many others like a brother.

David’s approach to ministry was to connect with the individual on personal level, regardless of where they were in their faith and life. He earned the right to speak into our lives by listening to us and walking with us through our questions, our pain, and our joy.

David was a shepherd of wounded sheep, and like Jesus, he carried the burdens and iniquities of many. He carried me, and many of you through some of the most difficult times in our lives.

David was well read in christian theology ranging from the Church Fathers to N.T. Wright, John Shelby Spong, as well as Secular and Eastern philosophy. His favorite Apolistic Father was Origen.

David didn’t care if you were a Dispensationalist, Calvinist, or Armenian. He didn’t care if you spoke in tounges or not, if you stood or sat in worship, danced around, or preached barefoot.

Instead of trying to change your mind on a theological issue, David was energized by your interest in the topic, and would suggest books from respected authorities from various traditions and perspectives. The more they contradicted each other, the better. David loved wrestling with ideas.

He gracefully walked the line between extremes, and focused us on our common foundation, love.

David’s love extended to the wretched, the poor, the vain, and the broken hearted. He met us wherever we were in life with a warmth and generosity matched by few. David was a faithful friend.

He treated each of us with the love and dignity that he had for his Lord. His life and teaching were an expression of his innate goodness, and his faith.

David was a wonderful husband and father. He was so proud of Jordan, Jolie and Joshua, and I am confident that he will be proud of them as they mature into adulthood.

David’s relationship with Rene was precious. He was always doting on her and buying her gifts. Rene was faithful and supportive to David to the end. Her strength and perseverance is inspirational… and she needs us.

Rene, we commend you, and want you to know that we are committed to walking through this with you not only with our prayers, but with friendship.

Today we say goodbye to a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father, and a Friend.

He will be sorely missed, and will continue to be an inspiration to all of us.