Funeral Service—April 10, 2006
Wollaston Church of the Nazarene
Walk about Zion, And go all around her.
Count her towers; Mark well her bulwarks;
Consider her palaces;
That you may tell it to the generation following.
For this is GOD,Our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide, Even to death.
Psalm 48:-12-14 ("ENC's Psalm")
Early on in Stephen Wesley Nease's college ministry, way back when he was dean of men, and athletic director, and then director of development for Eastern Nazarene College- before he became president of three colleges and the seminary, and director of the denomination's higher learning- way back then he had a favorite passage of scripture and a text that he used often. It revealed even then his vision of a life's mission, and a passion for that calling: Joshua 4:4-7 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder-that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stone shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."
Stephen Nease had a profound respect for what God had done and was doing in what we know as the holiness movement. He knew first-hand many of the great men and women who had shaped and were shaping our denomination. He had a passion to know the heart of the truth about God's sanctifying grace. And he had a passion to pass that truth along to the next generation or generations: when your children ask in time to come, saying 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them. Dr. Nease spent his entire life carrying out that mission. You have heard just a portion of the remarkable scope of the ministry of this man of God. We won't be able to say it all.
I leave you with three brief statements, three 'answers' to generation who might ask:
He modeled the important 'stone' of loyalty.
There was his family. Christine. His mother. His children and grand kids. I never knew a man more fiercely loving and protective. And that family included "Aunty Bertie" and admitted "Esther" and some of the college old timers who made up an extended family for a boy who lost his dad in the service of ENC.
But it is strange and wonderful-he felt very much that the church is, or ought to be FAMILY. He had a way of including all who would be included into the task at hand. He spoke of "the ENC family" and made it work. He was genuine. He had enough love to go around.
I felt like I was a part of this man's family. His life made a lasting impact on Helen and me. One of our sons carries his name.
He served his church with the vital 'stone' of learning.
Dr. Nease was a loyal Nazarene without being a provincial thinker. His assignments were huge in their significance. He saw the Nazarene denomination and the holiness message as a catalyst for spiritual health to the entire Christian community.
Stephen was a rare personality who was able to go in and get a job done and at the same time affirm everyone on the team who was trying to make the project work. Many leaders have said, "I'd rather have your respect that your love. The task is the thing!" And of course the task is what we are called to do. But somehow Stephen got the task accomplished and when he was through, and moved on to the next assignment. He was remembered as having cared, as having been a loyal friend, as one who was never betrayed the Spirit of Christ.
Stephen Nease dedicated this sanctuary in 1980.
He lived and proclaimed personal holiness before God.
Stephen Nease did not preach holiness as abstract theory. I have heard his testimony many times that as a young man in school he was following his certain call to ministry, but felt he needed the assurance that he was sanctified wholly. One day he became so earnest in his prayer that he determined to go into his room and not come out until he had assurance, no matter if it took days of fasting. Actually, with that determination and total abandon to the will of God his wait was cut short. Ever after that Stephen knew his consecration was accepted and he was sanctified wholly. All his life he preached holiness out of personal experience. He had found the assurance of acceptance and completion of covenant. He knew the riches of grace that accompany belonging to God without reservations. His preaching was a sharing of that wealth.
Stephen Nease's message was not negative, full of "oughts" and "shoulds." Rather it was example- "I've crossed the Jordan! 'What do these stones mean?' Let me tell you about God's great grace!
Romans 11:33- 12:2 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
" For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"" Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?"[b]
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Then out of that praise came the call to holiness, over and over. It is the heart of our church's message, first to our own children, and then to all who will hear:
(12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
He was a Prince of the Church! Stephen Wesley Nease fulfilled his mission.
Walk about Zion, And go all around her.
Count her towers; Mark well her bulwarks;
Consider her palaces;
That you may tell it to the generation following.
For this is GOD,Our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide, Even to death.
Psalm 48:-12-14 ("ENC's Psalm")
-Russell Metcalfe