It is with mixed emotions that I announce tonight that Dr. Mal Couch
early this morning around 2 AM on February 12th lost his battle with
cancer and passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The reason my emotions are mixed is because on the one hand I am happy
since I now know that Mal Couch is in a better place. Paul indicated
that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor.
5:8) and to depart and be with Christ is far better (Philip. 1:21-23).
On
the other hand my heart is heavy tonight with sadness knowing that I
have temporarily lost the companionship of a mentor and even more
important than that a very good, close, personal friend. The life of Dr.
Mal Couch was nothing short of extraordinary. I hope to blog about it
in more detail at a later time. God used him in so many strategic ways
to touch many people, including myself. I've had the privilege of
knowing him personally over the course of the last decade. Volumes could
be written on the things that I have learned from this man
philosophically, theologically, and professionally. He invited me to
contribute to a plethora of journal issues, books, conferences, online
resources, and CD interviews. Despite my busy schedule, only one time I
remember did I ever turn him down. In many ways, he was a father-like
figure to me. Outside of my immediate and extended family, there was
probably no one who was a greater supporter, influencer, encourager, and
cheerleader for my life and ministry than Dr. Mal Couch. I owe the
current trajectory in my life largely to his positive influence. His
passing certainly makes heaven richer and earth poorer.
Besides
my mixed emotions of happiness and sadness, one other feeling strikes me
very strongly this evening. That sensation is urgency or motivation!
His passing reminds me of how brief life really is (Ps. 103:15-16; Jas.
4:14). It's imperative to all of us like-minded ministers and believers
to invest what limited time we have left in this fleeting life into
eternal things. Mal Couch seemed to understand that his time on earth
was limited, and so he wanted to make every second count for Christ. We
should follow his example. His passing is a reminder that the spiritual
baton has now been formally passed to those of us that he influenced.
Let us take that baton, consisting of the rich things that we learned
from him, and pass it on to the next generation while there is still
time and freedom to do so. His passing has personally awakened within me
a desire to reconsecrate my life to God so that He can use me as His
channel of blessing to others. I want to bless others the same way Mal
blessed me.
The death of the giants of Mal's generation remind us that
we can no longer count on these older Christians to disseminate what
their generation stood for (Dispensationalism, pre-tribulationism,
Zionism, literal interpretation, free grace, conservatism, and
constitutionalism). It's our turn now to take the lead in these issues.
Let run our race with boldness and endurance knowing that we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1). May God
strengthen us for the task ahead. Thank you again Dr. Mal Couch for what
you have meant to so many and for the encouragement and training you
have given us to follow your wonderful example.
During this difficult time, my thoughts and prayers go out to Mal's family, especially his wonderful wife Lacy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andy Woods
