Dr. Victor M. Matthews, “Farewell, Friend.”
Mar 13th, 2008 by John
A Father’s Embrace from Victor
Today I conducted a family-only funeral for my friend, colleague in ministry, theological and pastoral mentor, and “father” figure: Dr. Victor M. Matthews, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Bonnie, Victor’s wife of 67 years, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were there. Before Monday at 11:00 a.m., there were four living Victor M. Matthews in the clan. Now there are three. Victor was born February 16, 1921 and met Jesus face to face on March 10, 2008.
The first time I met and heard Victor was in his seminary classroom. I went there invited by a friend. Trained in philosophy and theology, Victor was teaching about Jesus and the woman at the well. He made this statement, “Jesus gave her her rightful place in his life.” That is, Victor said, Jesus treated her as a human being who deserved his full respect. I never forgot that lesson or those words.
I think it is safe to say that Victor’s greatest joy, his most passionsate quest, and enduring theme of his teachings was “the love of God.” Victor was both thrilled and haunted by this massive divine reality. God’s love was the greatest experience and most intense challenge for Victor. He taught it, prayed it, preached it and lived it.
Victor taught many of us the disciplines of healing prayer and “warfare” prayer. He taught us well about the Spirit and the gifts. But most of all Victor infected us with an overwhelming passion to know and follow Jesus Christ.
One of my greatest memories is hearing Victor say to me in his rich, deep voice, “John, I am so glad you’re my pastor. Pray for me, John.” I used to think to myself, “I am like a flea on the lion here.” Yet, there was a gentle, humble reality in Victor’s voice. He longed to have a pastor.
One closing memory. I used to visit Victor at his home, in his study, to listen, learn and receive prayer. Victor always had a little symbolic ceremony. I’d sit in the chair next to his desk. Victor would turn toward his credenza and with great flare pick up his phone and unplug the phone jack and set the phone down and turn back to me. What was this little drama all about? His actions told me, “John, I am now giving you your rightful place in my life. The most important person to me right now is you.”
I think he learned these ways from Jesus.
I will miss you, Victor.
Note: the picture above is at Bella Vista Church on the evening the folks there gave me a farewell party.
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I sit here with tears rolling down my face. I met Dr Matthews in the early 70’s, at a church I attended at the time. I soon after made an appointment with him and sat in his office and as you said, watched him take the phone and turn it off and he would tell me I had all his attention.
I sat many more times in Dr Matthews office and attended many of his evening Bible studies at the college. I learned much about the love of God from Him, not just in words but in his own practice of it.
I also learned much about warfare from Dr Matthews and prayer.
I have so many special memories of talks and prayers together, I cannot name them all here.
One thing that does stand out to me was when I went to his office one day and I asked him why God put me in the family I was in, why couldn’t God have given me a Father like him. He said to me, “You have experienced the grace of God in ways that you may not have by God placing you in that family and that God is a Father to you” Calling God Father was hard for me until I met Dr Matthews.
One more thing, Dr. Matthews always said my name and reminded me that God knew my name. When Dr. Matthews said my name it made me feel like a special person, I didn’t feel invisible when in Dr Matthews presence.
I know there was much rejoicing when he stepped over into Gods arms and saw Jesus face to face.
Marchian,
I love this comment, “…I didn’t feel invisible when in Dr Matthews presence.” So true. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. You *know* the treasure that Victor was and still is!
He must have been a great guy. Sorry for your loss.
Post Blackbird Song,
He truly was in a league of his own. I will miss him. Keep the family in your prayers.
Hi John,
Deeply saddenned by your loss. I’m praying for your family and his right now.
Grace and love,
Justin
Justin,
Victor was a special man to you and me, and to so many. Thank you for your prayers.
I just heard from a friend today of Dr. Matthews home going. I couldn’t believe it and I have been searching to find information about him. Thank You John for posting. I had Dr. Matthews as my Systematic Theology Prof. at Baptist Seminary. What a Spirit-filled, Godly man he was. I broke my leg during Seminary and was laid up for four months. Dr. Matthews came to my home and prayed for me and my family. When he prayed I could feel the presence of God. He truly will be missed, I’m sorry I couldn’t honor him at his funeral, but then Vic wouldn’t have wanted that.
Grace and peace my brother,
Dave Hart
Dave Hart,
Thanks for sharing this good memory of Dr. Matthews. He was a faithful servant of the lord Jesus Christ.
[...] Frye pays tribute to a great man, Victor Matthews, a man of deep piety and learning who had a singular impact on me as a college student. Thanks [...]
John, nearly three decades ago is when I first met Victor, he was teaching the community Bible studies at the Seminary. I was impacted not only by his understanding of God’s Word, but even more so, I was taken back by his gift. He had a way of taking complicated principles and making them applicable and relevant in a very warm and sincere way. It drew so many of us to the character of Christ in him.
Little did I know that over these three decades, he was ministering around the State to local churches in need of pulpit supply whenever a church was without a pastor, or they were away on vacation. One of those churches is where I now serve. This rural ministry so loved whenever he came, as he simply and yet powerfully shared with them the message of the gospel and what it meant to truly live the daily Christian life.
Fast forward to nearly 15 years ago now, and he and Bonnie became attenders of Bella Vista. Do you remember, John, on a particular Tuesday (all-day) staff meeting, he came and spent the day, listening, praying, and sharing with us his shepherding heart? He was to so many of us the first sensible, authentic, solid Bible-teacher to become open to the realm of the Holy Spirit. Watching and learning from him was so enriching, that as a young fledgling pastor, I felt a complete privilege to be exposed to his understanding of the Spirit, as well as enjoy his most sincere friendship. And then at the end of that particular Tuesday staff meeting, do you recall what he offered? He made himself available to any of us who would like to come by his office and visit on a regular basis. I wondered if he really meant it. Would a man of his stature be willing to help me out in my faith development, personal issues, and overall growth? The answer was, he really was open. So right around that time, we began to meet on a regular basis and the time has been …priceless.
Whether it be his opening up my heart to understanding the role of the Holy Spirit, to walking through discussions about God, the priesthood of the believer, the significance of prayer – warfare, listening, intercessory, deliverance, etc. – to working through personal issues of sin, healing, victory, marriage, parenting, church leadership, preaching, there wasn’t anything he wasn’t willing and very capable to talk about. After which, he would always pray extensively and specifically about everything we discussed. I selfishly felt like I had struck a gold mine by being a benefactor of God’s using him in a huge way (hence the flea on the lion analogy).
Then at a crucial juncture in my spiritual journey, God spoke through Victor to lead me into a ministry he had been a part of for decades (the church I now serve in). The very thought that he believed the Lord had given him permission to share this opportunity was frankly shocking. I was dumbfounded and wondered if he might be a bit delirious. But patient as Victor was, it became apparent that God was truly using him to speak into my life in a way that was …prophetic. It was a great big hairy audacious God-sized thang, and Victor was just the humble available vessel the Lord was using to relocate me from one area of ministry into another.
Upon my transition, I knew without a shadow of doubt I was going to need his ongoing counsel, prayer, mentorship, and wisdom. And for years, on an almost monthly basis, I so looked forward to stopping by for our regular visits. On our last visit, his 87th birthday, I couldn’t help but acknowledge to him what a blessing he’d been in my life. Though he’s touched so many, in his humble selfless way, he encouraged and believed in me in such a way that it made me feel like I was special. My life has been touched by the Spirit of God through Victor as God used him to help me be a better husband, father and pastor.
Victor had an unquenchable love for God …for His Word …for the bride of Christ …for pastors …for people who are hurting, brokenhearted, wounded and in need of deliverance, healing and victory in Christ; he set a strong godly example …for helping so many of us better understand our role in the Kingdom …for believing in people regardless of whatever they’ve done …for portraying a vivid tangible picture of the Prodigal’s father. He spent countless hours praying for us personally, intentionally, specifically, and with amazing compassion. He never showed partiality, never scolded, never doubted, and never was too busy. Spending just an hour or more with him made you feel like time stood still …that the peace of God triumphed over the tyranny of the urgent, or the lies of the evil one. He reminded me that people – loved ones, churches, fellow believers – might let us down, but don’t stop forgiving and loving them, and never lose sight of keeping our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith. He demonstrating the invaluable discipline of holding back the words the Lord had given him until the Holy Spirit gave him permission. He was humble and honest about his own shortcomings …was a friend of sinners …admitted that even some of the very things he taught, he struggled at times accepting for yourself. Victor was so …real.
I join with you, John, Bonnie and the family in dearly missing a man that I so came to love. Though I’m so happy for him, he will be greatly missed.
Larry,
So well said. Thank you for these reflections on Victor’s place in your life and ministry.
I hope it is ok for me to reply again.
I was telling my youngest daughter(I have 6 children) about Dr Matthews going home. She said “Remember Mom when you took me to see him?” She had gotten pregnant out of wedlock at age 19.
I took her up to see Dr Matthews to pray with both of us. She went onto say “He made me feel like I was not a piece of trash” Oh my how she needed to know that and I as her Mother needed to know I had not been a total failure. She is married now to a wonderful husband and has 2 more children. That child/ grandson Brandon, is the most wonderful, loving, caring Christian young man, he is hearing impaired, has graduated high school and has a good job.
Marchien,
Once again, thank you for sharing these fond memories you have of Dr Matthews.
I met Victor about 20 years ago while attending a women’s Bible study. (He was, of course, the teacher.) Years later my husband and I attended a small, couples Bible study that he and Bonnie also attended. There Victor was the student, not the teacher. He was eager to learn, willing to listen, and genuinely interested in the insights of others. Although many people remember him as a brilliant teacher, my memories of him are as a humble, sweet, gentle man who could soothe a wounded heart with a tender word of encouragement and hope. He will be missed, but we’ll see him again . . . and laugh together as we stroll through glory, bathed in the light of the Lord Jesus.
Natalie,
Julie and I were in a small group with Victor and Bonnie, too, and he was the same among us—a learner, gentle, humble and ready to serve anyone in need. Thanks for commenting.
Victor Matthews, R.I.P.
Thanks John for this posting.
I met Victor in 1978 at Grand Rapids Baptist College and later at the seminary. I consider it one of the greatest privileges God has bestowed on me to have known and been taught be Dr. Matthews. Surely, no one has connected a class called Systematic Theology to love. The love of the Father for the world as individuals, the love of Jesus for me personally despite my great failings and sin, and the demand we love others because Jesus first loved us. For him the great theological truths were important not as things to be learned but things to be lived.
I remember Dr. Matthews making sure as seminarians we had our priorities straight when he told us that if we did not have time to spend time with the Lord each day we were to drop his class so we had the time.
Certainly he was a great man who walked in grace and mercy.
Tom,
I wished I could have taken classes with Dr Matthews. Friends like you who did have him all confess to his great love for God. Thanks for sharing your memory. Julie and I both experienced God’s transforming ministry through Victor.
May you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!
John
I learned today that my dear friend Victor has gone home to be with Jesus. So I started searching for information and found your site. Thank you so much.
I first met Victor at a Spiritual Warfare Conference in Atlanta, GA in the early 90’s. He later came and ministered at our church in the little town of Watkinsville, GA. Later I had the joy of meeting Bonnie and Susan. The blessings of my relationship with Victor and his family continue to this day. Each of them sowed into my life so much grace and mercy.
Knowing Victor caused me to seek the Lord for healing and restoration, and God met me. Victor’s unconditional acceptance of me helped me accept myself. His willingness to let me pray for him taught me humility. Oh, how I will miss him. Though I haven’t seen him in 10 years, his legacy lives in my life and in my family. Thank you Jesus for giving him to the body of Christ for these years!
We will be praying for the family and for you friends who were so close to him.
My desire is that I would have words to express what Victor means to me, but I know that I don’t. His humble boldness challenged me to see that the God of Scripture is still waiting for a people that will seek Him with their whole heart. Victor taught me to be still and know God. He challenged me to get out of the way and let God pastor His own people. He taught me how to be used of God through healing prayer. He led me into an intimate experiential relationship with the Father. He was God’s messenger to me during the final year of my precious wife’s life. He remained available to me whenever I realized my need for him.
Tears flow as I hurt for all of us that Victor touched. But joy overflows because I know that Victor is experiencing the peace that he has wanted for so long. I my mind’s eye I can see Victor being picked up and placed into the lap of the Father. I see Victor hugging the Father with every last ounce of strength. I hear the Father saying, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Wow. The news of Victor’s death hit me much harder than I expected. Victor was the father figure I had longed for for so long…deeply in love with Jesus, filled with grace, powerfully humble and unassuming, confident and bold in prayer, energetic and tenacious (even in his eighties), wise, patient, and extremely loving. His transparency was disarming…and contagious. I cannot exaggerate the impact he had on my life. I have never been the same, spiritually, after my first week with him.
Maybe more than any other person, he showed me that God is to be experienced, not just believed in. I loved this man.
Belinda,
Thanks so much for sharing these memories of Victor with us here at this blog. Julie and I learned so much about prayer—warfare, intercessory, healing, etc. from Victor. He was such a sweet, loving man and always a learner.
Don,
We are awed at Victor’s stedfast love for you and for your wife. He was a clear reflection of the love of the Father revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Jimmy,
This one sentence of yours says so much: “Maybe more than any other person, he [Victor] showed me that God is to be experienced, not just believed in.” So many entered into a meaningful and authentic *relationship* with God through Victor’s life and teachings.
John: I can’t tell you how much comfort your posting about Victor has brought to me, and how much encouragement has come from the responses as I mourn the loss of him myself.
Phil
Phil,
I know that you and Victor were close friends and colleagues. He always spoke highly of you as a pastor, scholar and friend. All of us who knew Victor to any degree will miss this remarkable man and dedicated follower of Jesus.
John
I never met Victor Matthews, and I am only So it may come as a bit of a shock to many of you that I mourn his loss deeply. You see, I am what you might call a “spiritual son” of a man who calls Victor his spiritual father. Through my friend, God has showed me his tenderness and his deep affection for me– two things I had never grasped despite my strong Christian beliefs. And now I realize that they are… everything.
My friend has been a son of Victor for over a decade, and I heard that he died just as I had finally decided to meet Victor for myself. I just wanted to thank him deeply for how he changed the life of my mentor. Victor passed the torch of spiritual love to the next generation, and that generation passes it down to mine already. I hope I will one day pass it down to those who come after me as well.
Rest in peace Victor, my spiritual grandfather…
Keith,
We grieve with you the loss of this man–your spiritual grandfather. Thankyou for sharing your relationship to Victor. It underscores the impact Victor had on so many people. God bless you.
I was at a church in 1979. They were having a special speaker that everyone seemed excited about. His name - Victor Matthews. After the service I, like many, shook his hand on the way out the door. I was 19. Dr. Matthews was dressed in a suit and tie and I thought to myself on the way out - this man’s hands have never seen hard work or grease or anything of the sort. Was I wrong. I ended up taking a number of courses from him. My favorite of all was “Christian Ethics” at 7:00 a.m. Anyways, later I was attending an auction sale and Dr. Matthews was there in overalls. He had a hobby of working on single cylinder engines. He bought several that day and I helped him load them in the trunk of his vehicle. His hands were covered in grease. This man was so practical, wise and humble and very down to Earth. He loved God. He loved his neighbor as himself. Today he is in paradise.
Phil (#28),
Dr Matthews was really proud of his engines–his hobby. I enjoyed that aspect of Victor’s many interests. Thanks so much for sharing your memories.
I have known Victor Matthews and precious Bonnie, his wife, for almost twenty years. Victor was friend, mentor, teacher of the truth, spiritual father, warrior, lover of God, overcomer, kind, gentle and humble. He truly was a “vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” II Tim. 2:21
Victor was very brilliant and knowledgeable yet he was able to transmit truth in a practical way that I could use in my daily live. He taught me and others that we are first and foremost spiritual beings. He said that when we pray somehow the Holy Spirit takes hold of our prayers and uses them for the glory of God. He shared the James 4:7 principle in that if we were unsure of a source of the problem we should shine the searchlight of God on it, submit to whatever was of God and then resist the enemy. We need to take charge of our thinking and bring it in line with Scripture and the character of God. This is just a sampling of the wisdom Victor imparted to me and many others who were priviledged to know him or to sit under his teaching or in his study!
Victor used to say, “Truth is only powerful if practiced.” He exemplifed this in his daily walk. He loved God above all and I never heard him say a negative comment about anyone.
The last time my husband and I visited him, he grabbed both of our hand and prayed over us. I knew it was the last patriarchal blessing. In facing death, Victor was courageous, cheerful and filled with anticipation at the thought of seeing the Lord Jesus face to face.
I know his intercessory prayer for us continues in heaven. I can just imagine him one day standing at the door of heaven as part of the welcoming party, just as he always greeted us on earth. Farewell dear friend, we will continue to pass on the baton of truth to those who remain.
I just stumbled on this website and learned here that Dr. Matthews has gone to be with the Lord. I knew him during my time as a student and working at the college and seminary in the 70’s, and he was one of the most remarkable Christians I have ever known. His walk with the Lord was evident in a way that is beyond description, that was strikingly real. Bonnie was wonderful as well, and a consistent model of godliness and kindness. It was a privilege to have known them both. I know he is dearly missed by you all.
Bonnie,
I just heard the news about your dear husband’s death. He was a vital part of my family (Hawthorne) and I was blessed when he told me in 1997 that he had been praying for me for 25 years. His participation in my pregnancy center events were such an amazing miracle for all whom he prayed for. You and your family will remain in our prayers. He is indeed enjoying God’s blessing now…