Memorial Service for Pastor Johnny Dorris

John Dorris - he had many names in his lifetime. Son. Brother. Student. Soldier. Husband. Dad. Grandpa. GGPaw. Friend. Confidant. Counselor. Leader. Teacher. Preacher. Legend. Hitman. And most called him Pastor Johnny. It brings us great sadness to write this of him in the past tense because he is no longer with us on earth. God had better plans for him - eternity.
In true Pastor Johnny fashion we write this, “There are two things I’ve learned in life; one, there is a God and two, I am not Him.” We have to remember the truth he spoke of in his second point of that very popular statement; “two, I am not Him." Pastor Johnny lived in way that showed us all exactly that; he was not God, rather everything he had ever said or done was a reflection of his service to God, not even he himself could do more than what God could do. We could write the many achievements and accolades he received over the course of his life, but that wouldn’t be Pastor Johnny to boast in those things because his true accomplishment was loving and serving our Lord Jesus Christ.
His life always pointed back to God. He had a never ending love for people and that was a reflection of God loving him. He would take care of people at a moments notice and that was because God had always taken care of him. He could laugh with you because his joy was mirrored by the joy only God can give. He would advise and counsel through the Word of God because that is where he received his. He was a man at times of few words, but that was because he always wanted God to do the talking. He lived life truly letting God operate through him.
No matter the location, weather, or pain his own body was afflicting he would share the Gospel to anyone who would listen. Countless lives have been positively impacted because of the way Pastor Johnny loved God. As we mourn the loss of this great man, remember there is a God who loves you, has a purpose for you, will comfort you in your sadness, will protect you from harm, and would take a small town boy with little to nothing and prosper his life into a true hero of the faith. Many of us wouldn’t have encountered this great hope of that one day we too will be greeted with, “Well done my good and faithful servant!” if it hadn’t been for the life of Pastor Johnny Dorris.

“It’s an adventure [serving Christ] and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world”

- Pastor Johnny Dorris.