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TRIBUTE to Tom Franklin
“God’s Servant in every Season and in every Sense of the word”
I had just finished writing my devotional teaching Wednesday night when my wife, Sue Linn walked in the door from the grocery letting me know she’d just heard the worst possible news. I’m trusting that most of you are now aware that Tom Franklin passed away this week. When she told me he had suddenly passed away, I was devastated and speechless. I’ve known Tom & Charlotte and their sons since 1977. They’ve been a constant “breath of fresh air” to us wherever we were. And if it’s alright with you, I’d like to delay the final devotion of Hebrews 12:1-3 til next week. Tom has been too much of a “friend, partnering pastor and Kingdom treasure” to miss this moment to thank God for him, honor his memory and encourage his family. As I write this, I’ve only had 24 hours to process this. On the other hand, I’ve had 47 years of ministry encouragement from this godly man
and his precious family. Tom is one of a kind. I honestly know of no other pastor like him. God made him extremely unique. And he, so very faithfully, offered all of his life as an altar to the God who pursued him initially thru the gentle authentic faith of his wife. Tom’s life reminded me of when God told Moses to make altars using “uncut” stones (Exodus 20:25). Tom was as uncut and authentic as they come. And he not only endeared himself to us, but even more important, he endeared the Word of God to us every time he spoke. I’ll only touch the surface in the memories and honor that could be given to a dear brother in Christ like Tom. But let me encourage you to pass on your stories of his faithfulness and joyfulness to one another. Because every memory recalled of him will compel us to walk in the right direction, toward the Kingdom of light, not darkness! So here we go…to our brother Tom Franklin…what Tom was….and what he was not. WHAT TOM WAS……. Tom was first of all, a “PASTOR of the People”. He had an incredible “shepherd’s heart”. And it began with his family. He was always only a few steps or a few references from his loving wife Charlotte, who was a helpmeet in so many ways. And his sons, Joey (a preacher), Jared (a pilot) and Andre’ (a truck driver…Tom would add “they’re all in ‘transportation’) were the joy of his life. Until they all married and had kids and then the grandkids took their own places in that pastor’s heart! Since we’d known the Franklin’s, Tom faithfully pastored Austin Christian Church (a small town church), Garfield Christian Church (an inner city church in Indy) and then our incredible time with him on staff at Northside. Tom was a pastor to every age group in every church he served. It was nearly magical to watch him do a funeral for one of the “Friendship Class” folks here in New Albany. The close-knit relationship he had with the class was respectful, cajoling and precious to be a part of. I’ll never forget Fred Everritt’s memorial service, where Tom included his wife, Doris in most of the “back and forth” comments of his sermon to the point that we actually thought she preached more of the funeral than Tom did! His ministry’s “secret sauce” was at work. It was his humble and loving way of including you in the “ministry of the moment”. He was a genius. I learned so much from him thru the years. But Tom was also one of the best PREACHERS you would ever hear. I like to call him the BEST Preacher with the WORST Resume’! Let me explain. Having known Tom for over 20 years before I tried to recruit him for the Northside staff I wasn’t worried about a professionally perfect resume’. So when I had our administrator, Ed Ferrari meet with Tom and I at Cracker Barrel for the interview, I wasn’t the least bit concerned. But when Tom left for a moment to use the restroom, Ed asked, “Can this guy do the job? Look at this single-spaced typed resume’! It’s not impressive! Are you sure about this?” To which I could only say, “Trust me on this one, Ed!” And he did. And within a couple months Tom preached while I was gone on the “Sanctity of Life”. And then in a month on another challenging topic. Ed pulled me aside immediately after the Saturday night service and said…..”He’s the BEST hire WE’VE ever made!” to which I said, “What’s this ‘we’, Kemosabe”? Tom was a passionate student of the Word of God and “rightly divided” it with the perfect blend of eloquence and plain speech. He never quit “wondering” about the incredible God who made us in His image! He was truly as the old hymn says, “lost in wonder, love and praise”. And Tom was truly a BROTHER born for ADVERSITY. He was one of the best Men’s Pastors ever and I do mean ever. Now he did generate an occasional “female email”, which I would tease him about on occasion. But Tom “got” men and men “got” Tom. His heart beat constantly for guys to come into a saving relationship with the Lord. And his pastor’s heart and preacher’s mind took him to the next chapter of ministry life which was mission work in India primarily. Reaching and “equipping” pastors to do their work for the Lord and “not lose heart” in the process. I had seen him do it since Day 1 though. In Austin, IN, Tom recruited, nurtured and empowered a Math teacher / Track Coach in the school system named Any Watts. Andy will be preaching Tom’s funeral Tuesday as best friends ought to do. God has used Andy to reach a vast amount of kids and families through being a Christian “who just happened to be a teacher and coach”. Tom put people in ministry left and right. And boy did he do it here at Northside and so much of southern Indiana and around the world. Tom was those 3 things. And here’s what I think he wasn’t… Tom was not a CLIMBER. He was not an opportunist. He didn’t look for a better church to serve or offer to take. He was one of the most
humble accomplished pastors I’ve known. Tom told me if he had one sermon to preach it would be the “Beatitudes” from the beginning of
the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. He actually said it wouldn’t even have to be the whole passage. He’d be fine with just the first verse, which says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” Tom was definitely “poor in spirit”. Humble as they come. One of his favorite lyrics from a hymn was from “Rock of Ages”, which said, “Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to the cross I cling”. Tom wasn’t a “climber”. He was a “clinger”. The right kind of clinger. He was clinging to the cross of Jesus as his one and only hope! Tom was not a SPECTATOR. He dove in head first. He wrestled with his sons, caught every game of his grandkids he could and never, and I
mean NEVER missed an opportunity to play euchre. Nor did he miss an opportunity to have a challenging discussion and yet he never picked a
fight. He engaged and that spilled over to help the rest of us get over our discomfort thru his relentless teasing and engage ourselves. And Tom was not a DETACHED SCHOLAR. He was brilliant, yet down to earth. He found a point of connection to help the gospel make sense.
No ivory palace for our friend, Tom. He was like Stephen in Acts 6, where it says, “He did signs and wonders AMONG the people”. Thank God Tom was “among the people”. And thank God Tom was among us. So I lift a cup of Coffee Crossing coffee to our friend Tom’s memory. He served and “finished SO well”! May the Lord comfort his wonderful family. And may his “residual ministry” and legacy continue to nudge people across the line of faith and trust in the One who didn’t come for those who THINK they are well and fine, but for “those of us who KNOW we are sick and need a Savior”. All Praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Glory to His name!
And way to “finish well”, our dear faithful friend, Tom! george
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