Dr. Oates became something of a "surrogate grandfather" to me during my time at seminary. The many times I spent in his office struggling with the responsibility of how to define the call God has placed on my life were holy moments.

I was deeply honored when he attended my ordination service in March of 1992, and felt truly blessed during the time of laying on of hands. He had such a gift for cherishing each person whom God put in his path.

Two memories stand out for me from the richness of the time I had with Dr. Oates. The first one was after class during a time when I was volunteering as a translator for a Central American family facing the eminent death of their youngest son from a rare lymphatic cancer. I had sought out Dr. Oates counsel about how I could best minister to this family. He told me: "Let them teach you about what they need. . . they know best what their life is like and the pain they are facing as they watch their beloved son die. Let them teach you." The second was each letter Dr Oates wrote to me. He signed each one "Your faithful friend." What grace! To be so gifted at relating to people in that way that no matter who they were, in his eyes he was their "faithful friend."

With love and saddness at the loss of a "faithful friend."