Today – April 27, 2010 – marks the three-year passing of my mentor & friend, Robert Webber. I cannot believe it has already been three years!
I was first introduced to Dr. Webber through his books on the topic of worship during my doctorate program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hampton, MA (2000-2003). In 2002 I met him in Orlando while he was there to teach a seminar. I invited him to teach a seminar at the church where I was on staff in St. Petersburg, FL. It was here that I got to know Dr. Webber at a deeper, personal level.
Initially, I respected him because of his knowledge on the topic of the Church & Worship; however, later on my admiration & love for him grew because of his godly character & humility.
One thing that I loved about Dr. Webber was how he introduced himself. He never called himself Dr. Webber or even Robert – it was always as Bob! Though I initially saw him as Dr. Webber the academic-scholar, I learned that he was simply Bob the Christ-Follower.
The completion of my doctorate program required the final project of thesis paper. Some how I managed the nerve to ask Bob to be my reader-mentor for this project. He actually agreed to do so!
The last time I saw Bob was when he flew from Chicago to Boston, to spend the day with me for the oral defense of doctorate thesis. That was one of the best days of my life. I celebrated the fact that I just completed & passed everything for my doctorate degree & I was very humbled that my friend & mentor Bob would give up an entire day to walk with me through the final steps of my degree.
It was just four years later that my friend would pass away from pancreatic cancer… I miss you Bob!
