Late last November, our dear friend and longtime ministry partner Stan Broder went to be with the Lord. You need to know what an important part he played in the international reach of Grace to You.

Stan’s most far-reaching and most important accomplishment in ministry was the founding of the original Grace to You international ministries, starting with India, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Stan was the prime mover in the founding of cassette tape ministries in almost every major English-speaking part of the world. The legacy of his work, I believe, will outlive all of us.

I first met Stan in 1983 when I came to Grace Church. That was thirty-five years ago, and I can honestly say that in all the years since I have never met anyone more gentle, more generous, or more kind-hearted than Stan.

Although Stan retired several years ago, he maintained relationships with Grace Church’s missionaries and the overseas staff of Grace to You. There are literally people in every part of the world who deeply loved Stan and considered him one of their best friends.

I know I speak for all of them when I say we loved Stan dearly, and we will miss him deeply. Knowing he is now in glory makes me long for heaven that much more.

Earlier this year, John MacArthur wrote a book on Isaiah 53, titled The Gospel According to God. He dedicated it to Stan. Here’s the dedication:

To Stan Broder, my friend and beloved fellow bondservant—an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit. Stan founded the international ministries of Grace to You nearly four decades ago, extending the outreach of my preaching ministry to India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, England, and ultimately every English-speaking region of the world. No worker in our ministries has served longer, seen more fruit, or been more faithful, and no one on our team is more universally beloved. “The hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother” (Philemon 7).

I’m thankful to the Lord for such a precious friend. I’m thankful for Stan’s life and his influence, for the fruit of his ministry, and for the many ways God has blessed and enriched my life through Stan. I will truly miss him.

We grieve, the apostle says, but not like those who have no hope. And if Stan were here, he’d tell us he expects the Lord to return in two weeks—that was always his response in the face of trials and hardships. In fact, one of the great things I have learned from Stan’s example is that enthusiastic sense of earnest expectation. And today more than ever, the plea of my heart is, “Even so, Lord, come quickly.”