Not ready to say goodbye to beloved minister (Updated)

Don and Carol Vinzant

Update: Don Vinzant died March 10. He “peacefully passed from this life surrounded by the songs and prayers of his beloved family.” Read his full obituary.
New on The Christian Chronicle’s website is this online-exclusive Views column:

EDMOND, OKLA. – “Don is sick.”

These are the words of his wife, Carol. The message is small and short, quite unlike the man himself. Yet I dare say thousands of people are walking the earth right now with this sentence hanging over them like a dark cloud.
Don is Don Vinzant, one of our ministers at the Edmond Church of Christ, where my family worships and serves. He has been there forever, and before that he worked with another congregation forever. And before that he was a missionary in Brazil forever.
Sick is really, really ill. Don has a rare form of cancer and a little-diagnosed and untreatable type of leukemia — which, when you think about it, is probably about all that could knock Don down. Add to that a staph infection and you’ve got a man who has been hit hard.

Read the full column.
Sign Don Vinzant’s guestbook on his Caring Bridge page.

• Feedback
  Don is one of the finest human beings that I have ever known. He encouraged me to go into preaching, and the day I preached my first sermon as a new preaching minister in Liberty, Missouri, he called me and prayed for me that day.
  I pray that God gives him healing. He is such a good man.

  James Nored

  March, 8 2011

  Don has been, and is, an inspiration to every person he has come in contact with. He has encouraged me on many many occasions and I appreciate his love for the Lord and the Lord’s church! “We know that if this earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1 NKJV).

  Kevin Ballard

  March, 9 2011

  Our Prayers are with Don & his family.

  Royce D. Sartain

  March, 9 2011

  Met Don when he spoke at “family weekend” before our son and his family and others left to work in Brazil. A good man! The kingdom is stronger and larger because of him. He, his wife, and family are in our prayers. Don and Joy Fischer, Sabetha, KS.

  Don Fischer

  March, 9 2011

  Dear Don and Carol,
  So sorry to hear of your illness. Of course we’re all “ill” with one thing or another, but sometimes a “biggie” hits us! Joan and I have been through that with family, but our own lives are fairly well. (Thanks to Him) But know this Brother, that “the end is not yet”. I know that it’s easy to say and hard to do about “pressing on”, but
  that’s all we can do. I’m gald that our families and personal lives have been entertwined. Our prayers are with you and Carol and all
  your family, daily.
  “in Him”,
  Arles

  Arles Vandiver, Min.

  March, 9 2011

  Don & Carol
  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family right now. You have impacted our lives ever since we started attending the Village Church as college students back in the mid-70s.
  Your influence is felt around the globe. What a great army of prayer warriors there are right now offering heart-felt expressions in your behalf. Thank you for touching our lives and the lives of countless souls worldwide.
  Our staff at MRN are circling up in prayer for you too. Thank you for your kingdom hearts! We love you!
  Alan & Donna

  Alan W. Phillips

  March, 9 2011

  Accolades could be many. Praise could easily be overflowing. Don is a man to be loved. I love Don.

  Russ Dyer

  March, 9 2011

  Always an encouragement!

  Ken & Kristi Murrell

  March, 9 2011

  Always an encouragement.

  Ken & Kristi Murrell

  March, 9 2011

  Don and Carol are precious Saints. This is startling news. However, I don’t know anyone more prepared to be with the Lord. He is a man after God’s own heart; a gentle man with nothing to say but encouraging words with that Christ-like spirit. His love and grace has touched countless others; and God has truly blessed us through this giant of a man who has modeled for all of God’s grace. He has, and in spite of this devastating disease, will always model for us “Victory in Jesus.”

  Jerry Christian

  March, 10 2011

  3-12-2011
  Dear Carol and family,
  Just an added note to express our “bitter-sweet” sorrow(believing that
  Jesus keeps His Promise, Jn.5:24), and to say that our hearts are
  open with empathy and His Love, for your loss. May the Hope of
  His Word and the Conmfort of His Spirit be with you all. (2Cor.1:3-4)
  with our “Love in Him”. . .
  Arles and Joan Vandiver

  Arles Vandiver, Min.

  March, 12 2011

  Brother Don has been such a strong encourager. He was sharp as a tack and loving to the core. I thank God for his influence for good on so many, including me. He taught and lived the gospel, pointing others to Jesus.

  Clyde H. Slimp

  March, 12 2011

  Dear Sister Vinzant, I express my deepest sympathy to you and family.
  I knew Don through his lectureship presentations; he was always well prepared and was always very kind and easy to talk to. God bless!

  Jimmy Moffett

  March, 15 2011

  Dear Carol, Larry, Danny, Gene, and Caroline,
  My heart goes out to all of you. I know you will miss your husband and dad so very much. He was a very gentle, sweet, God fearing man and he brought many to know God. I know he will be in paradise waiting for judgement day. I know he will be given a place in Heaven. He was such an excellent example of a Christian man. I have always looked up to him.
  I am so sorry for your loss but I know he will be with God. What a blessing it was to have known him.
  Love to you all,
  Debbie.

  Debbie Scott Koehn

  March, 16 2011

  To the Vinzant family I send my heart of love to comfort you. I don’t know exactly what it means but I found great comfort when I read that God has a tear bottle and that He keeps our tears in (Ps. 56:8
  peace and love in Christ amen
  robert

  robert brooks

  March, 16 2011