He lived alone in a modest house. He worked many years as a sales executive for
FTD Florist. In the last few years of
his life, he worked at Mobile (AL) Public Library, restocking books into their
places on the shelves.
He was fiercely independent and was viewed as rather
gruff and stubborn in some of his ways.
Yet he had a big heart and was very passionate about some things in his
life: his friends, his Lord, the church, and University of Alabama football.
Dan Keith was not well-known, but his influence has been
felt around the world, literally.
In the days following Dan Keith’s passing, a large group
of people in Ryali, India mourned his passing.
A special gathering took place in which children of the Song of Joy
School and the Bud & Joy Children’s Home as well as adult students of the
Preachers Training School met together to pray a “sympathy prayer” in loving
tribute to Dan Keith. For years, Dan
sponsored a little girl in the Bud & Joy Children’s Home. Now, years later, that “little girl” is
scheduled to complete a degree in nursing, due in large part to Dan’s loving
assistance!
In his lifetime, Dan developed a concern for others – for
their physical and spiritual well-being.
His concern for other people expanded as he experienced the grace of God
in his own life.
On February 16, 2007, he gave a Bible to his dear,
long-time friend, Susan. On the flyleaf
of the Bible, Dan wrote these words to Susan: “The words in this book can
comfort you and guide you into heaven.”
Susan says that once he got his life “on track” and dedicated his life
to following Christ, he wanted all of his friends to know the Way to heaven.
Dan would want YOU to know: Jesus is the Way to heaven
(John 14:6). Jesus, God’s Son, died on
the cross for your sins and mine (1 John 2:2).
Through Him, we can have the forgiveness of our sins and receive the
gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7).
God will save those who place their faith and trust in
Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into
Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who
continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).
No, Dan may not have been that well-known, but he had a
huge – and even eternal – impact on others, especially as he loved and pointed
others to Jesus.
It is my prayer that in some way Dan’s life will point
YOU in Jesus’ direction.
Won’t YOU trust and obey Christ?
-- David A. Sargent
* In Loving Memory of Dan Bryant Keith, Jr., January 22,
1939 – July 14, 2016.
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