September 24, 1932 – October 15, 1998

Free Gospel Bible Institute Memorial Newsletter     November 1998
P. O. Box 477, Export, Pa. 15632, U.S.A. (724) 327-5454 

A SOLDIER RECEIVES HIS CROWN

Our times are in His Hands. We found this to be very true as our beloved President, Pastor and Friend, Dr. David J. Beam, went home to be with the Lord. It was on October 15th at 6:45 a.m. that his natural heart stopped beating and the angels of heaven came to take him to a better world.

In our sorrow, we rejoice in the hope of God's wonderful promises of an eternal home in heaven.

Hundreds came from across the country to honor the memory of this soldier of the cross.

The viewing was on Monday, October 19th and the Funeral/Coronation service on October 20th at 11:00 a.m., all in the main auditorium of the Free Gospel Bible Institute, with Rev. Chester H. Heath and Rev. Kenneth R. Roles officiating.

Interment was at the Free Gospel Church Cemetery on the Institute campus in Export, Pennsylvania. At the request of the family, the David J. Beam Memorial Fund has been established to receive gifts in his honor .

Your prayers for the family and Free Gospel Bible Institute will be greatly appreciated at this time.

A PERSONAL WORD FROM CLAIRE H. BEAM

   How thankful I am for the wonderful Godly friends who have surrounded me during these days. The comfort of the Holy Ghost and strength from above has been a reality to me.

   My beloved husband, David had been sustained by the faithful prayers of so many, for these past six and a half years while afflicted with Leukemia. He often expressed his deep appreciation for those prayers that kept him going.

   On Monday, October 12th, David became very ill and needed surgery by the next morning. Little did we know then that he would not recover from that minor surgery. I will always be glad I was with him to the end. And when those final moments came, I submitted my deep, personal longings to the Lord and I held David's hand and sang to him, tearfully:

“What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
When I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace,
What a day, glorious day that will be.”

  -And he was gone. The Spirit of God was precious to me at that moment.

   My intention is to stay right here at FGBI where I have shared the vision all these years, and to do all I can to stand behind the leadership and see the work move forward.

   Please accept my sincere thanks for all your love, prayers, cards and gifts. I appreciate each of you..

                                                                                Claire H. Beam

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The home-going of our beloved President, Dr. David J. Beam, necessitated a meeting of the Board of Directors. The following actions were taken at that meeting:

• A resolution that the Board of Directors work toward the filling of the office of President.
  
• A motion was passed to create the position of Administrator of the Institute and that Rev. Kenneth R. Roles be named to that position, to serve at the pleasure of the Board.
  
• A motion was passed that named Rev. Chester Heath to fill the vacancy on the Executive Committee that resulted from the death of Brother Beam.
  
• The Board also decided, in light of the passing of Brother Beam, and his significant role in the history of FGBI, to dedicate the new library to his memory, to be known as: David J. Beam Memorial Library.

                                                        Signed: C. H. Heath, Secretary
                                                        Board of Directors

41 YEARS OF EDUCATING AND PREPARING MEN AND WOMEN FOR PENTECOSTAL MINISTRY

TRANSITIONS AND CHANGES  

   Following the funeral came a time of fellowship in the Institute dining hall. There was sadness mixed with rejoicing and recalling many memories. A continual flow of ministers and friends expressed friendship, prayer and support.

   The vacancy left by Brother Beam's passing had to then be addressed by the Board of Directors whose decisions were soon made known first to Faculty and Staff, and then to the Student Body. A general shift of responsibilities was necessary to retain a continuity in the operations and teaching schedule. Faculty and Staff all stepped in with a wonderful spirit of cooperation and willingness to do whatever was needed.

   Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

---

INTRODUCING REV. KENNETH R. ROLES 
Newly Appointed Administrator of FGBI

   For fifteen years Rev. Kenneth R. Roles has served as Assistant to the President of Free Gospel Bible Institute. He and
Dr. Beam worked together daily in all phases of the operation of FGBI, instilling in Brother Roles his same sense of vision and purpose, as well as crucial knowledge for his newly appointed position as Administrator.

   Dr. Beam has had a lengthy impact upon his life. Under his pastoral ministry in Youngstown, Ohio, Brother Roles was saved and strongly influenced toward ministry. After graduating from FGBI in 1974, he and his wife, Connie served as missionaries for 3 years in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Rev. Roles then came to FGBI to serve on the Faculty and staff, and with the passing of Rev. Joseph Dutka he moved to the position of Assistant to the President.

TRIBUTES
TO DR. DAVID J. BEAM

Rev. Gordon P. Beam- (brother): God's hand was on David for leadership at an early age. At 11 years of age he was asked to be on a team debating the pros and cons of eternal security with some of the church fathers in the Presbyterian church he then attended.  David was on the con side, and all of the Church Fathers were on the pro side. And he won.  At least all of us thought so. It wasn't long until David called a family meeting to decide what to do, since he felt God had something more for them spiritually.  He was the one who initiated a search and led his family into a Pentecostal church. At 19 he was pastoring his first church. It was later when David rejoiced exuberantly as the Holy Ghost spoke in a prayer meeting in the old Tabernacle on this Free Gospel Campus, saying, "make haste and build a Bible School."

Rev. Jim Floyd-( life-long friend): I knew David for 49 years. He was a friend who “sticketh closer than a brother.” David's first funeral was for my father.

Rev. James A. Setser: In 1957, as a word of prophecy came forth,  Brother Beam both had a vision and heard a commission. He embarked that day on a road less traveled.  He heard the sound of dying people lost without hope. He also heard the sounds of people saying, "I can't go", "I'll miss too much." ..and he had little time for such. Because he could hear both voices, he chose that road less traveled.  Dr. David J. Beam was not just on the sidelines, he was a man "in the arena."  He worked his vision and brought a dream to pass.

Rev. Gene Huff: There was a man sent from God and his name was David Beam. He was sent on this mission very early in life. He opened the doors for students to come here and be prepared for one grand purpose,  to exalt the name of Jesus, whether here or on foreign soil.  Coupled with this message was a dynamic spiritual experience, that through the power of the Holy Spirit you lived a life of holiness. The Bible tells us about men sent from God. It refers to good men, and he was one; strong men, and he was one; honest men, and he was one; and righteous men, and he was one.

Rev. L.D.Savage: Brother Beam was not just the President of the school.  He was a friend.  His life touched tens of thousands of people.   Students who came through this school have said that Brother Beam had more effect on their life in the three years at FGBI than any other person they had known. Oh, that God would give us young men that would also set their sail for the will of God in their lives.  This Institute was his life.  His whole life was wrapped up here....and now, he "has arrived."

Rev. William H. Wyatt: I considered Brother Beam to be one of my best friends. When I went to prayer on Thursday morning and knew he was gone, I missed him. He has attended a lot of graduations over these years, and now he has attended another.  The Lord has graduated him to a higher plane. It is not “Good-by”, but “So long” for a little while. And if you and I will be faithful, we can graduate too, and we'll see him again.

Rev. James Suits: Proverbs 10:7 says, "The memory of the Just is blessed."  Brother Beam was a man of vision. He drove the stake of faith deep. He was not only a man who talked about faith, He was a man who practiced a life of faith.  He chose the highest call, the greatest call.  In vision, he was a man who stood alone.  In our area, he touched many lives.  We have churches being pastored by FGBI graduates.  He would challenge young people to give time for God to direct their lives.  This summer he came to our youth camp in Elizabethtown, and approached the platform unsteadily, but as he began to speak, it was like a cloak of glory enveloped him, and he would say, "Ohhhh, Hallelujah!".  He was like a spark of fire to ignite the hearts of men and women to do something for God.

Rev. Royce Roy: I heard him preach his last sermon on Sunday night in Mentor, Ohio. He was a man who had a burning desire to work for God until the day he died. I saw in him a great burden for a world that was lost.

Rev. Chester H. Heath:  As surely as Christ is risen from the dead, we will see Dr. David Beam again.  If my friend could speak to us he would tell us, “Don't weep for me. I have fought the fight, and finished the course, and I am where I longed to be.” Let us say by our continued action, "The example you set was worth following."