On June 30th, Pastor David Bohannon preached his final sermon from the pulpit of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Woodbridge, retiring after over 40 years of service there.
From his arrival in October 1971 to begin a mission church in the Woodbridge area until his retirement, Pastor Bohannon focused his energies and enthusiasm upon building a church that would not only serve its members but would support and bless the surrounding community.
Every day, by his example, he taught his congregation to live out the words found in the New Testament book of James 2: 14-17: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
One way that St. Matthew’s found to serve the community was as one of thirteen local churches who support ACTS (Action in Community through Service of Prince William, Inc.) Pastor Bohannon continues to serve on the ACTS Board of Directors and has also been its president in the past.
The mission of ACTS is to address the basic human needs of food and shelter. As well as a food bank, a thrift shop, and a homeless shelter, ACTS also provides services such as a domestic violence prevention and intervention program, a hotline crisis telephone line, and an Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides individuals in financial crisis with immediate help.
During his years at St. Matthew’s, Pastor Bohannon was often approached by people off the street who had urgent needs, such as money for gas, food, rent, or utility bills. He never turned anyone away without trying to meet their needs.
It is not surprising, therefore, that in lieu of expensive farewell gifts upon retirement, Pastor Bohannon asked that donations be made in his honor to the ACTS Emergency Assistance Fund. The congregation readily responded with their usual generosity. On Tuesday, August 13th, a check for $12,000 from the people of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church was presented to Frances Harris, executive director of ACTS, for the Emergency Assistance Fund.
Pastor Bohannon may have retired, but his legacy of faithful service will continue through the people of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
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