Andrew Vasey (1941–2011)
Andrew Vasey went to be with his Saviour on 17 December, aged 70.
He was born on a farm in Bradbury, moving to nearby Darlington as a child, where he lived for the rest of his life. He began attending Geneva Road Evangelical Baptist Church as a teenager and was converted in the church.
There he served God faithfully for more than 50 years, being a kind and wise elder for almost 30 of those. His godly example, leadership and prayerfulness have been a blessing to many.
Mr Vasey’s influence was widely known. He regularly preached in and brought wise counsel to churches in North Yorkshire and throughout northern England. His influence spread beyond the UK too.
At his funeral, Andrew Swanson, previous pastor of Geneva Road and a close friend, spoke of his own work of more than 25 years in the Middle East, and the vital role that Mr Vasey played in it.
Mr Vasey was involved in the induction of David Campbell (another previous Geneva Road pastor) at Grace Baptist Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and in the induction of Jeff Oliver at Placerville Reformed Baptist Church, California.
He maintained an interest in many missionary situations and many of the Lord’s servants valued his fellowship and prayers.
He will be greatly missed, especially by his wife Barbara, and daughters, Joanna and Catherine. He loved to preach about the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and would often refer to this when he prayed.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just a fortnight before he died. One of the hymns he chose for his funeral was his favourite: ‘The sands of time are sinking’.
Speaking of Immanuel’s land, this says, ‘The King there in his beauty, without a veil is seen’. We rejoice that Andrew now sees the King in his beauty.
Mark Rowcroft
