They had prayed for a miracle to save their pastor, for the hand of God to keep the Rev. Paul E. Grabill among us for a good, long time.
Parishioners at the State College Assembly of God not only revered Grabill, 56, as their leader in faith, but also adored him as a friend, a counselor and a brother.
And so, as the faithful assembled Sunday for the first time since his death Thursday, one of Grabill’s closest advisers — the Rev. Paul Wislocky — tackled what was perhaps their most unsettling question:
Why?
Why would Grabill — the Godly pastor, the spiritual leader — die now?
God didn’t cause Grabill’s death, but allowed it, Wislocky said.
‘I have more questions than answers. How about you? … How do you explain it?’ he said from the pulpit along University Drive, addressing the mourning congregation of hundreds.
‘I’ve questioned God,’ Wislocky acknowledged. ‘In fact, I’ve argued with God,’ telling him we can’t afford to lose someone like Grabill.
In his 20 years leading the Assembly of God here, Grabill was a pillar of faith, a community cornerstone, a local institution.
No metaphor, no amount of words can really do him justice. Grabill was, in short, a truly great man.
At times controversial in the Centre Region, he was a thinking man didn’t shirk from his beliefs or his sense of what is right, as Wislocky emphasized Sunday. He engaged and loved not only his congregation, but also people without religion, people of other congregations, people of all stripes — or lack thereof.
My work in the news profession brought me into contact with Grabill a number of times over the years, and I always walked away with genuine inspiration to be a better person. He and I were of substantially different beliefs and different religious ties — and yet felt very much at ease with each other. I instinctively trusted and respected him without reservation.
Indeed, it was Grabill who helped restore my own regard for organized religion. (This was after the betrayal wrought by another faith leader — in an unaffiliated organization — some years ago in the State College area.)
That ability to inspire — not only me, of course, but thousands of people over his too-short lifetime — was no doubt one of Pastor Grabill’s greatest gifts.
Another was his ability to lead. And toward the end of his seven-year fight with cancer, the disease that took his life, Grabill set some guiding groundwork that he hoped will help carry the Assembly of God forward in his absence.
Michael Madeira, the secretary of the church Board of Elders, shared that news with the congregation Sunday morning. Without getting into too many specifics just yet, Madeira said Grabill thought deeply about the church’s future in the event that he should be ‘called home.’
Grabill knew there would be doubts and fears in the congregation, Madeira said.
But the pastor had an enduring vision for the church, Madeira went on. He invoked Grabill’s words and spiritual thoughts as he asked God to ‘use us for your glory, as you see fit.’
It was Madeira who introduced Wislocky to the congregation on Sunday. Few people there knew Grabill as long as Wislocky did; the two met in the late 1960s when Grabill was 12 and attended a Christian youth camp where Wislocky was a leader.
At the time, he recalled, Grabill was ‘a little red-headed guy,’ somewhat timid and not a jock. He, like all 12-year-olds, wanted to fit in, Wislocky said.
Before long, Grabill became a pianist at the camp, and the men remained close as Grabill went on to become a preacher himself.
‘You don’t just become a preacher; it’s what you are in God as you grow in God,’ Wislocky explained. ‘You can’t give what you don’t have.’
What Pastor Grabill had was faith — deep, all-encompassing, abiding faith.
And while there’s room to question why he died now — so young, so full of promise — it’s worth remembering that Grabill himself long ago stopped dwelling on the ‘Why’s of faith, Wislocky said.
Instead, he said, Grabill was centered on the ‘What’s — that is, ‘What are we going go to do now?’
‘When God says, ‘No’ (to prayers), don’t take it as personal rejection,’ Wislocky added.
Rather, he said, hold steady in the faith the best days remain ahead. ‘When God says, ‘No,’ he always has something better in mind.’
With all that said, Wislocky also underscored that it’ll be some time before mourning can give way to brighter days.
The church has scheduled visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the church building, 2201 University Drive. A celebration service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the same location.
Church leaders are anticipating a large turnout and have encouraged attendees to arrive early.
From inside the Assembly of God congregation and beyond, a grateful community will share its love.
For he who was so good and so thoughtful with words, I can think of few more important than these:
Thank you, Pastor Grabill.
