He was usually one of the first to respond to any new gracEmail. His subject line would often say “another ace.” Not for outstanding human wisdom or human oratory, but because it pointed to Jesus. Wayne was above all a Jesus man, and because it was my goal to be one also, he was one of my most faithful encouragers for more than 50 years. Wayne died on Monday, August 14, 2017, at age 70. He was still excited to be teaching Bible classes and preaching about Jesus when possible.
I first met Wayne and Phyliss McDaniel in their trailer home at Florida College, when he was a student and eager to learn about grace and freedom in Christ. He became a fast and faithful friend who read everything I wrote, encouraged me in every Pepperdine Lecture I participated in (over a 24-year time span), and arranged meetings over three weeks in Arizona just after my father died and I was grieving his loss. He frequently sent copies of gracEmails to special friends who he thought would enjoy them. He loved me and I loved him.
Wayne was passionate about serving God, and zealous to be useful in God’s kingdom. Not a perfect man, to be sure, but a man after God’s own heart. He died surrounded by his dear wife of 51 years, Phyliss, and his children and loving families. He lived in confidence that our Lord would raise him again to new and unending life, and I am confident that on that Resurrection Day, he will see his Savior face to face and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
It is recorded that “when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep” (Acts 13:36). Let each of us live each day aware that our time on earth is in his hands, our life goal is to give glory to God, and that hearing those words will be reward enough.
