Pastor Ted "PT" Christman

I too met Ted at BJU in 1965-67. We became great friends. I remember when he met Diane and enthralled he was with her. As I read through the other posts, all the memories of his smile, his laugh, his caring ways and his quirkiness came flooding back. We completely lost touch as I went to Vietnam, got married and had 8 kids. I think it was in 1990 or 91 that I tracked him down and brought the family by to meet him and Diane. My only regret is that I didn't keep up with him. He was a leader of men, a follower of Jesus and a passionate lover of people. Gary Seelye, Bath, Michigan [email protected]

I am so sorry for your loss. May God words of promise found in John 6:40 brings you consolation and a small measure of peace. Please accept my sincere regards and heartfelt condolences. ~MM~

Dear Dianne and family: As you know, Ted and I had became buds upon my arrival at college, fall 1966. Within a few weeks, I was accompanying him on the guitar, as he sang The Brothers Four tune, "Greensleeves," at our Phi Beta Chi literary society'dating outing, beneath the evening's spotlight. His pre-song serious banter, evoking pathos, pity and sorrow, about lost love received cat-call hoots from the darkened (from spotlight) audience of our lit guys with their dates. Over the past 53 years, I have done my dead-level best to keep that embarrassing memory alive in Ted's mind! Ted was a huge influence upon my interest in soccer; I emulated his passion, drive and hustle, while playing the game. He and Cindy Phillips and Bob Grube and I greatly enjoyed performing love/folk tunes for college Saturday morning student body assemblies; for years, we joked among ourselves at having gotten approved, and having played, for student body, the beautiful "As Tears Go By" song written by the very un-Bob Jones University Rolling Stones! Ted and I perfected, in front of the college student center, one afternoon, the trick of rolling a quarter off our right hand, into the air, then kicking the quarter with our shoe heel, into the air, and catching the quarter either in our hand or, better yet, in our pants pocket. Ted would come up to me, on campus, imitating the way old men, with gaps in their teeth, make a whistling noise when they pronounce "s" sounds, and he'd start rapping some made up chatter, just whistling words out of his mouth, and I'd double over laughing at him. Here is a photo of our 1967-1968 soccer team; Ted is front row, 3rd from left; I am second row, 5th from left. English poet/cleric John Donne put it well: "...If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less...any man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee..." With love...Dan Drew, Walnut Creek California

Dianne and Family, I am so sorry & sad to learn of the passing of your precious husband. May your faith and lifetime of memories comfort you and yours. God Bless

My heart was warmed by the outpouring of love for my cousin, Ted, at his funeral service yesterday which I
attended by video. I have never gotten to know him well but had the opportunity to visit briefly with him a couple of summers ago at his sister Virginia's cottage. He also visited my Mom in the nursing home and video-taped her life testimony a short time before her passing. After Ted's funeral I felt a sense of loss for not having known him better. I am rejoicing in the victorious witness he had in Jesus. I know that will be a comfort to the family (whom I do not know at all) during the days and weeks ahead. God bless you. I hold you near in my prayers. Cousin: Mary (Boerema) Blake

Rebekah, Jonathan, Aunt Diane and family. The privilege was mine to have an Uncle Ted "UT"! The sadness and loss is very real, but what an honor to watch and share in the celebration of his life and testimony yesterday. So many memories came back to me while watching and listening. It is a joy and comfort to know that UT is now praising our Lord 24/7. I picture the smile on his face and some crazy joyful laugh coming from the voice. Love and peace to all.

Dianne & Family, Anna and I are not well known to you and your family but we were blessed to meet and know Pastor Ted in Dayton TN. at those wonderful Family Conferences years ago. I always enjoyed your Beloved Husband in any setting and always found him to be a loving and caring man of GOD. I last saw him at T4G and then in Nashville TN. when ministering at the church there. I always enjoyed visiting Heritage and the wonderful Family of GOD there. His works follow which flowed from a joyful heart of service to our Savior. May His comfort and consolations be abundantly yours in your time of sorrow but also much joy in celebrating his rich life with you all. Blessings to you and yours from our family here in Indiana.

Dear Rebekah, Justin, and precious children, Please accept our sincere sympathy for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May God comfort your hearts at this difficult time. From Gertrude Taylor and family at Garden Grace.

Dianne and Family... so grieved to hear of Ted's passing yet rejoicing for what he now enjoys.. the glory of being with Christ now by sight and no longer by faith... that which he has proclaimed so faithfully for so long.. I remember the days of our beginning the Reformed Baptist Association in the Southeast... exchanging pulpits and when he served under the chairmanship for my ordination as a Reformed Baptist Pastor... we remeber our fellowship together as couples and in 1999 when I was ill and he had to fill in for me at the Campus Outreach Christmas Conference... we are praying for all of you.. when you love deep you grieve deep.

Blessings to your family. I only knew Pastor Ted through my Aunt Toots but I am mourning with you. Praise God that Ted is worshipping in our Lord's presence.

Dianne , Jim and I were so saddened to learn of Ted's passing . You and your family are in our prayers.

Dianne, Rebekah, Jonathan and families, and the church in Owensboro, so sorry for the grief you are experiencing. God is faithful and will uphold you. So many good memories of Pastor Ted. He was a very special man, and I hope the many stories of how he blessed so many lives will bring you much comfort.

Dianne
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your family and you are in my prays.
Connie Mattingly

Hello Diane, I received word last evening from Dave Pantana about Ted's homegoing. Penny and I will be praying for God's sustaining grace to overwhelm your family and you as you walk through this valley. God used Ted in a powerful way to encourage Ray and I while in college and had a lasting impact on my brother Paul. He told me by text that he listened to Ted's teaching last weekend. You have many precious memories that will flood your heart and mind in the days ahead of one who finished his race well.

Passing on into glory is another example of the Christian faith that Bro. Ted so clearly taught, lived, and has now transitioned into.
It is with heavy heart that I express my sympathy to Dianne and to all the Christman family. May the God of All Comfort be in your midst and lift you up and strengthen you. I pray for more grace for you all each and every day.
I have fond memories as a young boy as Bro. Ted preached upstairs in our home when he and Dianne first came to Owensboro. The Lord used him in my life and in my family as well.

However, it is with a rejoicing heart that I am happy for my brother. He is now in the presence of his Lord, God, and Savior face to face, with no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more curse, and no more sin to fight. He is in his rightful blood bought place as a trophy of God sovereign grace in and through the sacrifice of Christ his King.
Praise the Lord for the life and ministry of Ted Christman!

To Dianne & family. Although we havent seen each other in years the hurt is still real. The Pantana brothers had some great times and good ministry singing with Ted. God bless.

Dearest family members of our beloved brother and bother in law, Ted Christman,

Our hearts are aching for our brother Ted's family as each of them are facing the loss of a dear Husband, Father & Grandfather.

We siblings have had a sacred and a very personal relationship with countless times together over 73 years and cherish our closeness with one another. We will miss our brother dearly but do find comfort in knowing that he is resting peacefully in the arms of our dear Savior!

From Ted's sisters and brother in laws.

Marv & Virginia Vander Wall and
Jack & Gerry Thornton

We are still in shock as I'm sure you all are. Wonderful memories have been flooding our minds the past few days! We are and will continue to lift you all up in prayer.❤

The Evans family from Lewisport expend our heartfelt sympathy to th Christman family. We deeply appreciate the family's love and friendship you provided our Son Gavin. He always loved the whole family.

Great man! Great Bible teacher! Always a friend. His passing will leave a huge hole in the hearts of many.

Dear Dianne and family,
Sherry and I grieve for you in the loss of husband, father, grandfather, pastor and friend. In that sense we grieve for ourselves because Ted was unique in his capacity to communicate the compassion and mercy of Christ. That said, surely we cannot know the void that you must be experiencing over the absence of such a dear man. We have fond memories of our visits to Owensboro. Often we felt embarrassed by the lengths to which Ted and Dianne would go to make us comfortable and welcomed. I have often felt admiration for Ted's vision and energy for the expansion of Christ's kingdom in this world. But above all I have admired and thanked God for his friendship and his wonderful ability to encourage and comfort. There are few that i have known who can engage the heart in the way Ted did. He will be missed in ways that most of us will not. Yet for Ted himself we cannot grieve because he is safely home where every redeemed soul longs to be, with Christ and finished with the vexations of this world.

Dianne & Family...
It was an honor to know him and we look forward to seeing him again. May God comfort you.
With love,
Randy & Cathy

Pastor Ted was an incredible encouragement to younger pastors like myself. He called me the Saturday before his home going just to check on me and spur me on in the work of the Lord. The Pastors Gathering he started was an amazing time unlike any other I have attended. I always hated to miss it when I had to be away. His genuine care for people, his love for Christ's church and his wonderful sense of humor are things I will always remember. To say I was blessed to have known him would be such an understatement. I am so thankful for how the Lord used him in my life. How precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15).

We are so sorry to hear of Pastor Ted's passing, actually thinking his health had improved, so we were really taken off guard. We will be praying for you and your family, Dianne. We have so many fond memories of HCS. Ted looked so young I had no idea we were close to the same age. Loved that quick smile and twinkle in his eye. May God comfort you at this very difficult time. We will be away during visitation so cannot speak to you in person to share our condolences.

We met Pastor Ted and Dianne many years ago perhaps in the early days of their journey with Jesus. We have always been blessed, encouraged and challenged by their walk and with their obedience to the call of the Gospel. What a gentle and godly man! We love you all and will pray for God's continued sustaining power.

Dear Christman Family,
I went to school with Ted and was his neighbor. He was a character with a fun personality. I will be lifting you all up in prayer now and in the days to come.

Many prayers of comfort for Dianne and family.

Whenever I think of Ted I see his warm mischievous grin and hear his words of encouragement and support. I first me him at a RB Family Conference and found out we shared a number of common loves, the Lord, His church, our families and soccer. Over the years Ted would seek me out at Conferences and sometimes with those famous phone calls to encourage and laugh together. I had the privilege and joy of visiting Owensboro to serve on the board of MCTS and enjoy some of the best hospitality anyone could ever know. Ted was a visionary, he was a go-getter and he was a generous man who always sought to encourage and show an interest in your life. For those of us who have known him for many years from afar we feel the loss of him in the work of the Gospel, yet it is not to be compared to what his family and congregation must be feeling. Serving in the same church for 45 years is no small achievement. May the Lord uphold Diane and the family and Heritage Baptist Church. Your friends across the world share your grief. I'll miss Ted's fellowship and fun but know He is in a far better place having more glorious fellowship. Until then brother....thank you for your kindness, generosity and encouragement over the years.

I'll miss your walking by the house and just as you have my children I have watched yours. I pray for your family that God will give them all strength in this, one of the most difficult time in life. God Bless and Keep You all.

Christman family my prayers are with you. Pastor Ted influenced and encouraged me a great deal. I always looked forward to seeing him and knew I would be better afterwards. I have much respect for the Christman family and the ministry of Heritage Baptist Church. Bob Salee