Fisher of men: Pastor's ministry remembered
For more than 65 years, David Fisher preached every Sunday at the Homeacre Chapel, where he served as pastor since 1956.
His work in the church and in the community as pastor permeated every aspect of his life, with people always approaching him when facing hardship.
“Our family dinners were often interrupted with a phone call,” said Becky Ray, Fisher's daughter, of Penn Township. “That was all part of growing up as a preacher's kid. He was on call 24/7.”
Fisher died June 13 at the age of 90, and Ray said he had continued preaching until only a few months before his death.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Zelma “Mickey” Sparks; six children, Dawn Oesterling, Jeanna Stallings, Roseann Thornton, Daniel Fisher, Nathan Fisher and Becky Ray; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Tim Boden, who joined the church as associate pastor in 1973, said Fisher had always gotten calls to meet with people going through difficult times, mentally or physically. The two first met when Boden was a teenager, and Fisher visited his sister while she was in the hospital.“Who else would drive all the way to Youngstown, Ohio to visit a sick girl in the hospital?” Boden said. “When my sister got better, the first thing she told my dad was, 'I want to go to church.'”With Fisher's passing, Boden will now serve as pastor of the church.Homeacre Chapel began as Grace Bible Church, and changed its name in 1957 when it moved to its location on Whitestown Road. Fisher was present through the whole transition.Fisher started the Homeacre Christian Academy in 1973, a spiritual school that was run in a similar manner to a one-room schoolhouse. At one point, the school had about 80 students. The school closed three or four years ago, Boden said.Fisher also took several mission trips to Kenya. Boden said these trips were one aspect of the ministry about which Fisher was most passionate.To Boden, Fisher's work in the church and the local community were some of the most inspirational aspects of his character.“The preaching is something you just do, but the ministry is what has to be covered,” Boden said, “explaining not just the words of the Bible, but also the manner of living along with it.”
Fisher would be recognized all over the community, from his time driving school buses for the Butler Area School District or his time running a youth camp in Smicksburg.Boden said that although he is becoming the pastor after decades of experience working alongside Fisher, he is unsure if Fisher's impact will ever be matched.“He gave his heart to the work,” Boden said. “He was integral to the church and to a lot of lives.”Ray said Fisher had hobbies, including magic and ventriloquism, and he hosted a radio show for years, on which he would deliver sermons and gospel readings.“He always focused on outreach with children,” Ray said.She also mentioned that her father's biggest impact was on the people he worked with and helped. She said this will be his legacy.“He would say he left behind a lot of people he will meet in heaven through his witness,” Ray said. “He's had quite the career.”
