Copyright 2005 John Zimmerman Words and music by John Zimmerman
This song is dedicated to the memory of Reverend Bill Thornton, Pastor of the Clearlake Oaks Community Methodist Church. Known affectionately as “Reverend Bill’, this remarkable man transformed a small, struggling church into a cornerstone of the community. Bill, often called ‘Pastor Bill’, died in April, 2005.
With fire in his eyes, power in his voice
Conviction solid as stone
Visions so grand, Dreams so large
Sharing his heart and his soul
A man of God, Just doing his job
A miracle to behold
He touched so many lives, healed so much pain
Why, oh why did he have to go
It was God’s will, to call Pastor Bill
He’s needed now in another place
He’s the one for the job, hand picked by God
That’s why Pastor Bill was called away
From a small congregation, he built a strong church
Enriching so many lives
From the Youth Building, to his Powergrams
His legacy lives on for all time
God’s perfect will, lived inside this man
No greater servant could He find
And though we miss him so, we understand
It’s now our job to keep his work alive
It was God’s will, to call Pastor Bill
He’s needed now in another place
He’s the one for the job, hand picked by God
That’s why Pastor Bill was called away
He’s the one for the job, hand picked by God
That’s why Pastor Bill was called away
That’s why Pastor Bill was called away
That’s why Pastor Bill was called away