On Christmas Day, Shirley and I learned, with great sadness, of the passing of our dear brother-in-Christ, Tom Minnery, who was one of the finest men I've ever known. We join his loving family in grieving his tragic loss.
Tom and I were close friends for more than 35 years. As a benediction to that relationship, we had a final phone call last summer just days after Roe v. Wade was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. I told him then of my profound respect for his decades of tireless work on behalf of unborn babies. Tom was on the front lines of the battle against Roe, and I'm so thankful that he lived to see this decision overturned.
I first met Tom Minnery in 1987 when he became the inaugural editor of Citizen magazine, a publication that was launched to make fellow conservatives aware of issues impacting the institution of the family. During our more than 25 years as colleagues at Focus on the Family, we visited Washington D.C., many times and had numerous productive meetings with congressmen and senators as we promoted conservative causes in the public square. Together, our passion for the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, and all things related to the institution of the family cemented our friendship and kept us steadfast in our resolve to fight for righteousness in our culture.
Tom was a dedicated husband and father, and a courageous man of extraordinary character. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. My heart and prayers go out to his wife, Deb, and to their entire family. I ask my Christian friends to be in prayer for the Minnery family and those who must carry on now without this great man.