IN MEMORIAM - Rabbi "Rich" Ford

On December 4, 2005, we lost a precious friend, teacher and spiritual leader. Messianic Rabbi "Rich" Ford was born to Ruby and Walter Ford on June 30, 1946. In 1996, he founded the Messiah Assembly congregation that meets in Central Point, Oregon.

A versatile and brilliant, multi-talented scholar, Rich studied history, anthropology, computer technology, fine arts, languages, and theology, attaining a Th.D. Rabbi Rich spent two decades translating the New Testament from Koine Greek into English, producing "The Abiding Word" translation. Rich researched ancient cultures extensively. He had a way to make obscure scriptures come alive as he taught knowing their context.

Rich's final words before he went for his final surgery were, "If I live , I live unto the Lord, If I die , I die unto the Lord , Blessed be the Lord"

Rich touched the lives of hundreds in our community. He is greatly missed.