Memorials

Royal W. Edwards

Reverend Royal Wesley Edwards was born in Los Angeles, CA and passed away on March 13, 2020 at the age of 91.

Royal was the oldest of 3 children born to Wesley and Hazel Edwards.  He grew up mainly in Southern California and attended grammar schools in the Los Angeles area, graduating high school from LAPC, a Free Methodist college prep high school. He then studied Mechanical Engineering at colleges in Riverside and Pasadena. Royal was very involved in his FM Church Youth Group where he met his future wife Vivien.  They were married in 1950 in the Hermon neighborhood of LA.

Royal was a veteran of the US Army serving in the Korean War from 1950 – 1952. It was during this time that Royal decided to dedicate his life to ministry.  After his military service, Royal and Vivien moved to Washington State where Royal attended Seattle Pacific University and earned his B.A. in Biblical Literature.  He then attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY and graduated with his B.D.  His Christian faith was a core component of his life and he pastored numerous churches throughout So. CA and AZ over the next 33 years before retiring to Mountain Ranch where Royal built their home, but ultimately settling in Copperopolis, CA.

Royal enjoyed traveling during the evangelistic portion of his career and held services at many churches throughout the US and Canada. Over the years, he and Vivien visited many countries including Europe, Israel, China and performed charitable work in Mexico.  Education was important to Royal and for a time he taught Greek at Azusa Pacific College and later at Edwards Air Force Base.

David M. Gonzales

David M. Gonzales of Chino, a member of one of the first Hispanic families in Chino dating back to 1898, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 12, 2019. He passed peacefully at his home surrounded by family.

David was the son of Lorenzo and Elvira Gonzales. He grew up in Chino and graduated from Chino High School in 1960 where he met and later married his high school sweetheart. He was a devoted Christian who accepted every opportunity to serve the Lord. He had a passion for traveling and he loved the experience of visiting somewhere new for the first time. His greatest joy was spending time with his family.

David was very active as a lay leader in the FMCSC. He served on the conference Board of Administration, the MEG and MAC, and also as a General Conference Delegate many times over at least a 20 year period.  At the denominational level he was very active in FM Men’s Ministries International.

John E. Hartley

John E. Hartley passed away on Aug. 6 2019.

Dr. Hartley was a Free Methodist Elder since 1962 and a member of the FMCSC since 1973. He was a prolific writer and scholar who taught at APU for 47 years, retiring in 2016.

John’s impact on individual lives, the trajectory of the church and on global scholarship in Biblical Studies cannot be overstated.  His bright, insightful mind commanded respect internationally for handling the Word of God, especially the Old Testament.  But his heart and deep passion for people brought that high academic excellence into accessible reach for thousands of young pastors and Christian leaders.  John was a significant influencer in the lives of countless ministers.

He passed away at home with his wife Dorothy and their two daughters, Joy and Johanna, by his side. It was a peaceful homegoing after a long battle with cancer.

Calvin Tatupu

Calvin Tatupu had a powerful conversion experience that took him from the streets to the pulpit and back to the streets with God’s love. Calvin was sold out to the ministry of Jesus and was willing to pay whatever price required to give himself fully to ministry. For many years he and his wife Sarah (also an FM elder) served children and families in the poorest areas of Long Beach and Los Angeles by running a neighborhood program called ICKIDZ – InnerCity Kidz. He and Sarah ministered to the youth of Light & Life North in Long Beach and Calvin helped give leadership to the new Community Center of Light & Life. In 2013 Calvin became one of the campus pastors for Light & Life Cherry Campus. Then in 2014 he and Sarah and a core group from Light & Life launched the Side-by-Side church plant.

Calvin will be remembered as a bold evangelist, earnest prayer warrior, humble servant of the poor, and insightful prophet. His love, warmth, and humor caused him to be loved by countless people. Calvin loved his wife and his son CJ and was thrilled to spend time with his grandson before being reunited with Jesus and his wife, Sarah.