EULOGY Guy BonGiovanni, D. Min.

In the summer of 1947 an enthusiastic young man visited the Italian Christian Church in Niagara Falls, NY. He preached the Word with excellence from the tiniest Bible I had ever seen. He also attempted a solo of “Jesus Rose of Sharon” with a considerably lesser degree of excellence than his preaching. And with his down-to-earth amiable spirit, captured the hearts of all who were present. I was a high school teenager among them. From that time Dr. N. J. Tavani has remained one of my closest friends, my mentor and accountability proctor. As a faithful friend and counselor, he examined every book manuscript I have written, and reviewed for accuracy and kindness every significant letter I wrote during my pastoral and denominational ministry.

Dr. Tavani united me and Esther in marriage in Glad Tidings Tabernacle in NYC in January of 1955. Over the years we spent considerable time in each other’s homes and he is still affectionately regarded as “Uncle Nick” by my children. In fact, just 6 years ago, my wife and children selected him, with Naomi, as the surprise guest speaker at a celebration of my 70th birthday and 50th year of ministry.

If I had an internship at all in ministry, it was during the summer of ’49 while living completely without cost with Dr. Tavani and his Dad in Camden, N.J. At the time, Dr. Tavani was interim Pastor of Broadway Tabernacle, now Cherry Hill Assembly of God. In company with John Albanese and Joe Giunta we broadened our experiences and deepened our maturity with activities both silly and serious, ranging from raiding the swings in the community park at 2 AM to meeting the editorial and production deadlines of the “Light Bearer” magazine of which Dr. Tavani was editor.

The journey of life frequently brought us together in ministry at the Farrell Christian Assembly which I pastored, now Hermitage Assembly of God; at Pine Crest Bible Institute which he served as founding President, in the Italian Branch of the Assemblies of God of which he was the closing General Superintendent; and at the Quarterly Board of Directors’ Meetings at Elim Bible Institute.

My memories of Dr. Tavani are a continuing ministry that prods me “in pursuit of excellence:” Among those who knew him, there seems to be a common consensus that….

· He was brilliant in thought as the accolades of both secular and theological academia attest. His ability was amazing in easily speaking with eloquent simplicity; then just as easily transitioning to more complex “scholoreze” - for example, defining evil as” the tertium quid of two autonomous minds.”

· He was gracious in demeanor. Whether facing domestic or professional challenges, he was consistently unflappable; always responding with patience, grace and an endearing touch of humor. In all the personal dealings, small group dialogue, disciplinary discussions or more sophisticated conference table deliberations in which we participated together -- never did I hear Dr. Tavani express of anyone a demeaning word or an angry spirit. Grace and Truth were his constant companions.

· He was exemplary in friendship. Dr. Tavani knew no strangers. Everyone was a friend. He had no “airs” and demanded no perfection. Often he went out of his way to make sure a stranger in a group was included in its activities. No one was unimportant to him; everyone was valued. Although he mounted the highest pinnacles of academia, and felt comfortable interacting with people in high places, Dr. Tavani never forgot his roots in the row houses of Camden, NJ.

· Profound in his walk with God. No trumpets announced his piety; no pseudo-halos adorned his brow. With Dr. Tavani, “what you saw is what you got.” No masks, make-up or mannerisms of religiosity for him! He just lived the Jesus life without fanfare in the sacred and secular arenas.

Each day, by presence and proclamation, for example, he quietly soothed the suffering of one of our own VFCC alumni, dying in a hospital with intolerable pain. His unbelievable insight released from the prison-house of grief,a denominational official who suffered the loss of his beautiful young daughter. And when suffering knocked on the door of his own family, he knew how to walk the “Calvary Road” with strong confidence. With him real faith must work in real life.
He once remarked that our Faith sometimes is like “a one-sided dollar bill” – strong in the verbal manifestations but weak in touching lives. He concluded by saying what I’m sure will resonate in all of us, “Guy, we need a new Pentecost.”

Today we have gathered to pay tribute to one who was
♦ Brilliant in Thought;
♦ Gracious in Demeanor;
♦ Exemplary in Friendship, and
♦ Profound in his walk with God.

We are grateful for his ministry, indebted for his manhood, and salute his memory.
He was, indeed, a man.
But more importantly,
he was a special man of God.

Thank you, dear friend, for a legacy of Brilliance, Grace, Friendship & Devotion. Our paths have crossed; and we are better for it. We will miss you!

- Guy BonGiovanni, D. Min., 9/2/06