Proverbs 17:17 declares, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” This verse highlights the important value of faithful friends and the role they play in our lives. This verse focuses upon the enduring nature of friendship.
In Philippians 1:3-5, the apostle Paul wrote, “I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
These verses sum up my feelings about my friend, Tony Gordon.
Like you, I was devastated to receive the news of Tony Gordon’s passing away to heaven. A death that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly is difficult to process mentally and emotionally. But rather than focus upon Tony’s death in this blog, I want focus upon his life.
Tony and his wife, Tamara, began attending our church in 2011. Tamara’s grandfather, Ron Wilhelm, was an active member of our church. I remember talking with Ron when they started attending. He was so excited. Indeed, GOD was in the process of “drawing” Tony to JESUS (“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”). It was Tony’s architect who led him to faith in JESUS. After his salvation experience, Tony asked me to baptize him, which I did on April 8, 2012. On the following Sunday, April 15, Tamara joined membership. She later chose to be baptized, getting her baptism “on the right side of her salvation.” Ron Wilhelm was overjoyed over what GOD had done in Tony and Tamara’s lives – and so was our entire church family.
I immediately asked Tony to join a small group Bible study that I led every Thursday mornings in my office from 6:00-7:00 pm. Without any hesitation, Tony said yes. So, for the next 2+ years, I developed a friendship with Tony.
In that Bible study, our small group did life together and studied GOD’s Word.
Because Christianity was so new to him, Tony was like a “sponge,” soaking up the truths of GOD’s Word. He jumped right in and became a valued friend.
In the early days of Tony’s attendance in our small group, he mentioned one morning his frustration with the financial recession and the lack of big projects he desired for his company. He said he was grateful for the smaller projects, but he really wanted to make a difference in the community. He didn’t know if that day would ever come. I remember telling Tony, “Tony, you now belong to GOD. You focus on your relationship with GOD, and you let Him take care of your company. He will reward you for your faithfulness and your obedience.” AND GOD DID!!
Tony and his company were contracted to build the Blue Dot Place, a 33-unit apartment building at 412 Nevada Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs. The last apartment complexes constructed in the downtown core dated from 1956-1960. Tony gave me several tours of the building during the construction project. To show our support for Tony and Tamara, Kathy and I attended the grand opening ceremony in January 2016. All 33 apartments filled up rapidly. The success of the Blue Dot Place created a remarkable apartment construction boom for the downtown area that continues even now.
Tony and his company also built the Casa Mundi apartment complex, located at 418 S. Tejon Street. “Artfully blending modern architecture with a global flair and local artisan details, Casa Mundi is a stylish, comfortable retreat whose personality is as authentic and vibrant as its residents.”
Tony and the Gordon Construction company also built Kinship Landing, a state-of-the-art hotel with “one-of-a-kind rooms with unique layouts to host every kind of traveler.” It is located at 415 S. Nevada Avenue, right across the street from the Blue Dot Place.
Through these years, Tony and his company have been consistently building in the Colorado Springs/El Paso County vicinity. You can see the Gordon Construction Signs in many locations. GOD has truly blessed Tony and Gordon Construction Company.
One Thursday morning, after we completed a Bible study, Tony asked to talk with me privately. After the others had left, Tony made this statement to me privately: “Mike, I want to build our new church building. And I want to build it at no cost. I don’t want to make a penny on this building. I want to do this for my church family.” I was overwhelmed by Tony’s offer, and I immediately accepted it with great gratitude and appreciation to GOD for my wonderful friend Tony Gordon.
Tony has been with us every step of the way during this long process. Since construction began on our new campus, Tony visited our construction site several times a week to make sure everything was going well. He was a perfectionist, and he especially wanted his new church home to be the best. He stayed on top of every detail, trying to save the church money on every supply purchase. And yet, he did all of this with exemplary humility, working in the background, not wanting the spotlight or the credit.
In a few months, we will enter our new church facility built by Gordon Construction Company. It breaks my heart to realize my friend will not be there to celebrate with me – us. But then I realize Tony is in a better place – heaven!
And I – we – shall see him again someday.
I am so thankful for the life of Tony Gordon. He was such a valued friend to me. I will always be thankful to GOD for the experience of doing life together with him in my small group Bible study. I will be forever grateful for the investment of his life and his company for the future of our church. I look forward to seeing him again someday.
Revelation 21: 1-4: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself will be with them and be their GOD. And GOD will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”
Pastor Mike
What a very special tribute. Tony was a great guy & will be missed for sure! I especially remember his great smile. 🙂
Having known Ron Wilhelm, it warmed my heart when Tony and his wife became a part of our church. Though I didn’t really know Tony close I was always impressed with his being an active member of God’s family. I was so saddened to learn he’s gone ahead of us to be with his Lord and Savior. I pray for his wife and family as they learn to do life without him here.
So very sorry to hear about this tragic accident and the passing of Tony. I worked with Tony when he was the first builder of Sweetwater Ridge. Having worked and talked with Tony many times we always found that he was a wonderful man who always had was focused on doing a wonderful job in construction. It was a joy to hear that Tony and his Wife Tamara became Christ followers and that Tony is now walking the Street of Gold with Jesus. May his legacy be a lasting remembrance of all his accomplishments.
Tamara and the Gordon family have been in my prayers since this tragic accident and will continue to be. I pray Tamara you will feel God’s loving embrace caring you through and leading you,