“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Several weeks ago, our Church began writing cards to express our gratitude to the Stockton City firefighters for their service and dedication to the community of Stockton. The cards were to be delivered in early February. Then just before 5:00am on the morning of January 31, 2022, the Stockton City Fire Department was struck by the tragic death of Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna as he and his company, Engine #2, responded to a dumpster fire near the intersection of Aurora and Market Streets in Downtown Stockton. Captain Fortuna was a 21-year veteran of the Stockton Fire Department and leaves behind a wife of two grown children. He is also a brother in Christ and was an active member of the Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto. The day following His memorial service, Pastor Justin and I had the honor of delivering the cards that you so graciously wrote to a grieving and thankful member of the Stockton Fire Department who expressed their appreciation for the kind consideration to the members of our Church.
What a tragic loss for his family and friends, the Stockton Fire Department, the fire service in general and to the community. His death and our loss underscores the words of Christ who tells us, “Greater love has no one than this- that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Like so many others who serve us on a daily basis, not only those in the fire service but also those in law enforcement, emergency medical services and the military know the risk, whether it be from sudden death, life-long injury or illness, is a great and always present danger. So, all of us owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all who serve. Now, Captain Fortuna, like so many others before him is in the eternal arms of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
We must also remember we owe a debt of gratitude to our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us, who through their sacrifices, many unto death, have shown us how to live for Christ and what the cost of that life may be. But, most of all we owe an unpayable debt of gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who willingly gave His life on the cross to pay the full cost of our sins and secure our eternal salvation.
Thank You!
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25