When I think of Brother Blair I can bear witness to the way so many have described him. I’ve never known a kinder man, and it was clear that his honor for the Lord Jesus stood above every other consideration or relationship in his life. He was a faithful shepherd always seeking the good of the church, always ready to risk his life when danger threatened the flock (John 10:13-14).
My dad—Robert Anz—before he passed away 17 years ago told us many times that Brother Blair was the most genuine and kind man he ever knew. He told me, the changes God brought in his life, through encountering Brother Blair’s ministry, saved our family. I know he felt very indebted, and would say so now if he were still with us.
Several years ago Brother Blair offered to help me with my endeavors to master easel art. I will always treasure the memories of the many times we would look at my paintings together in his living room. It always amazed me how much it excited him to see them. He would offer suggestions for improvement and much encouragement. He wanted to help in any way he could. He lent me books from his collection, researched and recommended workshops and much more. After all this, he would usually express concern that he wasn’t offering enough to make it worth my time. That is not at all how I felt about it. Besides the art, we had history lessons, told stories, laughed a lot and talked about what God was doing in the church.
I will miss Brother Blair greatly. His example in life and ministry will be a part of me for the rest of my life. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to share this journey, all these years, with Brother Blair.
