Beloved in Christ:
It was my especial privilege
at age 21, to meet Dr. Gustav E. Hoyer, when he visited the school of ministry I then attended. I have been both awed and inspired by this great master of the Scriptures.
Twelve years later, it was my privilege, as a faculty member at another school of ministry, to welcome him, and to
introduce him as a lecturer in my classroom. In our Lord’s strange and
wondrous dealings, He graced that school by bringing Dr. Hoyer (or “Brother Hoyer,” as he preferred to be known)
on board, as a senior faculty member.
He received
me as a “Son in the Faith,” and as an understudy of sorts; although I feel certain that I fell far below his lofty
expectations (smile). (Those better acquainted with Brother Hoyer will understand!) A scholar of Hebrew, Greek, Chaldee, Aramaic, Persic, and other ancient languages
(as well as several modern languages), he found it difficult to understand why others did not learn as quickly or apply themselves
as earnestly as himself. Yet, we remained close friends until his home-going
in November, 1995. An interesting note is that as late as 1988, he was fervently
engaged in the study of ancient Sanskrit.
We spent many,
many hours together in the study of God’s Word, in ministry travels, and in a nearly unbroken dialogue involving all
things historical, especially pertaining to the Scriptures and Church history; with a special view to the Reformation Period,
Holiness Period, Pentecostal Period, and on to what he disdained as the “Laodicean Period.”
So often,
this dear sage lamented (at times with weeping) over the unusually high degree of “hindrances” encountered in
his pathway of life, and the fact that his years were marching on swiftly, as the troops of time, toward the final battle;
and that he soon would be gone.
For this reason,
he did all humanly possible to impart and to pour truth and knowledge into the hearts of all who would hear. Night after night, he could be found in the lobby, ministering, teaching, and sharing (with “hungry
ones” who would seek him out), very often until the wee hours of the morning.
This was to continue, so long as his strength endured.
After a series
of injuries and serious fractures, he was confined mostly to his room, but even then, he un-selfishly welcomed the “sincere
and hungry ones” into his room, where he continued to encourage, up-build, and impart a hunger and thirst for righteousness,
holiness, the “old paths,” and especially for the Word of God.
Until very
late in his convalescence, such gatherings continued, oft’ halfway through the night: Quiet times, peaceful, tranquil
times spent in the overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit, while being taught at the feet of a great and noble patriarch,
who was at times, affectionately referred to as “Polycarp.” Oh…such
blessed memories.
Time after
time, with the most earnest conviction, and a gripping, arresting demeanor and tone, he would speak at length of the need
for “special places”, dedicated solely unto the Lord Jesus Christ, where young men and women (and those older
as well) would be free to come and learn the ways of the Holy Spirit, without hysteria, nor counterfeit manifestations.
He spoke of
places devoted and dedicated to the higher realms of spiritual relationship with an aroma of dignity, heavenly grace, and
excellence. At such times, our beloved Father in the Faith seemed as if almost
in a dream-state, or some elevated plain of revelation. He often seemed to be
“more in heaven,” than on earth. He disclosed that he had longed
for, and dreamed of such a place for most of his life; a place where the Word of God and divine truth could be taught in an
unvarnished manner, without fear nor favor of man, nor ecclesiastical bias.
While it is true that Brother Hoyer's actual library, and personal collection, remains at another school
of ministry, where it has proved to be a great blessing; we make no apology for honoring this great servant of our Lord,
and his beloved wife, by ascribing his name unto the library and archive which our Lord Jesus has enabled us to assemble at
our location.
As was his custom,
any and all copies of whatever media made available from this facility shall be provided without cost; all shall be offered
upon a free-will offering basis.
