Lawrence "Larry" Bishop

Confident in God's love and grace, Larry Bishop departed this life on November 6, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma on December 23, 1954, Larry moved with his family to Dallas, Texas, where he graduated high school. In high school Larry gained a love for music where he had many musical accomplishments. This love fostered a direction for his future and he attended the University of North Texas to study Music Education, but soon changed his major to Pre-Law. After graduating and a few years in the corporate world, he felt a calling to the ministry. This calling was the beginning of God's plan, and part of that was meeting his wife of thirty-three years. Larry and Marsha committed their lives to one another on July 28, 1984. Together they attended Brite Divinity School (TCU) where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1986. Larry was ordained on January 11, 1987 at Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas.God's calling for Larry took many forms; from a youth pastor in Lubbock, Texas, an associate at Western Oaks Christian Church, to senior pastor at Edmond Trinity Christian Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He realized he felt called to help people in smaller, struggling churches. He guided the older Caucasian congregation at Capitol Hill Christian Church to nest a young Hispanic congregation as the neighborhood changed; and guided a new church, Edmond Trinity Christian Church, in congregational growth.In 1995 the world changed for many with the Oklahoma City Bombing. Larry was driven to be involved by volunteering full time at the Family Center at First Christian Church in Oklahoma City with the difficult position of death notification. Observing how unprepared many local pastors were to effectively serve as community chaplains when disasters of any type occurred inspired him to move to a new mission; to offer education and tools to clergy so they were prepared for disaster. With the support and funding of Church World Service, the Oklahoma Region, Week of Compassion, and the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, he created "Prepared to Care", a one-day seminar for clergy to learn effective disaster response. He traveled the U.S. with a team of a psychologist and a chaplain offering the seminar to clergy to make sure local pastors were prepared to share God's love with all faiths. Larry overcame many obstacles and was a grateful survivor of leukemia and bone marrow transplants for thirteen years. In recovery he provided internet support for those in need daily. Again, offering God's love in a new form. In 2007, Larry and Marsha begin a new journey in their life and moved to Colorado to be closer to their son and grandchildren. They were able to spend time enjoying mountains, their children and grandchildren, dogs, and all sports. Though all too short, his life was full and meaningful. Larry is survived by his wife, Marsha Bishop; two step-sons, Garnett Lee and his wife Kate Slater of Seattle, Washington, Andrew Lee and his wife Stephanie Randle of Palmer Lake, Colorado; granddaughter, Grace Lee; grandson, Nate Lee; his sister, Carol Bishop Rutenberg of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and a brother-in-law, Bill Brock and his wife Joyce, of Granbury, Texas. Events Service Wednesday, November 15, 2017 1:00PM First Christian Church 16 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs,, CO 80903 Phone: 719-328-1793