And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ – Matthew 25:20-21, ESV

The memorial service for Rev. Edwin L. Hodges will be held at noon today at the Southside Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to either of the following:

• Bibles for the World, P.O. Box 49759, Colorado Springs, CO 80949
• Love Packages, 60-D South Mountain Drive, Decatur, AL 35603

Rev. Hodges Obituary

From the Decatur Daily this morning:

Reverend Hodges, who died Friday, March 22, 2019, at his residence, was born June 16, 1932, in Woodville, to Mailon W. Hodges and Laura Scroggins Hodges. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and served as a minister for 64 years. In addition to founding Edwin L. Hodges Ministries, he also worked for Bibles for the World for 20 years. He was a devoted Christian who selflessly served his faith and dearly loved his family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Edith Joyce Koonce Hodges of Decatur; two sons, Jon Mark Hodges (Robin) of Madison, and James Jeffrey Hodges (Karen) of Florence; two daughters, Jean Anne Maynard (Allan) of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and Edwina Gregg of Somerville; nine grandchildren; and nine great- grandchildren.

Rev. Hodges suffered two strokes earlier this month, and was moved to hospice care shortly after. Please continue to keep his family in your prayers. We are confident that he is currently enjoying the indescribable presence of his Lord and Savior, but the separation is, of course, difficult for those left behind.

Edwin Hodges Ministry + Love Packages

Rev. Hodges was set to retire after pastoring for decades. He was ready to read more and write bible study guides that could be used on the mission field, but God had other plans. He started shipping used Christian literature overseas in 1994, at 62 years of age.

“The Lord just led me into the third great adventure of my life,” he told one publisher.

Rev. Hodges has been a friend of Love Packages for decades. The ministry he started in Decatur served the same need that Love Packages does: sending otherwise wasted Christian literature to the mission field all over the world. Steve even had the opportunity, early in Edwin’s ministry, to share some wisdom and help the ministry get off the ground.

A few years ago, Edwin prayerfully came to the difficult decision that he could no longer continue to run the ministry, and he asked Love Packages to take over. Jason and Chrissy moved their brave, missionary family to Decatur in 2016 to take over and officially merge Love Packages with Edwin Hodges Ministry.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve in this work with a man as faithful and prayerful as Rev. Hodges.

Well Done

We have no doubt that Rev. Hodges was received into glory by a Master who smiled and told him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Edwin spent his life on the gospel, and the work he did—that he allowed God to do through him—will continue to impact the world longer than any of us know.

We continue to pray comfort and peace for his family, but we pray for ourselves and for our volunteers and friends as well. A life like Rev. Hodges should challenge the rest of us to reach higher and trust deeper.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all.”
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. — C.T. Studd