Bob Aicardi's Going Home - UBM [David Eells]

Elder/Pastor Bob Aicardi On the March, 10, 2010, our dear friend, brother, Elder and Pastor, Bob Aicardi, went to lay down and went peacefully to be with the Lord.

Bob was and is an exemplary Christian and Elder. Since we have known him, he has done a diligent search of the Bible in order to be the kind of Christian disciple of Jesus he felt we all should be and it bore fruit in him and those around him. He was and is a man of sound wisdom and counsel. A few years, ago he gave up his third love, after God and His people, which was fishing, in order to devote all of his time to his counseling, teaching and prayer ministry because of his love for the saints. He has counseled many thousands of brethren for their good and the geometric effect of his ministry has truly reached the world. He has given to every need he has seen, as long as we have known him. He is a man of peace. As long as he was an Elder, none of his fellow Elders or brethren have ever had an argument or heard cross words from him. He was and is a man of sound Biblical faith and will receive a reward that few will. "The righteous shall live by faith".

If anyone was ready to meet the Lord, it was Bob. It came to David that the fruit has no need to stay in the field past being ripe. Over almost two months David received thoughts several times that Bob was going to be with the Lord. This was not from any outward observation or reason. He was resisting those thoughts, not knowing if they were from the Lord and certainly not wanting Bob to leave. But through many revelations we feel this was the desire of the Lord to see Bob. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints". We feel Craig got a confirmation of this. He and I went to meet with Bob's family who were in town. When Craig went home he was guided to his daily devotional and was amazed at the Bible text scheduled for that day:

{2Co.5:1} For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. {2} For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: {3} if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. {4} For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. {5} Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit. {6} Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord {7} (for we walk by faith, not by sight); {8} we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Craig shared this with us Wednesday night and we thought it was a confirmation that the will of God was done. Paul said that he wished to go and be with the Lord but was willing to stay for the brethren's sake. Bob and I have shared the same feelings that we just wanted to do what Father had for us to do here and then go home. Many don't realize what tribulation Bob has escaped but they soon will. {Isa.57:1} The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come]. Our grief is tempered with the faith that Bob is very happy in the Lord's hands and has no desire to come back here.

We love you, Bob,

Your brethren at UBM

Bob Aicardi Entering Heaven
Brad Moyers - 03/10/2010

A few hours after brother Bob passed, I had a quick vision of him entering heaven.

Upon entering heaven, Bob was overcome with joy, much like anyone would be at such an awesome experience which words cannot adequately describe.

I then saw him turn his head slightly, briefly looking back, and I heard him say in the spirit, "Hang in there, guys. It won't be much longer".

Then the vision ended.

I thought it noteworthy that my vantage point in the vision was from the front, like Bob was walking toward me and not away from me, so I got to see his face as he was beholding what lay ahead. This allowed me to see the joy he had at being there and that he had no desire to return. God also brought to my mind that we are to see things from a "heavenly places" perspective -- an eternal viewpoint.

Bob Prepared and Called to Heaven
Anonymous. - 03/31/2010

Dear Brother David,

Today, I saw you in a long, white house in Tennessee. I saw Brother Bill Rowe and a small group of brethren there. I want to tell you that I knew that Brother Bob Aicardi would NOT be in Tennessee. I was shown he was not going to be there. But I always saw Brother Bill Rowe. Do you know that when I bought a gift for you in late January 2010, I also wanted to send your two elders a gift of God's Word engraved in wood with a cross (similar to the one I sent to you last year). I picked for Brother Bill a verse: "With God all things are possible" -- Matthew 19:26. But about three times, when I picked a verse for Brother Bob Aicardi that spoke about the presence of God, the Lord told me not to buy that gift. I only bought the gift for you and Brother Bill but could not send Brother Bill's gift with yours because it would not fit in the envelope and, actually, I forgot to send it in March but will give it to him as God wills. It was so prophetic because God already knew that Brother Bob Aicardi would be in His presence soon! Honestly, I too did not know that it would be that soon!

I did not want to break your heart, Brother David, because I knew you were close to him by the Spirit of God. I don't know you all that well in the physical realm but I think you were closest to him. I want to tell you it is the will of God that he died as he did. I am sorry for not telling you what I knew by God's Spirit. I actually did not want to ever tell you until now, when I felt led to tell you. He was such an asset to UBM, as I told you two weeks before his death that he was a very humble man, living a pure life and had a great anointing in his life. I told you that I was not afraid for the spiritual life of Brother Bob Aicardi and Brother Bill Rowe, the two I had actually prayed for, due to the trials or spiritual shaking UBM had to face as what God had revealed to me, at the beginning of 2010. Next to Brother Bill's Rowe's name, I also saw the word "Pure".

I have a gift to be shown people who die according to the will of God. Recently, about two weeks ago, I saw a servant of God at my church and she was dressed in white and was decked with jewels in gold. She was decked like a bride. We completely don't wear jewelry in our church. I knew at the back of my mind when you see a person dressed as a bride and decked that she was going to die and she died that week when I saw this. She was fairly young, had a short illness and died suddenly. It was a total shock to everyone. She was a very quiet, humble and wonderful sister. There were lots of good testimonies from all sorts of people about her. I hope you are not disappointed with me about not telling you about Brother Bob Aicardi. I know it is the will of God for this man to be with the Lord now. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints". -- Psalm 116:15

Assorted emails from the brethren concerning Bob

On 3/11/10 3:42 PM, "Kaile Hamilton" wrote:

Hi Brother David,

We will be praying for Bob's family, you, and the rest of the brethren. We love Bob and am so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to have memories with our wonderful brother and rejoice in knowing that he is with the Lord and experiencing what we all look forward to, what an awesome gift!

When we heard of the confirmation that Craig received last night I wasn't really ready to accept that Bob had gone to be with the Lord until the end but the Lord gave me a revelation that Bob was given a choice to be with the Lord or the rest of the brethren until the end. I wanted a confirmation for myself of what Craig received. So, very early this morning I asked the Lord, "Was Bob's choice to be with You until the end or with us until the end?" I opened up my Bible and the first scripture that the Lord had me look at was Isaiah 26:20 which says:

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

At first I didn't really understand what it meant but later this morning I was prompted to look up "indignation" which means "righteous anger" and then I was reminded that it is only going to be "for a little moment" that Bob would be hiding in the chambers of the Lord (heaven) until the indignation (righteous anger) be overpast (when the Lord returns after the Trib.)

As in Luke 21:36 says: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

He truly was worthy to escape all the things to come, thank you Father.

It is encouraging to know that even though we as the body of Christ and UBM have suffered a great physical loss of Bob for the time being it is only for a little moment, praise the Lord.

Blessings brother. Please let us know if there is anything that my mom and I can do other than our continued prayer for comfort, encouragement, and an increase in thirst and hunger for the Lord for all those that know and love Bob dearly.

In Christ,
Kaile

On 3/12/10 6:05 AM, "Brad & Heather Bradley" wrote:

Bro. David,

Not being sure what else to say, I know the Lord is strengthening you and all the brethren as the day of our Lord approaches. For those who love Him, He works ALL things for our good, even for those who have been called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28(. And since He works all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL (Eph. 1:11), we know He is sovereign and we can rest knowing that His ways are not our ways and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isa. 55:9).

Heather and I pray for you and His ministry through you and all of UBM in this time of unexpected loss. We all love Bro. Bob and are comforted to know, as Kevin R. expressed in a recent email, that he is now in the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on! And we will all see him again really soon.

Please let us know what we can do for you and for the ministry in Jesus' Name...

In Christ's Service,
Brad and Heather Bradley

On 3/12/10 4:31 AM, Lennart wrote:

Hi David,

Thank you for contacting me concerning Bob's death and his move to a better place. I reckon it came very suddenly for you all. Death is always an enemy. And death is not a respecter of persons. All of us have to deal with that enemy as long as we stay down here. For Bob was this a good thing. He is far better off now than while he was living here. But it is a great loss for the UBM family and especially for you. Let's pray that Bob will be replaced with brothers that can have his mantle.

God bless you dear brother
Lennart - Sweeden

On 3/12/10 12:27 AM, "Elena Mishina" wrote:

Dear UBM family,

I even can't express in words what kind of feelings overfill my heart. This letter about Bob has caused a big pain in my heart physical and emotional but I realize that what is the big lost for me is the big acquisition for the Lord. Feeling pain in my heart I see Bob's face before my eyes and regret so much that I could not come to see him still here on the earth. But I know he is so happy there with the Lord and I see how Jesus embraces him and they look at us from above and smile. We all will go through earthly death and I am so happy that for Bob it happened in such a peace as he is a man of peace. God knows how I wish I would be there with you all to say 'good bye' to Bob, but I know how it would be painful for me there if it is so painful on a big distance. On the other hand, yes, "he is taken away from the evil to come" and I must have joy in my heart. I have always had such a great love to Bob, very deep and tender and I was asking God, how that was possible that a single woman has such a great and deep love to a single man without any romantic thoughts.

Now when he is with the Lord, I understand that we will feel such great love feelings to each other in heaven. Actually we are. I love you all like that as you my real very close blood brothers and sisters. I can't stop crying today remembering all those precious moments with Bob when I was there in Pensacola: how amazingly he told me his testimony about healing from migraine while we were buying all that stuff for the Russian 'borshch'; our peaceful conversations in the car when he drove to the Bible study; I will never forget how he came to the Pensacola pier with donuts for me and for Craig and how he scaled fish for me on the pier and his smiling face on that good bye party before my leaving. That is so painfully sad for me that I could not come to Pensacola this my trip to talk to him and to enjoy his peaceful nature. Good bye, my dear brother, I miss you so much but I know that soon (God knows when) I will say 'Hi!' to you. Thank you, David, for the encouragement in your letter. I put Bob's address into this email, don't think I am crazy, he is just alive for me (and he is) and like he is going to read this my letter.

With love in Christ, with grief and joy, your sister and servant in Christ!
Elena Mishina - Russia

On 3/11/10 10:49 PM, Philip & Selah Sapp wrote:

Our prayers are with you and the brethren there. We are also praying for the family.

When I heard last night about brother Bob I was in shock. We all prayed here for y'all and the family. I felt a peace that Bob was with the Lord and happy for him.

Today has been a lot different. Brother Bob was very special to our family. The Lord had given him a dream that he shared with me about 3 or 4 years ago. In times of trials the Lord would bring that dream up to me give me strength and encourage me to press on.

I really miss my brother. I know I will see him soon but I really miss him.

Love in Christ
Philip

On 3/11/10 8:26 PM, "Jason & Kristi Burton" wrote:

Dave

No need to respond to this, cause I know you're extremely busy. Kristi and I just wanted to let you know we are praying for UBM and you personally and for Bob's family at this time. We only met Bob once, but he made quite an impact on our lives. He was a blessing. He'll be missed, but we're glad for where he is.

God bless you, brother.
Jason

On 3/11/10 5:28 PM, "Annie Cassity" wrote:

Hello UBM:

From the UBM bible study group in Kansas:

We've been blessed by the counsel given freely by Elder Bob Aicardi. He gave us the answer we needed according to Scripture and noted that he had applied it to his own life. It was one of the most important times in our spiritual walk as it was the turning point where we broke away from the mainstream "family" teachings and began family study at home. While we had already been studying UBM at home as an adult group we found it to be much more rewarding for our children to hear what we were hearing. We were learning and maturing together.

If we were to have ever chosen a moment in time that secured our faith in the Word it was then. It was not popular. It was Scriptural. And the blessings have followed.

Thank you brother Aicardi for your love of the brethren.
Thank you Father!

Sincerely,
The Body of Christ in Kansas

On 3/11/10 4:43 PM, "Mike Greene" wrote:

I was glad to meet Bob over the weekend I spent there. I was very impressed at how he spent all day helping believers to believe.

God Bless
Mike

On 3/11/10 12:20 PM, "Michael Hare" wrote:

See you soon Brother Bob. May the Father's Mercy and Peace be upon your family and friends.

Amen
Michael

On 3/11/10 5:51 PM, "David & Mary DiPace" wrote:

David and UBM,

We are very sorry to hear about Brother Bob. We know that he meant very much to all of you. Although we are sorry to hear of his passing, we are filled with joy thinking of what was awaiting him as he left this world. Thank God for the hope of the resurrection he promises us. We will keep you and his family in our prayers and thoughts.

I have attached a photo my wife took when we came to visit. It's the only one we have of him. During our visit, he made us feel very welcome and loved, just like family. I remember Bob being a loving, caring man who had a deep love for the Lord. I'm thankful to God for the opportunity to have met him.

God bless,
David

On 3/12/10 3:06 PM, "James Clay " wrote:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am truly sorry to hear of the passing of Brother Bob. In my visit in January to UBM I could readily see how important Brother Bob was to the ministry. He seemed to naturally take people under his wing to encourage and build up. He devoted his life to reaching out to others. One thing I'll always remember is him taking me to the beach in Pensacola and helping me collect seashells for my children. We walked along the beach for quite some time (despite the cold) talking about the Lord and picking up seashells. No matter where I was with Bob that weekend, he was always wanting to talk more about the Lord. Now he has joined that "great cloud of witnesses", Praise The Lord!

Lord Bless you all,
James and Heather Clay & family

On 3/12/10 4:27 PM, "Mike Sjoberg" wrote:

Hi David,

We are many who will miss Bob, but I understand that you will miss him more than most of us. You had known him for a long time and he was a good friend and a fellow Elder. And as I understand it he was your "right hand" and you discussed many matters with him.

I talked to Doris yesterday and we were both concerned for you. Doris and I also agreed to pray and believe that Father will strengthen and bless you supernaturally so that you're able to do everything that needs to be done and still will be more rested than before. I also pray that Father will bless you with extra time from now on so that you can focus on Father and His Son and spend more time in the Word. I know that might seem "impossible" now that Bob is not around anymore, but nothing is impossible for Father.

I'm grateful to Father for the blessing Bob was to you and the local UBM brethren, and all who visited Pensacola or were in contact with him on the phone or through e-mails. And I'm grateful for the blessing he was to me. It's difficult to grasp that he's no longer with us, but I'm grateful that Father had me call Bob on Tuesday, the day before he left. I knew I hadn't talked to Bob for quite some time, but as I now look in my phone records it was actually 4 months since I last spoke to Bob. What a blessing to get to speak to him just prior to his departure. We got to speak for quite some time too and it was "business as usual" - no trace of him going home to be with the Lord.

It's difficult to understand why Father would take Bob now when time is so short and there's so much to do, but "we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God". His plan is always perfect and I firmly believe He will turn this situation into something positive.

We of course miss Bob, but what a comfort it is to know that he is in a much better place and I fully understand that he didn't want to come back.

Be blessed,
Mike

On 3/12/10 3:13 PM, "Willie & Lois !Poe" wrote:

Bro. David,

I will as so many others, feel great loss with the passing of Bro. Bob. He was, and is still a pillar in the temple of our God. Very gentile and meek example to us all. I thank God for allowing me to know him. I thank the Lord for giving him rest. Paul said to be absent from the body was to be in the presence of the Lord. I rejoice with him. He ran his course and kept the faith and there is a crown of Life that has been laid up for him as with those of us who will be faithful to the end. I pray the Lord comfort his family in this time for their loss and at the same time rejoice with Bob for he is truly entered in to God's presence forevermore. There were many tremendous virtues manifest in his walk, may God give us grace to follow in his giant footsteps as he followed Christ.

Blessings,
Bro. Willie

On 3/12/10 12:31 PM, "Kevin & Holly R". wrote:

Hi David:

We're standing with you brother and are praying for you, our brethren there in Pensacola and Bob's family. I've been putting my thoughts together about Brother Bob and the wonderful impact he had on me. I was able to tell him I loved him at the end of our UBM Outreach Conference Tuesday night; it was kind of an abrupt thing when it came out of my mouth and I wondered after if I sounded a little off, but now I know it was the Lord in me telling him, He loved him. I will miss him much; his deep heart of compassion for others as he always tried to make peace with folks. He was and is a peacemaker - a Son of God, as the scripture talks about peacemakers. The time we had together both in person and over the phone was always a great time of fellowship, even though we might be working on something technical.

It's very interesting that after Brother Frank, Willie, Holly and I prayed after hearing from Brad Bradley about Bob, we felt peace. I believe I heard the Spirit tell me Bob doesn't want to come back. He's in paradise cheering us on with Jon and others.

I've asked Bill to let me know about the arrangements next week; Lord-willing we would like to come down, if that is feasible. If the family just wants something personal, then we will defer.

Please let us know what, if anything, we can do. Lord bless you Brother.

Love,
Kevin and Holly

On 3/12/10 4:40 PM, "Michael Gracy" wrote:

Dear Brethren,

Blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I want to send my deepest condolences to the brethren in Pensacola and the family of our dear brother in the Lord, Bob Aicardi. While I did not know brother Bob, the reports of his love for the Lord and hard work for the Body, were of the highest order. Brother Bob blessed me personally as he was instrumental in linking me up with other Christians in my area (Sydney, Australia), to receive my baptism in 2006.

While I know that brother Bob will be sorely missed by those who love him, we can all be assured that he is in bliss with our Lord in Heaven.

My prayers are always with the saints at UBM and that the Lord will send the GREAT REVIVAL and the John the Baptist ministries in our day. The brethren at UBM are my spiritual family and the broadcasts are the highlights of my week. God bless you and thank you for your service and sacrifice for me and the other members of the Body.

With great love in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Michael
Wellington, New Zealand

On 3/13/10 10:41 AM, "Ron & Sylvia !Boyd" wrote:

Hi David

Sylvia and I have just finished reading the emails sent by many of the UBM family. It is a great blessing to read the heartfelt comments and observations by those who have had close association with Bob.

We can only add that all those comments and observations ring true with us as well, as we experienced His assistance and ministry from "the word" during our visits to Pensacola. Bob's attitude of humility and His obvious "love of the Brethren" was always apparent.

Ron & Sylvia Boyd

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