Joy Lynn Davis: I met Bobby Cave as he was the youth minister at First Baptist Church of Dawson, TX, in 1998. I was immediately impressed by his warm spirit, his passion for the Lord, his sincerity and genuine nature, his outgoing and dynamic personality, great sense of humor, his abounding love for people and real concern for lost souls, and his devotion to his own family as well as the church family. We were instant friends, and I got to enjoy hanging out with him and the youth on many occasions and tried to help when I could, though I didn't feel like I did much. Bobby insisted that just another adult presence was a great help while he was leading the youth. He had a way of doing that--making you feel like you were worth something, that you were special. His friendship meant more to me than he could have ever known. He soon finished seminary and went to preach in Purdon, but he was sure to be there for my wedding when my husband Bob and I got married, and through the years even after we had joined FBC of Elm Mott to serve God closer to home here in Waco, many times when we were focused on spending time with our own families during holidays or just busy with our own church functions, Bobby Cave would remember to call and check on us and wish us a happy Thanksgiving or Merry Christmas.

I had the great honor of being one of the first people contacted when Bobby was looking for singers to help start Life Ministries and was there for the first meeting in Dawson in the summer of 2002. He had since come back to join FBC of Dawson at that time. If it weren't for his great faith and his personality--the ability to inspire others and bring them on board, Life Ministries would not even have existed, but as he got others fired up about this evangelism ministry and the opportunity to reach out into the community and let them know Jesus Christ will meet them right where they are, then others helped pitch in to purchase the old 1950 model grain truck that would be our stage. Bobby single-handedly cleaned up that filthy truck that had been infested with mice and full of droppings, even to the detriment of his own health as he contracted a virus that put him in the hospital and even afterward left him very weak and ill for several months, but that did not stop this determined child of God! He painted and converted the truck, put in wooden slats and made it so that one side would let down and make half the stage, and Life Ministries was born. Immediately, he was ready to spread the Good New to whomever would listen.

It wasn't anytime before he had made contacts who owned the property and gave him keys to the building to start a church in an old historical building, the old methodist church building in Brushie Prairie, TX. I was so excited for him when he told me what he was doing there where they did not at the time even have a church, and I was honored once again to be a part of that, though all I did was attend for a while but soon became too involved in our own church here to keep going. As Bobby along with Steve and his family and Tommy and Betty and Mom visited and built that church family up, Bobby began to encourage the congregation to have faith that they could build their own building and would not have to keep using that old one, which didn't even have running water or a bathroom but an outhouse instead. He led them as they did just that, building another church building, and Brushie Baptist Church is still there!

Bobby continued to lead Life Ministries as it continued on, separate from Brushie Baptist Church, and left that church to be pastored by others, as evangelism was his main calling in life. We often enjoyed going to Bobby's house, and he would prepare a meal and we would practice and sing and fellowship and laugh. Our "official meetings" to make plans for this ministry felt more like family reunions. Often Bobby would have one of his grandchildren there, and you could just see the pride and love in his eyes every time he looked at him, and Steve's children would be there and they'd play. Everyone felt they were right where they belonged--we were home. Bobby was a family man more than anyone I've ever known, and his children and grandchildren were his life--next to serving the Lord, that is. Jesus Christ and preaching the cross of Calvary was his number-one passion in life.

Bobby continued to preach and lead LMEA until he was called Home after an automobile accident in March 2007. We all still miss him greatly, and we know that the Lord BLESSED us so greatly by allowing us to be a part of Bobby's life so that we could also continue this important ministry to further God's Kingdom. Rest in peace, Bobby Cave. I will always love you and remember you as one of the most influential and most precious souls I've EVER met. Love in Christ ALWAYS, Joy.

Brandon Hixson who is a close friend of the Cave family continues on as half of the husband-wife praise team Splendorleaf (with wife Karen). They were both formerly in a Christian band called Godfueled with Bobby's son Brandon "Heath" Cave and son and daughter-in-law Preston and Sarah Cave before the group disbanded. Brandon wrote in an email, "...Bobby is a huge part of who we are." Brandon and Karen Hixson finished an album, "Splendorleaf," that was made available in early 2008 dedicated to the memory of Bobby Cave. You can hear the unmastered versions of the songs on that album, along with their other albums, by clicking on Brandon's name above.