Richard Vigneulle

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Dr. Richard H. Vigneulle, 82, went home to be with his Lord Thursday, September 5, 2013 at his home in Hoover, Alabama, surrounded by his wife, children and their spouses. Richard Vigneulle was born July 24, 1931. He grew up in Wilmington, DE. He attended Bob Jones Academy where he met his wife, Peggy Haley of 61 years. After marriage and graduation from Bob Jones University with a business degree, he successfully turned around a failing Christian bookstore in New York City. After two years in NY, he and his family resided in Birmingham, AL where he worked as a salesman for Remington Rand. He became the top salesman in the country. He then began to pursue a position in the banking industry. It was at Exchange Security Bank where his love for banking grew. Richard was later asked to join City Federal Savings and Loan Association. It was here he eventually worked his way up the business ladder. He became Executive Vice President of City Federal, soon to become President. He was also President of the Alabama Service Corporation. Then in 1969, he began to hear the Lord’s calling as a lay pastor. On Jan. 11, 1974, resigning from the business world, he answered the call to full-time ministry as Pastor of Shades Mtn. Independent Church. The church grew from 25 members, who met in an insurance building, to over 2000 in a period of 25 years. Pastor Vigneulle served on the Board of Directors for City Federal, World Reach (missions), and Rick & Mick Ministries. His colleagues, church staff, church members and friends knew him as a moral man of conviction and integrity, who had a compassionate love for the Lord and people. Survivors include his wife, Peggy; four children and their spouses, Rick and Debbie, Mick and Sue, Diane and Wayne, Tom and Ginger; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, his brother, Bill and his sister, Esther. He has been preceded in death by his parents, Harold & Marjorie, and sisters, Eva Lee and Ellen. Funeral Services will be at 2:30 pm on Sunday at Shades Mountain Independent Church, followed by a family graveside service. Visitation begins Saturday from 4:00-7:00 pm at Shades Mtn. Independent Church. Prior to the funeral service on Sunday, there will be a short visitation from 1:30-2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to World Reach, P.O 26155, Birmingham, AL 35260-0155. Our family would be blessed if you would like to post any stories, memories, or photos to Facebook at Dick Vigneulle tributes. Pastor Vigneulle’s desire was that you who read this article can know for sure you will have eternal life in heaven as he is experiencing right now: There was a time that you and I did not exist, but there will never be a time that you and I cease to exist. We were created in the image of God with a living soul . . . meaning we were built to live forever. Though we have a living soul and death is a reality for each of us; death is not the end. Our eternal destiny is determined, not when we die, but in this lifetime. How would you answer this question; based on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, what are your chances of making it to heaven? Think about it and what number first enters your mind? The average most people answer is 7. If you say it’s between an 8 or 9, your answer would be better than most. But if you could know how to make it a 10, wouldn’t that be exciting? What do we need to know to have eternal life with God? 1. We have to believe (or place our total trust) in his Son, Jesus, and what he did for us on the cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Notice the Bible doesn’t teach us to behave to have eternal life, but to believe in Jesus to have eternal life. 2. We have to recognize the reason Jesus had to die was because of our sins. There had to be a payment for sin that would satisfy God the Father. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It is not easy to accept that we are sinners. So what are we going to do about our sin problem? God the Father has provided a way to enter heaven by trusting in his Son’s sacrifice and in his shed blood as our payment in full for sin. Romans 5:9 “Much more then having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him.” 3. According to the Bible, heaven is not something we obtain by doing good deeds or by performance. Titus 3:5, 6 says; “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us.” Mercy is God withholding from us what we truly deserve, condemnation and hell. Ephesians 2:8, 9 says; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not as a result of doing good, lest anyone should boast.” Grace is God giving us something we truly don’t deserve, forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. 4. We need to repent or have a change of mind toward God. The only way we can do this is by turning from our self-sufficiency and our sins, and putting our total trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross to pay for our sins. It’s not putting my total trust in what Jesus did, plus my good works. It is Jesus alone. Truthfully, if your answer to the question asked above is not a 10, my friend, you can’t get in. God doesn’t grade on the curve. This is either pass or fail. Even if it was a 9.9, then in your mind you are thinking there is something I have to do to improve my odds with God. If you are trying to live the best you can; church membership, confirmation, baptism or good works, etc. then unfortunately, you are trusting in your own righteousness. The Bible says our “righteousness is as filthy rags”. You must trust in Jesus’ death and his shed blood on the cross 100%, nothing more, nothing less. If we could make it to heaven by doing good works, then why would Jesus have had to die on the cross? We don’t do good works to be saved; we do good works once we are saved. There is a big difference. So, based on a scale from 1-10 with ten being the best; what are your chances of making it to heaven? It needs to be a 10. Here is the bottom line: Romans 10:9,10 tells us how. “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness, and with your mouth confession results in salvation. Romans 10:13 says; “For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord . . . will be saved.” Would you like to know your sins are forgiven and you are on your way to heaven after death? Why don’t you call on his name right now? If you are not sure how to do that, you can say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You say in your Word that you died for sinners. Therefore, you died for me. I believe you were buried and that you are alive from the dead. You promised that if I’d call on your name, you would give me eternal life. So the best I know how, I repent and turn from my sin. I am calling on your name right now. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and give me eternal life as you promised. I realize it is not my goodness that saves me, but it’s by your grace. Thank you for answering my prayer right now. In Jesus name, amen. If you made that decision to follow Christ, the family would love to know about it. You may email us at: rickandmickv@hotmail.com