Reference from Mr. & Mrs. Bert & Elaine Akin
Great Friends and very, very young septuagenarians

For Rev. Victor Robert Farrell

Date :- 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

We hope you will not mind our presuming to contact you on behalf of our friends, Robert and Bridget Farrell. Although we are more than old enough to be their parents, a relationship has developed that we cherish and thank God for. They have become our prayer partners as well as our friends. Over the past three or four years we have spent many hours with them, not just in prayer, but enjoying good food, laughter, music and an occasional movie.

They are blessed with an underlying and continuing joy. They will quickly tell you their joy comes from the Lord Jesus Christ via the Holy Spirit. While Robert is a serious Christian pastor he brings a refreshing sense of humor to his ministry. He takes others seriously but keeps his own outlook both serious and joyful. He is filled with an enthusiasm fired by a creative imagination and a unique approach to Scripture, often inspired by his sense of humor. At heart he is a dedicated Christian pastor with a spiritual depth that he engages often to lift the spirits of others. We are convinced that he would help any church attract new members.

Bridget’s quiet strength provides a loving complement to Robert’s expansive personality. They are, in short, an outstanding couple and any church would be fortunate to have them in their midst.

There are, however, certain caveats we might offer to help you avoid some pitfalls. To begin with, as a part of any contract you make with him you might want to specify a limit of 22 1/2 minutes for sermons (unless, of course, you are the rare congregation who enjoys longer sermons.) Secondly, you should make it clear that sentences that begin with “Me and Bridget” are unacceptable. You will never hear him say “Me will meet you for lunch,” but he seems to have no hesitancy in using the former. Further, he is set in his ways to the extent that he has no interest in mending certain habits which hasten the demise of the Queen’s beautiful language. We grant him certain obsolete (in America) usages such as “whilst”, and some colorful phrases that may be frowned upon in polite company, but his spelling is atrocious. The bare truth is, should he find a bear baby in the forest, he might come home and tell you he found a bare baby there. Some mistakes are even harder to bear. On the hole, however, we luv him darely.

We would be glad to talk with you on the telephone if you wish. Feel free to call us in Louisville at 502-895-5001. If we’re not at home leave your number and we’ll return your call.

Sincerely, Bert and Elaine Akin
If you require a hard copy of this reference please contact me at : references@whisperingword.com