This week my heart breaks knowing that I will not see you again until i get to heaven. You have been the most spiritual influential person in my life. Because of your faithfulness to preach the Word of God, my sin and strongholds in my life were demolished and I became the preacher God wanted me to be. Every aspect of my life has been touched in some way by your guidance. Thank you, Monty, for laying your life down for me. Because of you, I am a better man. You changed my life and for that I will deeply miss you. Love you always.

Pastor, You were an awesome shepherd and friend. In two short years you rocked my world and challenged my faith You fought until it was time for you to go and believed for the manifestation of your healing. Marla says, you got it as you left this world. I will continue to expect my healing and quotwear the devil outquot like we talked about. I miss you picking on me. I find myself looking for you every time Im at Freedom. If Marla and your girls will let me, I want to dance with you after I dance with Jesus. We have to dance to In The Spirit and you will be expected to sing it. My quotrunning shoesquot are ready and I cant wait to see youMelissa Blanchard

Greetings to each of you, from a friend that enjoyed listening to Bro. Monty and meeting his precious Marla. She is so precious and has so much to share with others, Marla is very strong and rejoices with her prince knowing that he reservedhis place in heaven...got his mansion that was prepared for him. I wondered what he said to Jesus when he arrived at the gates, to that beautiful city. So excited to see the beauty of heaven. whow His plans were to get better so he could be with Marla, his princess, his daughters, Aimee and her husband Jason, Annie and Kyle his son Jared and Mom Wanda, his sister Charlotte, Ronnie, grandchildren Aiden, Kate, AlexHe loved his family and wanted to stay longer so he could be there for them. I believe he sends his love from heaven to each of you knowing that all are strong and will stand together in this time of his home coming,and will rejoice with him knowing that all are loved very much. When one steps out of this life, you see what is happening, but can not communicate, since he stepped out ly, had no way to share once he step out.A minister shared with us in our time of need that the spirit stays an hour after it leaves the body. In their new body of course and rests up high by the ceiling and observe what is happening and sometime that love one senses their presence. Then they must start their journey to heaven to see Jesus the one that died for him. The angel leading the way as they went up, up, upand arrived with much celebration Monty has arrived. hugs and laughter, joy, peace, etc. Then he was in the presence of the lord. beautiful events happened after his arrival....Oh such beauty . Rev. 21 shares...Continue to talk about the cute saying, that he spoke. How he loved to do this and that. Remember it will bring forth healing and closure.Share the good times...shed tears, write a journal expressing your thoughts. put his pictures in an album and remember...good for us. Place a picture where you pass by so as to glance at him and say a word or look at him in your love for him and then sometimes a glance helps. etc. Dont grieve to long for it will bring you into a deep dark depression and it will be harder to get up out of the grief. Knowing that he was serving the lord makes it easier on the family for they know that when they finish the plans the lord has for them, when they are 100 or more young, only then can they check out but until that day, they must help his family and church family fulfill some of the dreams and visions that he spoke of. He has taught each one well. Bro. Monty is proud of them for he stood strong together, to help them to prepare, train, equip them so that they could inspire and motivate others to serve Jesus and find his plans for their lives. May his family be taken care of with your love and support. amen.Lord give them strength and keep their joy knowing that dad is alright and he waits for that great reunion enjoying and working for and with his lord. Rejoicing that he arrive to take that beautiful tour and as the song goes....having the time of his life. glory Continue to send out good ships and good ships will return to each of us. For that is so important to think before we speak be the nicest, kindest, tender, compassinate, his love flowing thru our hearts and lives making a difference whereyou are and remember his saying to you. ok. Bless you. Talk about the good times..When one leaves a void it is like unto a net with a hole in the middle... each of us mends the hole by prayer and studying his word and the word will speak to you and gives you strength and when the hole is mended. Like a puzzel when you put it together then you can place it in his special place and continue to talk about the good times and rejoicing with him that his work is done here yet continuing where his new home is with your lord. know that he stepped out to soon due to the sickness and the treatment. it was rough on him and he stood strong .... Others can shorten ones life....due to not knowing how to kill the sickness can do what it is designed

Marla, I was so sad to hear about Monty. He was a wonderful Christian man and he has helped so many people. My sympathy and prayers are with you and your family.

With deepest sympthy, I was saddened to hear of Bro Montys passing. quotBro Monty was a great man of Godquot He was a wonderful preacherteacher, I remember him saying when he gets to heaven he was going to have knew eyes no more glasses and all his hair was going to be as when young, I do know in my heart he has that and he is in the arms of our Father, You all are in my thoughts and prayers.God bless Mary Dennis

I am so sorry for your loss.Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.Sincerely,Paul, Molly and Abby Homuth and Joellen and Larry Penn

OH, WHAT A SAVIOR And oh, what a faithful, loving and self sacrificial servant Monty Hanks was to his Lord, wife, children, grandchildren,even his grandchildren and great grandchildren to come, his mother and to the BODY OF CHRIST around the world.Monty made serving the Lord and being a Christian so simple, and desireable. He gave new meaning to the terms quotJUDGE NOTquot and quotIN CHRISTquot.FATHER, IN HEAVEN THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE BLESSED OPPORTUNITY OF EXPERIENCING YOUR LOVE THOUGH SUCH AND HUMBLE SERVANT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE OF HEALING IN PASTORS LIFE.

Grace and Peace from our Lord Jesus Christ.We thoroughly enjoyed serving Jesus with Brother Monty and we sorrow in the loss of our Brother. God bless, MECN MissionKaya and Helen Aksam, Dawn McCollum, Kayla Whitten

I remember the first time I heard Monty preach at Seventh Street Baptist, and I knew then and there that he was not only a good preacher but a good teacher. He has taught me so much about Gods word. I loved hearing him sing and play the guitar.. I will miss your guidance. Marla, I am praying for you and the rest of the family... God Bless you Scherry

I was saddened to hear of Montys passing. Monty was a great man of God. I know he is with his FATHER and his father, Alex, right now. Your family is in our prayers.Sincerely, Sondra, Matt, and Mark Dixon

H aving known monty as a pipefitter as well as a pastor. I can say he was aman of god in both professions. In the early days of my pastoring Monty was my counselor and advisor.He always gave me good spirit led advice which blessed me and my congregation.God bless you marla we are praying for you. Shannon Kilpatrick

Monty Hanks represented a lot of the ideals that the world is unfortunately short of today. Monty made an attempt to act as Jesus Christ would have acted if He was still alive, in human form, on this earth today showing compassion, love and forgiveness in making the world a better place. There are too many people in this world today who act as a conduit for divisiveness, animosity and the breakdown of family and community relations rather than as a conduit for the Christian values of compassion, love and forgiveness. My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Hanks family, the Bush family, friends from Nederland, Port Neches and Groves as well as the members of Freedom Christian Fellowship Church in Port Neches and 7th Street Baptist Church who have known Monty, Marla and their families for many years.

It seems like yesterday, we were running around the neighborhood, playing guitar , fishing, camping , playing baseball down the street . We had so much fun together. Those were great times....you were a great friend . Ill miss you Monty....May GOD hold your family ...and let them know he is with them....especially now......May GOD grant you peace........Fred Doiron

Jared and I used to be very close so I just wanted to stop by and let you and your family know that you all will be in my thoughts and my prayers..... I am so sorry to hear about this, from what I remember, Mr. Hanks was a great man

Marla, where do I begin...I really dont have words to express how much you and Monty both have meant to me over the years, first at Seventh Street and then of course at Freedom. Thank you both for having the vision that you had to start Freedom. It has been wonderful to have you as both pastors and friends. Monty was an awesome man of God and a wonderful teacher and we all learned so much from him..Thank you my friend for listening to the voice of God. I love you my friend and will miss you but will see you again someday.Our prayers and thoughts are with your family........Felicia and Thom Zak and family

Marla, know that you and your family are in my prayers. I was blessed to have been one of the many to be touched by Montys gentle and humble spirit. He was such a reflection of our Savior. My heart is aching for your loss. I love you, sisiter. Know that you can call me any time.

Marla and family I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I will always remember Monty for his smile, laughter and songs of joy. I can not ever remember seeing him without a smile regardless of what the devil sent his way.

The world was definitely a better place for Monty having been in it. I pray that the peace and love of our Savior and the God that Monty served so graciously, fills the Hanks family and the congregation of Freedom Fellowship to overflowing. Godspeed my friend and rest in the arms of the Father.

I have many fond memories of Pastor Monty. One I love the most is the way he use to sing and dance with his guitar. I have learned so much from him but the thing that sticks out to me was his great loving heart. His compassion for people was genuine. When I first met Pastor Monty, I was very timid and afraid of authority but his love and respect help to deliver me from the fear of man. I could call him whenever I needed ion and know confidently that he cared and no matter what, he lined up with the word of God. There was nothing fake or misleading about him. I am going to miss his praise and worship and the preacherteacherpastor but mostly my dear friend. He will be a tough act to follow but I believe that with the solid teaching that he gave we will stand, having done all to stand together as a family of God. We definately have a firm foundation. Thank you Pastor Monty. We love you Marla, Aimee, Annie, Jared, Charlotte, and Ms. Hanks, my prayer for you is that the Lord will turn your mourning into joy and cover you with his wings, may you find shelter, strength and his loving kindness to meet your every need in the following days in Jesus name. Thank you for sharing your lives with us and the life of your husband, dad, brother and son. We will be forever grateful for your sacrifice. God bless you all. I love you all very much.Tammy

Marla and family I am so sorry for your lost.You are in my prayers. And God Bless you all

Well done my good and Faithful Servant, Enter thou Now into the joy of your God. Our Prayers are with the ones you left may their tears turn into Joy. Thank God for men like Monty Hanks.

Marla,What a Blessing you and Monty have been to my family, Montys obedience to Gods calling has forever changed my life, and the lives of my husband and sons. The news of his passing was received with tears of sorrow for you and your family, but also with joy, in knowing that he is ever present with our Lord Jesus Christ, whom Monty loved and served with his whole heart. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers MarlaCindy and Gene Distefano

I HAVE ONLY BEEN AT THE CHURCH A SHORT TIME. BUT MONTY HAS REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE DURING THAT TIME . WHEN I WAS AT DEATHS DOOR HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL PRAYING FOR ME. GOD JUST GAVE ME SUCH A LOVE FOR HE AND MARLA. YOU WOULD THINK A PERSON IN THEIR 70s WOULD NOT HAVE MUCH TO LEARN BUT OH MYIM SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT HE IS DANCING ON THE CLOUDS.BUT I WILL MISS HIM SO MUCH.

Marla, I am so sorry to hear of Montys passing. I didnt know Monty, only by name, but from what everyone has said I believe that Jesus has welcomed him home. I know that is comfort to you. You and your family are in my prayers. Vickie Morrison McIntyre

Im so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers. GOD bless.

So sorry to hear of your loss, our prayers are with you all at this time. I remember Monty so well from growing up at Friendship Baptist.

Im so thankful that I had the privilege to meet Pastor Monte many years ago when I worked for KTFA we aired his sermons. Our joke was for him to pray for me to find a quotholy hunkquot. That is how i met my wonderful husband and Montes friend, David Bouillon. He married us, buried my two sons and has always been a bright spot in our lives. I will surely miss him. May we all strive to have a heart like Montes.

Words cannot remove the saddness you are experiencing nor replace the loss you have suffered. Be sure of this Pastor Monty has finished his race and won. He ran well and is with the Lord. We are praying with and for each of you, Montys family. Many are grieving the loss of a wonderful person and great pastor. I will always remember him.Mike and Millie Robertson, missionaries in China

KNOW THAT LESLIE AND I ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT THISDIFFICULT TIME. OUR WHOLE CHURCH WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. SUCH A LONGTIME AGO WHEN WE ATTENDED CHURCH TOGETHER. BUT GOD USED YOU BOTHTO DIRECT OUR PATHS. I JUST WISH WE COULD HAVE REMAINED CLOSER.LOTS OF LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR COMFORT, PEACE, STRENTH ARE COMING YOUR WAY.LESLIE AND PATSY

When coming to Freedom 17 years ago our oldest daughter just wanted to go to Freedom because she knew her momo went there and just wanted to go to the same church with Marla teaching my girls in Little Women and Pastor Monty Decated our son at three months old i have learned so much but so delivered from strong holds heard many preachers but to have a pastor like Monty he will be so missed. But he taught our leadership so much so we will stand strong for him because he was a great teacher ....

Not a time went by that I wasnt moved or blessed by Monty. He touched so many hearts, as he touched mine. He was the older brother I never had. He was my friend. He saw the good in all and valued every last one of us. I miss him so much. I know that I will see him again one day, but still them my heart breaks at not seeing him now. Not learning more from him. Not hearing him speak one more time. What an awesome man of God If anyone could straighten me out it would be Monty. Tavia and Carl Wagner

Marla and family I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. God will help you through this time of sorrow. You are in my prayers.Sheri and Drew Robbins

Wow, how the years passed....it seems like yesterday that Monty was starryeyed over a precious young Marla....and what they accomplished for the Lord in the past 35 years....amazing....2 amazing lives together in service to our Lord. I am ever blessed by the love that Monty owed on my husband and children and how our lives were touched in such an awesome way..... I thank God for the vision of Freedom that He gave to them and how they brought that vision to fruition....and now, we must press on and continue to water and grow it How dearly we will all miss our pastor.......and friend.Robin and Scott Franks