Not long after arriving in Ireland in 1984, I heard a speaker at the YMCA say that when he had become a Christian in the late 1960’s the real test whether a person was accepted as a true Christian or not was if they knew Reggie Fry. It was thought that if they knew Reggie they must be bona fide. His love for the Lord’s people and especially new believers and churches meant that he was a much known, loved and respected brother.
His primary passion seemed to be for reaching young people and children for Christ. Meeting them with his pockets bulging with rubber bands, buzzers, toy frogs, elephants, and challenging gospel booklets, he was a magnet to them. He would often quote the hymn:
Just as I am, young, strong and free;
To be the best that I can be,
For truth and righteousness and Thee,
Lord of my life, I come.
Reggie came from a godly family of seven. As he would put it, at an early age he found forgiveness and salvation through the blood of the crucified Christ. He grew up in the Merrion Hall assembly in Dublin, hearing the Word of God under gifted teachers and preachers, and was committed to the assemblies in Ireland and elsewhere all his life. He too became an effective and often-called-upon preacher.
He was a chartered accountant by profession, but was an all-out servant of the Lord and His people by vocation. He was known all over Ireland and associated with many forms of gospel outreach: Boys Evangelical Camps, Dublin Christian Mission, YMCA, Crusaders, the Gideons, Scripture Text Posters, Scripture Union, UBM, and BCM.
He had a great sense of humor, was energetic and hard-working, intimately interested in the lives of others, and always ready to challenge young people, especially about their relationship with Christ. Yet he was also someone that older folk often looked to for counsel. Early in life he chose the path of singleness as a way to serve the Lord and others.
He was a tremendous encouragement, help and confidant to assembly missionaries in Ireland over many decades, no matter whether they were short- or long-term. It would be hard to over-estimate the impact of the Lord through Reggie on the Lord’s people and servants in Ireland.
The Lord blessed Reggie with good health right into his 80’s. He passed into the Lord’s presence on January 21, 2003.
Another well-known couplet is often quoted, but Reggie lived it:
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last!
Submitted by Ron Hampton including comments shared at Mr. Fry’s funeral service in Dublin at Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church on January 24, 2003.