Mr. Hertzsprung spent many hours sharing the Word of the Lord with fellow TEAM co-workers, me included. I enjoyed every opportunity to learn from him on the wonders of God's instructions to us as kingdom workers. He is now home with his lovely wife, Lois (also missed greatly). He has left behind a legacy for his family, as well as so many others who crossed his path, which I am sure leaves you all with the comfort and knowledge that he is now in the presence of the King of Kings - beholding His glory. May you all experience the comfort, peace, and presence of the Lord as you walk through this valley. Remembering the joy of being workers together for the Kingdom. Psalm 23 Love in Christ Jesus our Lord, Suzanne Leak

We thank God for Ralph & Lois Hertzsprung . They have been a blessing to the Church and to us personally. Their exemplary, sacrificial lives for the growth of the Kingdom has left an indelible mark on many lives.

The last time we met he said, " the next time we meet will be in heaven" , Yes, dear man of God...look forward to meeting you again and celebrating God's abundant grace! Sheila & Gul Kripalani

Rev. Hertzsprung was a man of God. When I served as a trustee of Open Bible Fellowship established by Pastor at Bombay, often I used to contact him for guidance. Immediately he used to reply quoting Bible verses. On my request, he was regularly writing in ‘Connect’ , the church magazine which was a great blessing for everyone. I still have the fond memory of taking Pastor Hertzsprung and Lois aunty to Colaba causeway and buying mementos during their visit to India in 2013. May God bless his children and family abundantly.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15).

We are confident that on 5th October, '23 when Rev.Ralph Hertzsprung breathed his last, he was promoted to glory and there was a great rejoicing in Paradise to receive his precious soul.

Rev.Ralph was a tall towering man of God and true Christian soldier in every sense of the term.

He and Sr.Lois came to India with a passion and burden to reach out to people with the Love of Christ and the Power of the Gospel. Tusting in our Sovereign God, he started a fellowship at YMCA, Andheri with just four members and when the news spread out about him being a good Preacher & Bible Teacher, the number of worshippers grew and he bought a modest hall in a Shopping Center at 4 Bungalows, Andheri West, Bombay.

He was a institution by himself. A humble servant leader, very committed and dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.

He was also a great Administrator, Choir Conductor and an excellent musician. We used to enjoy grand Christmas Cantata, Skits, Choir, Children's Sunday School Programme etc.

We will always cherish his leadership qualities. He and his wife Sr.Lois, faithfully served at the Open Bible Fellowship like Aquilla & Priscilla of the New Testament days.

We praise God for both of their commitment, dedication and humble nature. They have left a great legacy for us to emulate.

OBF was not the same after they left B'bay. They will be remembered for their missionary zeal and enthusiasm they had shown in serving our Master.

I had the joy and privilege of being mentored by him and it paved the way for me to share the Word of God in the Open Air Gospel Meetings we had in three different localities in Bombay when the Friends & Followers of Christ, a team of musicians from Canada, visited Bombay about four decades ago.

May our Resurrected Christ and the Prince of Peace grant peace that surpasses all human understanding to all the dear members of Hertzsprung family at this hour of bereavement and grief.

As I pen these words, I am reminded of the Scriptural verse recorded in II Timothy 4:7,8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Shalom & God bless.

Dr.Stafford & Blossom Cripps

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Condolences to the family. But a life to be truly celebrated. So thankful to Pastor for building the Open Bible Fellowship Church in Mumbai, It my anchor for the last 22 years, I have met a beautiful church family that I will always cherish.

Shikha Kashyap and family.

I'm thankful to God for having met such a Godly pastor and founder of OBF and leading from front a blessed ministry which shaped many lives to have new life in Christ.

Susan Mathew Mukund, Mumbai

We are so saddened by the sudden loss of a very dear Ralph, part of our family of God. He was our loving and respected Pastor at the Open Bible Fellowship in Bombay, India. We know though he is in the BEST place with his Heavenly Father.

We will always cherish great memories singing quartets with Ralph & Lois at OBF, attending church & family events together and being fed by their profound wisdom. They were our spiritual parents, who were truly spirit filled. They didn’t have hate, nor pride, nor anger but were always so selfless. He is well received in heaven and Jesus would have said to him, "Well done good and faithful servant". We celebrate the life of Ralph and his late wife, Lois, as they are now in God's eternal kingdom! The have left us precious legacies, that we will cherish and impart to others!

Love & blessings to the families and close friends.

Cheryl, Kevin, Sheldon Sajnani and Beatrice Salins

Mrs. PAULINE TEMASFIELDT. (JOSEPHS)

Sending our love and condolences to you dear Collen Valerie, Evan and the entire family.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.This verse is apt for uncle Ralph & aunt Lois. What a legacy to leave behind!

I was 12 years old when I met uncle and aunt. He was the one who brought me to the Lord. We first met at Jeevan Satyakam(Bandra).Later when they moved to the YMCA, we were only 4 members. I. e. Titus, Grace, Mercy & me. Slowly & steadily the numbers grew. It was a joy to watch uncle play the accordion and listen to his expository teaching. While uncle gave us spiritual food, aunt Lois would give us physical food(those lovely mouth watering cookies). I had the privilege of travelling with them to Mahableshwar during holidays. Weekly bible studies kept us deeply rooted and grounded in God's word. Both uncle and aunt lived xemplary lives and were an epitome of perfection.

In 2013, when they came down to India once again, he baptised my sick husband Rommel and my brother in law Conrad. He preached and taught the word with full vigour and strength everyday that he was here. He never rested.

We kept in touch off and on. He was very prompt in replying. I thank and praise God for the wonderful memory that he possessed right till the end.

Though our hearts are full, we celebrate the fact that he has gone to meet the author and perfecter of his faith.

Keeping the family much in prayer.

Good Shepherd

Tall in stature,

Wise by nature

Gifted teacher

Not unlike Jesus our Master Teacher,

Was our dear Pastor

Uncle Ralph Hertzsprung.

As a young girl, I thought

Uncle Hertzsprung had gentlest of face and kindest voice,

So, like our LORD the Great Shepherd

Was Uncle Ralph Hertzsprung a good shepherd.

When I think of Uncle Ralph, I cannot forget Auntie Lois,

Inseparable were they,

A GODly couple,

Loving example for young and old alike were they.

To follow in the steps of our LORD did they teach their OBF flock.

For my Amma and Appa

And for us 3 sisters,

Uncle & Auntie Hertzsprung were truly our own dear family

Over the years, they blessed us in more ways than words can say.

When Auntie Lois was called home

Uncle continued to press on in the strength of the LORD

Earlier this year, when Amma took ill,

Uncle Hertzsprung called and prayed for her comforted us when Amma went home.

True shepherd was Pastor Ralph Hertzsprung through all the varied seasons of our soul

Encourager, Counsellor, Teacher, discipler pastor

You lovingly served

And build us all in so many ways

I remember well how you taught us inside-out transformation wrought by the LORD

Superior to the outside-in change this world boasts of,

Now you are transformed face to face in the likeness of our LORD forevermore

On 5th of October 2023 our beloved pastor finally was called home

Truly, Our Great Shepherd would have welcomed His good shepherd with great joy

To our Heavenly home

Rev Ralph Hertzsprung was the founding pastor of Open Bible Fellowship (OBF) Church, which was established in the year 1976 in Bombay. We ( the Vargheses) started attending OBF in 1979. We indeed grew in our walk with God through the various messages, Bible studies, Sunday school and Uncle and aunty Hertzsprung's life example that stood out so radiantly for all to see. Their strong emphasis on church music made it an integral part of our lives. Uncle your life was well lived for His Glory. I thank our Lord every time I think of you (Col 1:3). Fondly loved and respected by Mr. V. G. Varghese, Susen, Accamma and Rekha

Rekha M. Varghese

Rev Ralph and Lois Hertzsprung have left a long-lasting legacy. Their 30-year mission, life and exemplary Christian service, teaching and discipleship impacted thousands of people in western India in 1960. I'm one of the many. They started their mission in rural Maharashtra in Dhulia, now spelt Dhule. In 1976 they moved to Bandra, Bombay. Pastor Asa Kumar introduced me to them in 1978. He took me to one of their Bible study meetings held at their apartment in Jeevan Satyakam building, Bandra. Attending that first meeting, and listening to Rev Hertzsprung changed the course of my life. I and my friends from Youth For Christ (YFC) attended Open Bible Fellowship started by the Hertzsprungs on the second floor of Manish Shopping Centre in 4 Bungalows, Andheri. I was with the Hertzsprungs for more than 12 years. Rev Ralph's informative sermons inspired me. His forte was old hymns. He introduced Fanny Crosby and John Newton's amazing hymns to OBF. He played the accordion in the late 1970s and, later Bollywood's famous musician and composer Sammy Ruben played the keyboard, and George Daniels the clarinet. I learnt from Rev Ralph how to administer and manage a church. His planning and delegation of work and maintaining church accounts was perfect. He never passed bags to collect offerings and tithes. He always said, "Offerings should be freewill, not a compulsion." I wrote about Hertzsprungs life and experiences in an article published by Genesis, the newsletter I edited for the Open Bible Fellowship in the early 1980s. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of that edition, but I have many fond memories of my pastor and mentor. RIP Reverend Ralph. Sudeep R P Sonawane, Surat, Gujarat, India.

Dear, Colleen, Val & Evan Hertzsprung, grandchildren, Emily Charter ,Richard Charter,Erin, Lamoureux, Liam & Alys Hertzsprung; and great-grandchildren, Charis, Shad, Annabelle, Emmett, Ira, Malachi, and Beatrice. Your father, father in law, grandfather, great grandfather was a great influence to every member of our Family in Mumbai. His teachings enriched us and helped us grow in our faith. His friendship is something we hold dear to our hearts. As a family we believe that our dear Pastor, mentor and friend Ralph Hertzsprung has faithfully fulfilled his calling on this earth

From the Samuel, D’costa & Jesudas Family in Mumbai, india

Dear Colleen, Valerie, Evan and all other family members, Sending our love and condolences to you. When I think of Pastor Hertzsprung (whom we called Uncle) so many memoires come crowding in. My earliest memories of him and Aunty Lois are when they taught us in Sunday School at Open Bible Fellowship in the YMCA hall. Uncle often played the accordion during the singing time. Later our family (Varghese's) started attending services at Open Bible Fellowship first at YMCA and then at the brand-new church hall at Four Bungalows. I remember many exciting times of learning from the Word and growing in the Lord. I remember going to Uncle and Auntie's home and Uncle teaching me to play the keyboard. Several wonderful memories also come to mind of Uncle and Aunty visiting our home and spending time with us (my parent's and sisters). After Uncle and Aunty returned to Canada and I moved to the US we kept in touch through cards and phone calls. When my parents came to visit me in 1998, they had a wonderful time going to Calgary and visiting with Uncle and Aunty. In 2006 Uncle married us (me and my husband Tomcy) in Calgary, I was so touched and moved at all they did for us.

I will always remember Uncle for his deep love for the Lord and His Word, his family, his mission and music. We will miss Uncle. Thanking our Heavenly Father for Uncle's life and the example he (and Auntie) set for all of us.

Love and Prayers,

Susen (Varghese) and Tomcy Thomas

Merina John and George John 4- Bunglows Andheri W send the condolences to the bereaved family members.

Fondly remembering the thoughtful investment of a worship Hall at FourBunglows, for Christian believers in this locality by Rev Hertsprung and Louis

Dear, Colleen (Ian) Charter and Val (Neil) Carleton; son Evan (Meyen) Hertzsprung,; grandchildren, Emily Charter (Noah Sommerfeld) and Richard Charter (Tessa), Erin (Jordan) Lamoureux, Liam (Jess) Hertzsprung, and Alys Hertzsprung; and great-grandchildren, Charis, Shad, Annabelle, Emmett, Ira, Malachi, and Beatrice. Your father, father in law, grandfather, great grandfather has fulfilled his calling on this earth. Be assured to meet him if you continue to walk in the ways of His God. I remember him as a young boy when he came to speak at one of our church (UBM Sushanthi Church), after that I remember him inviting our Gospel Band "Hope Whisperers" to his church OBF many times. Thank Lord for his contribution to India especially Mumbai.

Refreshing n renewing all who came to him-

Always representing our Lord as kind n good,

Leaving n starting on time, his witness never dim!

Pleasing the Master - this, teaching n himself would!

Happy is he with his master, having poured

A drink offering for me, for us, for India!

Phil 2:17

Blest n inspired by a real Pastor in my life n a real family (sis Lois n Pastor) of God, in my early life in the vineyard.

Miss you Pastor,

Hugs,

Vickie (for Dinesh too)

Lots of childhood memories visiting the Hertzsprung residences alongside the Bow River.

We got to try chapatis,etc.

Also managed to visit your folks in Bombay - almost 40 years ago.

Quite a contract to life in Canada.

Transport by rickshaw, Ambassadors, 3rd class trains chock full of passengers and rickety buses.

Rich and authentic life experiences.

Well done!!