Hundreds celebrate ...'s life

by   Larry B. Elrod                                                                                                                               Vol. XIV, No. 10, Nov./Dec. 2001

[Note: In this article all names of family members have been removed. The decedent’s widow has remarried, and she and her new husband are being assigned as International Mission Board missionaries to a country where it may be dangerous were her identity and that of her children (who still bear their father’s name) known. TCP]

"I think God looks like my daddy, because my daddy was close to God," 4-year-old ... said on Oct. 2, the day of his 34-year-old father's death, after asking his mother what God looks like and hearing her explain that God is Spirit.

Hundreds gathered Oct. 6 at First Baptist Church, Kearney, MO to celebrate the life of ... . He was an International Mission Board missionary to northern Africa. ... , or ... as he was known for most of his life, is survived by his father and stepmother, ... of Riverside, CA; his stepfather and mother ... of Olathe, KN; his wife, ... .

... was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 and spent the last three years raising awareness among Southern Baptists of the need to share the gospel with a lost and dying world. In anticipation of his passing, he and his wife prepared a message for all who attended the celebration.

"It is important to ... that each one present know the hope he had in Jesus when he lived in this life. He wanted you to know that the body you saw, like yours, was not his final dwelling place. He wanted you to know that right now he is in the presence of complete love, joy, peace, and patience. The place called heaven, where he is now, is a place where there is no anger, malice, slander, greed, or abusive speech -- where everyone is full of love. It is there that joy is made complete. For those who do not have hope in heaven through Jesus' payment for sin on the cross and victory over death through His resurrection, he wanted you to share with him the joy of being with God in heaven. For those who love the Lord, he wanted you to know, do not give up -- heaven is a wonderful place."

Three pastors and several IMB representatives conducted the service. The pastors were Ron Robinson of First Baptist Church, Kearney, MO, Tom Couric of Fellowship Baptist Church, Olathe, KN, and Bill Paulling of First Southern Baptist Church, Overland Park, KN. Avery Willis, senior vice president of overseas operations for the IMB, officiated at the service. Other representatives from the IMB were Jerry Rankin, president; Larry Cox, vice president of mobilization; Al Gilbert, special assistant to the president for mobilization; missionary John Brady; and Robert Shehane, associate director of the personnel orientation department.

Couric called attention to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as ...'s favorite passage of Scripture and noted that ... had a special awareness of the importance of the time he had been given by God. "I did not hear from his voice words of bitterness or resentment. I heard words of thanks. That is the life of faith. That is the difference Jesus Christ makes," Couric said.

Cox shared a challenge from ... based on Philippians 2:1-11. As ...’s regional leader in 1998, Cox was one of the first to hear the news of ...'s cancer and to offer encouragement to him and his wife. "Little did I know how from that day forward they would provide so much encouragement for not only me, but for literally thousands of others," Cox said. "Charles' race was shorter than the one for most of us. But he did finish, and he finished well. His challenge for us today is 'How well will you finish?' in bringing all peoples, all tongues, all nations to the throne of God where he today is on his knees rejoicing before God."

Chris Tatham recalled 25 years of memories he shared with ..., noting how one Fourth of July was the beginning of a deep friendship. He said their friendship was characterized by rivalry, respect, shared faith, and love. Tatham viewed ... as a natural leader and a gifted athlete, speaker, writer and musician. "The best dream we shared was to have great families and to live lives that would glorify God," Tatham said.

"They say that he started on his path to being a missionary in 1994, but ... was really always a missionary," Tatham continued. "..., his mother, was his inspiration to become that and ..., his wife, was the one who made it happen. ... knew how he approached his death would be the defining part of his life." Quoting ..., Tatham said, "We do not like to speak of death as human beings, even as Christians. It is hard for us to swallow. But it is abundantly clear that we are all going to die. The death ratio is one to one. Regardless of our circumstances, we must use our lives to glorify the Son."

Gilbert noted that every life has a message. "Though he is dead, he still speaks,'" Gilbert said of ..., quoting Hebrews 11:4. Those messages: "First, 'obey the right thirst.' It summarized in his heart what he called a missionary's search to find satisfaction in God," Gilbert said. "Second, 'leave a legacy of faith.' He wanted his children to know that God is trustworthy. And he wanted other men to be challenged to do likewise. And third, 'it has to be us.' God has no other plan but Christians to tell the world about Jesus. He is not waiting on someone else to do it. He wants us to do it."

Rankin, who expressed the grief and celebration of the entire missionary family, said ... was a missionary of the caliber of Lottie Moon and Bill Wallace in the depth of his dedication and in the faithful fulfillment of his call. "... did not die earlier this week," Rankin said. "He died many years ago when he gave his heart and his life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He died when he left a thriving insurance business and gave up the American dream to give his life to telling others about Jesus Christ. He died to self when he surrendered to that call to go and be a missionary. Because he died many years ago, what we experience as death and transition and separation is really just the culmination of a life that was lived in Jesus Christ and gave glory to Him. I trust we will not forfeit and the example that ... has been to us will not be in vain, but that we, too, will devote every day with a passion to being used to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ."

... , ...' father, also participated in the celebration. It is especially important to recognize and honor ...'s parents, ... . No celebration of ...'s life is complete without the recognition of what I would call the partner of all partners. ... , ..., was always at his side whether it was school, salesmanship, the ministry, conquering French and Arabic, parenting or any of the other endless activities that were part of his life. No doubt ... was tested many times over these past three years but, to no one's surprise, her performance was flawless."

Avery Willis concluded the celebration by delivering a message of hope and opening an invitation for anyone to pray and accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Bill Paulling led the graveside service by having those present recite Psalm 23, which the .. quoted each night before going to bed. ... was buried Fairview Cemetery in Kearney. [BP]