Who are your heroes in the faith? I’m thinking of Opa!

A couple of weeks ago I was reading Hebrews 11, the chapter about people of great faith throughout the bible.  I got to thinking about the many heroes of the faith that I have known, in my lifetime, and the list is quite long.  I have been blessed, to my very core, by family and friends who love the Lord with their hearts, minds, strength, and souls, and it shines from them.  I think of Mom, who prays for us and loves us so well, I’m pretty sure even in Alzheimer’s grip.  Years ago, in response to my teary eyed comment that I might not see her and Dad again, she raised her hands and said Alleluia.  She knows where she’s going and she wants you to come along, too!  I think of BB and his wife, excited to share everything they have in order to see Fulani friends giving their hearts and lives to the Messiah.  I think of so many with their personalities integral to the way they encourage, serve, and live out their faith, and each one is different. Today I am thinking especially of Opa, our daughter-in-love’s grandfather.  He passed away last week and we went to his memorial yesterday.  What testimonies we heard!  Opa (Sterling Theobald) was a man who never met a stranger, who never let you get away without finding out what was happening in your life so he would know how to pray for you, a man who hugged well and loved well, who prayed fervently for so many, who longed for people to know Jesus.  He was an amazing man, an encouraging faithful follower of the Lord.  My prayer for each of us is to thank God for the people of faith in our lives, and to ask Him to give us strength to be the same to others.

Opa with Emrie

Our granddaughter, Emrie, who is 6, wrote a lovely history report on her Opa, and was able to interview him just weeks before he passed away.  She and her sister read it at the memorial, too sweet!  Quite the tribute, ending with ” Opa has loved me and others well. The most important thing he has done in his 94 years is to love Jesus”

Kimia’s bro Jordan and fam with Opa in his last days

Maddie and Emrie holding Opa’s hand

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About danforth

As Covenant missionaries, we are working with all the tribal groups of the Central African Republic (CAR) but are trying to give special attention to the Fulani, a Musxlim, cattle herding, and semi-nomadic people group. We live on an experimental/training farm, near a mission station which has a hospital plus bible and nursing schools. We are establishing relationships with the local people groups through compassion ministries; Roy through agriculture and Aleta through public health and visitation, in order, ultimately, to share the good news of Jesus the Messiah with them. CAR is one of the least developed countries in the world and is currently in continual crisis (since the coup in March 2013), so reaching out in compassion is key to reaching their hearts. Due to the ongoing conflict and resultant ethnic cleansing in CAR, we are crossing the border to interact with our Fulani contacts.
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