Just part of the job description

   Part  of the job description of being a pastor is the necessity of conducting  funerals. During the 11 years that we were at Luther Chapel 2 funerals stand out in our memory. 

Funeral #1: Sometime in 1972 or 1973 we got word that one of our neighbors had passed away suddenly. I decided to call on the family to see if I could console them as they grieved. The next day they called to see if I would conduct the funeral for this man, which I agreed to do. I don't remember the man's name or even what I said at his funeral. What I do remember is that I was nervous and even scared. This was my first official funeral and I had only been in a funeral home a couple of times before. Also I was only 22 or 23 years of age and green as grass. The fact that I was nervous turned out to be a blessing. The widow was more concerned about me and kept her eye on me to see if I would make it through the funeral or not. We made it through by God's grace. 

Funeral #2: During the summer of 1982 the church wanted to help a family down the road from us by getting them some furniture and help in any other way we could. They were James and Mary Johnson and had 3 beautiful young daughters and we started to get to know the family. The first part of September Luther Chapel was putting on an addition to the church and I went over to pound a few nails and to help. I walked down to the highway to meet one of the men from church to get a ride from him. As I stood on the side of the road a police car approached me and wanted to know what I was doing. I told him I was waiting for ride. I didn't think much of it until I got to church and was told that the Johnsons had been killed by their neighbor. 

   Since we had helped the Johnsons, the girl's grandmother called to see if I would do the funeral for the girl's parents. The neighbor broke into the Johnson's home the night before, shot both parents, raped the 14 year old girl and then took all 3 of them to grandma's home and dropped them off. He then went back to his trailer and shot and killed himself. 

The next few days were like a 3 ring circus. The story was on the national and local news. A reporter from the Grand Rapids press called us to see if we can give them any information about the family. We were told not to co-operate with them and give them very little information. I remember visiting the funeral home before hand to make arrangements. The funeral director was very considerate and helpful.. . The family requested closed caskets for the funeral.

    It was a fairly large funeral intended just for family and friends. The news reporters were not allowed into the funeral. Before the service a reporter approached me and wondered if he could have a copy of the funeral message. I was ready to give him part of it. I had 2 sets of notes: one was the personal information about the family and the other was simply the plan of salvation. I was going to give him the plan of salvation notes only, but the family told me not to give him anything, which I did. At the cemetery reporters were at a distance taking photos and listening in. They did not disturb the committal service. We did not even know they were there, until we saw a picture of the committal service in the newspaper the next day.

When Linda and I got back to our house we both felt like we had been pulled through a knot hole the wrong way and were physically and emotionally drained. God saw us through all of this 3 ring circus and gave us the grace and strength we needed that week. 

Linda's thoughts. : Many Sundays we picked up the Johnson girls and they attended Sunday School with us.They were sweet girls and we are thankful we could minister to them. We left Luther 3 months after their parents were killed. I have wondered how they are now. I have real compassion for other people who go through this kind of tragedy  We saw and experienced first hand what it does to families. We were and are thankful for the truth found in Philippians 4 :13 "I  can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

   STAY TUNED!!!! Next time - Weddings and more weddings!!!