February 20, 2012

• They have done what they could

                Yesterday was a day of remembrance, a day of celebration, and a day of thankfulness. No, it was not a funeral, but a celebration while the celebrants were still living. (We need to have more days like that.)

                The story starts way back in 1964. It was the height of the civil rights movement and there was not any place in ferment like the state of Mississippi. My parents-in-law (Ethan and Shirley Good) felt called by God to move to Mississippi to help with the work among the Choctaw Indians there. I don’t know if they worried about moving there with their precious 3 little daughters, but when you are called by God, you respond. They moved in July, 1964, less than a month after the 3 Freedom Riders had disappeared from nearby Philadelphia,MS, but before their dead bodies were found buried in an earthen dam. In the middle of this societal, political, and religious upheaval, they went to work. Over the years, their compassion for the Choctaws took on many forms. The first winter, a set of newborn twins that were born to a Choctaw lady with one child under 1 year of age came to live with them “for the winter.” Their house was warm compared to the cold, drafty house with bare earth showing through some of the floor boards in the house. Rosie and Carolee never left–until their respective marriages much later. They were accepted as wholeheartedly as the rest of the Choctaw people. That is just one illustration of their love and dedication.

                Their lives were a whirlwind of work, and after a long day of work, to go visiting,or take someone to the hospital, or to conduct funerals. Dad became pastor of Nanih Waiya Indian Mennonite Church in the late 70s, and has been there ever since. They have labored on during tough times and good times.  The church has grown and shrunk in cycles, and yet they continued to work. Faithfulness is the word that comes to mind. It didn’t matter that there were often disappointments, and heartaches; God had called and they answered.

                (As an aside, it was my connection with Nevin Bender, my great-uncle, which allowed my first conversation with my future wife Dawn to go well. You see, Uncle Nevin and Aunt Esther had come to Mississippi in the early 60s and had started the church that Dad now pastors among the Choctaws at Nanih Waiya. The upheaval of the 60s had resulted in that church being bombed 3 times. The first bombing was in September, 1964, only 2 months after 5 year old Dawn had moved to Mississippi. The next 2 bombings were in 1966. Each time the church was built back without complaint, thankful that in each case, no one was present at the church. For further reading you might check this out. http://www.themennonite.org/issues/12-20/articles/Church_remembers_bombing_anniversary   Anyway, I do remember that Uncle Nevin was part of our first conversation, and something must have clicked, as we got married 3 1/2 years later. But I digress)

                Anyway, over the years, they have mentored, encouraged, counseled, and trained so many people, and it was a day of giving back. As Ardis, the one daughter who could not make it says in her letter, read at the service–
  

  “As we reflect on your life of ministry it is a recognition that ministry began before you were ordained. Thank you for giving your time to the church in many ways before you were called to serve in a pastoral way. We saw you make many visits to hospitals after a long day at work and many early morning hours crafting a sermon before you tilled the garden.
  

  You have mentored us in many ways. The many dinner table discussions about eschatology, Calvinism vs. Armenianism, or exegeses of a certain passage are pleasant memories. You were able to debate the points with us but never put the other person down. You modeled faithfulness and commitment.
  

  Thanks for serving from the best of your ability and be assured that God, who gifts His people, has used you in Kingdom work.” –from Ardis

                     So, with all of this in mind, and knowing their penchant for not having the limelight, it was decided to have a surprise celebration honoring Dad and Mom for their work over the past 40+ years. We as children and in-laws gathered from Alabama, McComb, Macon, and Clinton, MS to surprise and honor them. Mark and Caralee and I got there before the service, and that was the first inkling they had that something was going to happen different that morning. Then when Tim and Rosie, and Dan and Phyllis showed up, it was a bit overwhelming. The service was led by Glenn Myers, which was fitting as he would have been one of the original people in the church back when Uncle Nevin was there.

                  The most touching part of the ceremony was when the congregation was given an opportunity to express themselves and their appreciation. Often, in ministry, appreciation is not always given, or perhaps more implied than said. And so it was very moving to see the stoic Choctaw church members, who normally don’t express a lot of emotion, pour out their gratitude and thanks for the love they had experienced from this extraordinary couple over the years. Some of them actually knelt in front of them so they could have direct eye to eye contact, and told them how they would not be here today without their bringing the good news of God to them. It doesn’t take much to get me to cry these days, and I was a basket case as I witnessed in amazement what was happening. And even Daddy and Mom were glad to have a handkerchief along with them.

                  I try and visualize the time when they get to heaven. I know that there will be a joyous reunion, but I would love to see when they meet the Savior, and He says to both of them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord”. I don’t think there will be one word about numbers of souls saved, or the size of the church, or their world-wide work, but only that they were faithful. Like the widow, “They have done what they could.” And I am honored to be their son-in-law.

    Dad and Mom          
  

  
  

  Here is the cake
   

  And here are the present daughters and son-in-laws–this excludes Ardis and Lester
  From L to R  Tim Kanagy, with wife Rosie, Jon Yoder, Caralee and husband Mark Roth, Dan Miller, and Phyllis

  

  • 10:28 pm
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