2021
After my last report, it must seem that all I do is go to funerals…
"Off the Chain" / 0 Comments /After my last report, it must seem that all I do is go to funerals. Well this quarter has been much the same. I have been to three funerals in the last several weeks. All to memorialize Christians. That always makes them easier. Paul said in1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that those who die in Christ die with hope. That is what we all strive for when we leave this earth. Two of the funerals were for brethren that have been faithful to the Lord for many years. One of them grew up in the pews and the other had been in the body since their early twenties I believe. They were both aged saints. Their memorial services were packed. They both had large families – spouses, children grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. I saw so many brethren there that I seem to only see at such occasions. There were slideshows at both services. You know, pictures of them and their friends and families through the years. Many good memories shared.
Then there was the service for John Swidinsky. John is pictured below. Sorry the picture isn’t better, but I realized I didn’t have any other pictures of John. I am sad and ashamed about that. You see John was released from prison in May 2020 after serving 17 years and became part of our transition program. I picked John up from prison when he was released and was at his bed side when they took him off the ventilator and he left this life. John had a lot of health problems even while he was in prison. He needed a wheelchair to travel more than a few feet. He had diabetes, etc. He had assured me that once he was released and couldreceive proper medical care, then his health would improve. That was important because we are not really equipped to work with men that have extensive medical needs. Well, he never really did improve. John fell soon after he was released from prison and injured his knee which made his physical problems worse. He also developed heart issues which required medication to control. We ended up building a wheelchair ramp at the transition house so he could better get in and out. I often complained to myself about John and why I ever let him come. I am sad and ashamed about that.
John was taught the gospel in 2015 by Greg Whipple, a faithful brother and fulltime prison evangelist, and obeyed the gospel that same year. John first wrote to me in 2017 inquiring about our transition program. Over the next three years we exchanged letters and I visited him in prison several times. John showed consistency and a strong desire to know the truth better and to be a part of God’s family in the free world. John was fortunate to have another brother at T3 that cared about him, Dale Davenport. After one of John’s hospital stays, I was insistent that we find John a care facility that would better serve his needs. Dale fought for John to come back to T3. He committed to getting him back to a level that he could care for himself and he did. Several months later Dale moved out on his own. Other men stayed there with John after that. They helped John. Unfortunately, one took advantage of John and stole money from him. When we confronted this man John only shared forgiveness and care for his soul. I had never seen that kind of Christ like spirit from a man in the program that had been used by one of the other men. For the last several months, myself and a few other brothers ended up having to take a more active role in John’s care. Taking him to appointments, making sure his needs were met, etc. At first, I was frustrated about that. It was taking time away from the “real work” that I was called to do. I am sad and ashamed about that. During those times of serving John, I really got to know him and to see a man that was so thankful that his life had changed. So thankful for God’s mercy. So thankful that he was loved and accepted by God.
John’s memorial service was quite different than the other two I mentioned above. John had no physical family. He was an only child that never had children. His parents both died before he went to prison. There was no one for him. There was no one for the hospital to contact. No one to claim his body. No one to arrange his service. I was responsible for all those things because the only family he had left was his spiritual family. We had a memorial service for John. We didn’t have any pictures of John’s life to show for everyone to see. As far as I know, he didn’t have a single picture of his parents or of himself as a child or as a younger man. There wasn’t a big crowd, but everyone there was his spiritual family. Several of us spoke about how thankful we were to know, love and serve John. We spoke of how much the forgiveness of his sins meant to him. We spoke of a better place that John had hope of. We spoke of a spiritual body that would allow him freedom that he had not enjoyed for so long. We spoke of relationships in Christ that transcend this life. We spoke of better things than the sum of his life could offer. We spoke of the love of Christ for sinners like us. I am so overjoyed and thankful that John died with hope.
Thank you for helping me learn what real service is by getting to know men like John. Thank you for supporting men like me who can bring hope of being part of the family of God to the men we teach.
