Dealing with the Loss of a Dear Friend and Fellow Worker in the Ministry

BY TOM ALBRECHT

This summer, our CCR congregation lost a dear, dear friend, member, and colleague in ministry. Ken Eheart went to his heavenly reward and we were all in shock at his sudden passing. As Ken's pastor, my heart was broken when I heard the sweet voice of his wife Jolene, telling me that Ken had passed away.

I knew Ken was a man of deep spirituality, and one of the kindest and most tender persons you will ever meet. From the very first time I shook his hand, I knew this man had a special grace upon his life.

While Ken was a generous giver to the ministry of caring for the hungry, homeless and addicted, he was a man of great wisdom and support to me personally, as well as the church council and congregation. Ken’s gentle spirit always prompted eager interest in what his thoughts and opinions were.

One Man's Influence

It's difficult to come to terms with his absence in our lives because of how God used this man to encourage and bless those who came into his path. I think of how the Apostle Paul described the influence of three men who served with him in the ministry. Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 2:13 how he felt when he came to Troas and his friend Titus was not there: "I had no rest in my spirit because I found not Titus my brother..."

Later in 2 Corinthians 7:5-6, Paul states "when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus."

Ken was our Titus.

Then there was Timothy who served with the same heart and attitude as Paul. In Philippians 2:20-30, Paul says of Timothy, "there is no one as like minded as Timothy who serves selflessly." Paul also speaks of Epaphroditus, who was a companion in labor, a fellow soldier - a true brother in the work of the Lord - who worked for Christ even to the point of death.

Ken's Testimony

This is how I saw my brother Ken, and how he blessed me and this Loveland community. I have been blessed to have wonderful people in my life and service to His church and our community. My friends and colleagues - Jesus Zubia and his wife Christine, Walt Smith, Doug Ashbaugh, George Hill, Johnny Dodero, and Donna Roberson - served side-by-side with Ken.

Ken's family is a testimony of his character as a husband, father and businessman. Jolene cooks some of the best food for our Front Porch guests and always brought the extra goodies that our guests always looked forward to. Ken's daughter Missy and son-in-law, Scott, have shown such grace and strength during this most demanding time. Steve and T.J. along with many other family members are a testimony of the excellent example Ken demonstrated.

Words cannot really express how much we will miss Ken's gentle and loving spirit. He is at rest, and totally healed from all the pain he suffered in his body as he is in the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanking Jesus for amazing friends,

Pastor Tom

Loving like Jesus did

by Pastor Tom Albrecht

Compassion ... it is not a passive word. Compassion moves us to make a difference. Simply put, compassion is love in action – God’s love pouring out of us to others. When it comes to "re-presenting" Jesus to our world, it is the mandate of the Master that we, his disciples, function in no less power than he did – and that power is fueled by active love – true, real, living, breathing compassion.  

This God kind of love needs to be the defining character of our lives as it was Jesus’. The signs, wonders and healings that accompanied Jesus' ministry were not just about power but the love he had for a hurting humanity. Compassion was the heartbeat of Jesus’ ministry. Before Jesus worked miracles, he was moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Luke 7:13).

So how does this Christ-like love become a part of who we are? Jesus said he would send the promise of the Father, the precious Holy Spirit, to empower us to do the works of Christ. “Most assuredly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these will he do; because I am going to my Father” (John 14:12 HNV). 

Everything God does is motivated by love ... a love that goes beyond anything we can understand with our natural, human mind. God so loved the world that He "gave" his only begotten son. It all started with love – true love that gives.

"The signs, wonders and healings that accompanied Jesus' ministry were not just about power but the love he had for a hurting humanity."

Jesus came and gave himself for our salvation but he also gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s through the Holy Spirit that we can live the life of love God has called each and every one of us to live. Along with this active love – God’s love in us and through us – the Holy Spirit gave us spiritual gifts. These are gifts and abilities that are beyond any natural gifting we may have. 

The emphasis of the Apostle Paul on this subject of spiritual gifts was that there is a necessity of the manifestations of God's supernatural power through his followers. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given that "all may profit" from the demonstration of Gods presence and power. These supernatural gifts are founded and grounded in the Fathers great love and compassion for meeting the needs of mankind. Each and every spiritual gift works only on the foundation of this God kind of love.

The Apostle Paul's love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 was not to invalidate the operation or manifestation of Spiritual gifts in lieu of love, but rather to show any gift – no matter how noble it would be – a worthless superficial "show" unless it was motivated by passionate redemptive love. There is no competition between the Fruit of the Spirit "love" and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Galatians 5:6 states that even faith "works through love." 

My point? The greater the compassion – love in action – the greater the potential for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the working of miracles. With Christ’s love permeating all of who we are, we can truly live the life we are called to live; doing the same and even greater works (John 14:12).