Pastor Robin Schara / Director of Global Missions and Women’s Ministry
But in your hearts revere Christ as
Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
As
I sit here to write this engaging story, Ben Sauer's funeral is tomorrow and that is
all that seems to be on my mind. Nothing else seems as important right now. By
the time you read this the celebration service will be several days past and I
am sure we will all be talking about what a great celebration of Ben’s life it was and of the strong, incredible faith of Andy and Mindy.
Reading
their blog, I am humbled to ask the question, 'Is my faith as strong?' I know I am
not alone; many have expressed the same feelings. Until we traverse the trials
in life, do we really know the answer of that question? What we have learned
from Andy and Mindy is how God gives grace in the measure that is needed just
at the right time that it is needed.
As
we pray the next few days, weeks and months lift the entire Sauer and Albrecht
families up on these very hard days, remembering Ben’s legacy. I have a sense
Ben’s story is not over yet. God has more to tell and share through Ben and his
entire family. For some reason God has picked this special little boy in suburbia
Clarence to impact a large metropolitan area and beyond to put hope on the face
of heartbreak.
Then
something dawned on me. Mindy’s blog and Ben's story have given me the
opportunity to speak about God to so many people who in the past were not open
to spiritual conversations. Their story has opened the door for me to share
God’s story. To share what an amazing, grace-filled God He is. I know I am not
the only one; we all have been having these conversations that God has been
preparing us to have. It’s exactly what the Bible tells us to do in 1 Peter
3:15. I like how The New Living Translation states this verse: “Instead, you
must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian
hope, always be ready to explain it.”
Let
Ben’s life be an inspiration to us to continue to tell others about the hope we
have in Jesus.