Celebration of Life: Ron Lohrman

Celebration of Life for Ron Lohrman

It was back in 2020 that I first met Ron Lohrman. Ron and Julie, as well as their immediate family, had reached out to Pastor and Sister Noles about being baptized.

It was during the peak of COVID-19, where many churches were closed; however, Gateway was open for anyone who was willing to take a step toward Jesus.

Peter’s first message can be found in Acts 2:38

Quote - make sure to describe how these steps enable us to be in covenant with God through the gospel

It is through Repentance that we die out to our sinful way

It is through Baptism in Jesus name that we become buried with Christ

It is through the Spirit that we can have relationship with Christ who is God

By these three aspects of salvation, we can enter the gate, where Jesus said:

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6)

I had the privilege of baptizing Ron on that very special day. Quite a bit of time would pass before Ron got back into church after being baptized. It wouldn’t be until a year or so later that Ron and his family got founded in the church. Once Ron’s mind was made up, there was no keeping him from pursuing the Lord. He loved God and constantly desired to grow closer to Him. For some reason, he had grown found of me as well. He was my friend. He once told me, “you were the one who baptized me - we’ll be connected in a special way for life!”

What Ron stated was so true, but I’m thankful we were connected by the same God through the Spirit. Just this past November, Ron received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance. Spiritually, we were connected, but we were able to be connected through a love known only through Jesus Christ’s Spirit!

He had an insatiable hunger for Jesus…I wish more would have caught that same Spirit before the Lord called him home.

Like Ron, I had a bit of commuting to do for work. He had to travel to Crestview, where I would travel to Eglin AFB from Panama City. We had many conversations on the way to work, where I would call him and we’d just talk about the Lord. I tried to be an encouragement to him, but he often an encouragement to me.

Ron was always positive, even when life got tough. Just recently, him an his family dealt with a tornado in Panama City Beach. While God’s hand of protection was on him and his family, there was damage done to their house. Ron kept a godly attitude and maintained hope through it all.

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Ron was just a good man, period. However, he became an even better man when he began a walk with Jesus. When the light of the Lord begins to shine through your spirit, something sets you apart that words just can’t describe.

Ron and I enjoyed talking about our military careers. He was the go-to man for parts when it came to repairing the Black Hawks. So much so that one of the pilots decided to give him a ride. He would always talk about that and how cool it was. I’m not going to lie, I would of loved to do that!

Ron was found faithful in his service to our Country - further, Ron was found faithful in serving the Lord. He always had the right spirit when showing up for a church work day.

Those who are found faithful get to do things that no other people do - in this case, he got to take a flight with the Captain of his soul, Jesus Christ.

John 14:16–17 KJV 1900

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:16-17

I am so thankful that he was filled with the Spirit just over three months ago! God is an on-time God.

Today, I like you hate saying goodby to a friend - but I know this isn’t really goodby. I’ve made up in my mind that I’m going to see Ron again. I’m going to finish the race and see Jesus and Ron Lohrman.

Today, I invite you to do the same and make a bold proclamation that can be found in the book of Joshua:

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Ron made the bold proclamation: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Ron took on the mindset of Jesus Christ and allowed the Spirit to transform him into a servant of the most high God, Jesus Christ. Let us serve the Lord together in hope, faith, and love!