Elroy Allen

Elroy

Colette, Raymond, Ian, and all family members present, I want to extend my sincere condolences to you, from myself, and certainly from your entire church family.

I’m honored to share this evening but grieving alongside you.

Tragedy never comes at an expected or convenient. This wasn’t something any of us saw coming. It is natural for us all, myself included to ask God why. God why did you allow this happen? Why did you not intervene? We prayed, and we believed.

As a pastor I get asked difficult questions often. I study the Bible and I do research. It’s tempting to try and save face with those who ask me hard questions to simply come up with an answer or possible solution. However, I have learned when I don’t have the answer, its okay to say “I don’t know.” I don’t know why God chooses to give us a yes and perform a miracle sometimes, but not to in other moments. I don’t see from his vantage point. I believe God reveals, in His time, many of the mysteries of our hearts. However He also doesn’t promise an explanation at this time.

What I do know, is God takes no pleasure in the suffering, grieving, or hurting hearts as we go through this trial.

And just as Daniel’s three friends were not spared from the fiery furnace, we can have assurance that the same Jesus who stood with them amongst the flames will stand with us in the midst of this great tragedy.

Its not fair what happened, but as long as sin exists on this planet, fair is not in the equation. And as my colleague in ministry Pastor Josue has said as well, let us not give God the credit for the devil’s work. God is as good as He always has been.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:18 ESV

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Those who are members of this church, and those who knew Elroy best, knew that he was the definition of a servant leader. His voice wasn’t loud, but his actions spoke louder than his voice. And his voice was calming and steadying. A year ago, our church was in transition. 2 new pastors and a church in need of a pathfinder director. We had a wonderful director in Pastor Carlos, but work demands were preventing him from continuing. Who would want to take the job as we were getting closer and closer to the Gillette International Pathfinder camporee. Finally Colette and Elroy, who were already heavily involved in preparing for camporee decided to accept the call and take the reigns as co-directors.

And as we stand, now just a couple months away now and fundraisers complete, pathfinders invested, and we get ready to travel west to Gillette, Wyoming. I can’t say with certainty we’d have been able to even go without the work of Elroy and Colette.

Close a year ago, many of us here were gathered for another memorial for Aaron Owen, a man I had only briefly met a couple times as I was still very new. However the more I learned about him, the fact that he was builder, I said it was evident his finger prints were left all over the triangle area.

Elroy has also left his fingerprints, and his mark on this community. His boys, Raymond and Ian, those whom he led in Adventurers and Pathfinders. The youth of this church are more equipped to serve Jesus in their lives now more than ever because of the tremendous impact of Elroy.

Colette, I was present, when you were delivering the news to your boys of the seriousness of Elroy’s condition following the complications to his procedure. You should know the way you shared I believe should be the example to all parents if they would ever be faced with such a conversation. One precious takeaway for me was your encouragement to find thanksgiving in years gained and memories made following the successful transplant. It does not negate the pain of the present, but I believe is helpful in understanding and appreciating that life is such a gift.

Psalm 73:26 ESV

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

As a pastor, I have certainly met many types of people. I am certainly guilty of misjudging some people. My judgments are not infallible. Having said that, I know I have met many givers, and many takers. Elroy was a giver. The man was not selfish, but embodied selflessness. Pathfinders, here who are listening. As you grow older and have opportunities to lead, my prayer is you will remember your leader Elroy who exuded a quiet strength and lead through service to others without self-seeking.

If Christians want to stand out to the world, let it be by serving those around us the way Elroy did. A man who didn’t complain, but just did, who didn’t worry what others were contributing, but focused on what he could give instead.

With this tragedy that has happened, would you like some good news, and I hope some added perspective.

As we grieve, lets remember it is his family and friends, who are hurting most. They hurt because they continue to walk this sinful world without Elroy. But the next thing Elroy will see will be Jesus, and be joined by his family in a restored body. His peak body.

As we waited in the hospital, I got to talk with Raymond and Ian, two athletes themselves, their running comes from their dad.

I never got to meet peak Elroy peak physically, but he was a peak man, husband and father, if I ever saw one. So we cling to the promises.

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

if combine this passage with Paul’s writing to the believers Thessalonica, I believe we can remember a joyful hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Colette, Raymond, Ian. you have been robbed of many future memories you would have made with your husband and father. But know this. When Jesus comes you will get to meet Jesus together at the same time. That hope is still alive and has not been taken from you. Remember that. Believe that. Be assured of that. The devil will not be able to take that from you.

This week I was thinking about Gillette and our group going out there and how much we are looking forward to experiencing this camporee with the pathfinders. I started thinking, of the lyrics of that wonderful hymn, “when we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout for victory.”

To our pathfinders, when we all get to Gillette, know this was Elroy’s victory as he and Colette paved the way for each of us to be there. They sacrificed, so that you could have that special time.

It is but just a glimpse of the lengths and sacrice Jesus endured so we could have reunions in Heaven.

Until that time we will grieve our loss of our friend and brother Elroy but we praise God for the time he blessed us.

Even still, come Lord Jesus!

Let us pray.