Home with Jesus
[Pastor Joe of Abounding Grace baptizing Caleb Stevens last August.] Ten-year old missionary Caleb Stevens went home to be with Jesus in a car accident in Western Maryland this morning. Details are still sketchy.
Caleb, a cherished member of our ministry family, had committed his summer to work alongside his parents with Chain Reaction. His dad is one of my dearest friends and ministry partner.
Please pray for Caleb's parents Matt and Katy Stevens and his brothers Josh, Micah, and Jacob.
Please also pray for Joe and Sheri Miller and their children Brandon, Sam, and Hanah. Joe works with Matt coordinating Chain Reaction events throughout the country. Sheri, Josh, Brandon, and Sam were also in the accident and are in the hospital as I write this.
The Stevens family at a Christmas party at my home in December 2003.
Big brother Josh (2nd from L) survived the accident.
Joe and Sheri Miller and their family.
Sheri and sons Brandon and Sam also survived the accident.
posted by Jeremy Del Rio @ 8/05/2005 11:54:00 AM
13 Comments:
I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. My heart and prayers will go out to the parents and to the brethen who have been hospitalized
peace-rich
Jer.. We are praying for the Lord to comfort and console these precious ones by His Holy Spirit. We are trusting for miraculous and speedy healing on those who are injured.
In Him,
Bobby <><
Dear Pastor Jeremy:
I am so sorry to hear about this.. even when we know a loved one goes with our God.. we as human beings are hurt with the loss and how it might affect those who knew him best. That is my grandson's name.. Caleb.. I will surely lift up this lovely family in prayer.. and your church family.. and for Sheri, Josh and Sam as they recover physically and emotionally from this tragedy. God is ever present with those who love Him. He will sustain each one of us who cherish everyone in His Service.
I love you, Odette
Dear Jeremy,
I am so grieved to hear this news. This is Matt whom I met with when I had the meeting with you, right? I can only imagine how all of you must be feeling right now. My heart goes out to you and especially to Matt and his family.
Prayers are with everyone,
Sandy
Here's Life Inner City
Hi Jer, sorry to hear about Caleb. Man, that's too bad. I pray that his family be comforted only as the Lord knows how to comfort at a time like this. I can't even imagine what they must be going through. (What a gift though, if only for 9 years, a nine yr. old missionary.) I know that's easy for me to say, actually, it's not. I pray that the family receive the comfort and support they need at a time like this.
- Michael
Dear Jeremy:
This is tragic for two families and yourself. Be assured of our prayers for the Steven's in the passing of little Caleb. He is with Jesus but what a loss to his parents and the ministry.
I am praying for the Miller's as well. May God's comforting love and healing power be with that and do a miracle for Sherri, Josh and Sam during their hospital stay.
Sometimes we wonder why things happen to His servants... but He will reveal and bring glory to His Name thru this.
Please keep us informed as to the progress of all the families... I will be praying daily for all, you especially as you deal with this.
In His Powerful Name,
Ethel at CCC
my prayers and thoughts go out to this family
Jeremy, I'm sorry to hear the news. Tell your friends that El Acceso will be praying for them.
i am praying for this family
We are praying though the pain...please let us know what ever we can do...
- Jeffrey
jeremy,
i met the two boys on several occasions starting at grace ranch last summer and was extremely fond of them and how matt has raised them. i'm deeply saddened as caleb was such a sweet child with so much life yet to live. could i please have a way to contact matt and his wife, whatever you think is appropriate, email, phone or address. i've just gotten home from
work and i will tell the girls in the morning and we will pray for the families. would you keep us up to date on the condition of the others involved. thank you.
chris eddy
I will pray. I know this must be a terribly traumatic time for you all.
Bless you my friend.
Chad
Peggy and I have been thinking lots of the families who were involved in the accident. We have spent time with the Lord listening to Him as to how to pray for them. We have prayed back to Him what we heard and we will continue to do so.
It is probably unimaginable the grief for both families. We think Sherri should our own special prayer target. Of course, the evil one will target her in a vicious manner for his fiery darts of accusation. He will also accuse her to the family whose son died as a result of the accident. So we are praying that both families will be drawn even closer together to the Lord and each other during this time and for the future as well.
Angie, both mom and I could sense your own deep grief as you shared this news with us. We know Richard that you too will be deeply grieved at this situation as well. It is good at this time to remember that being able to feel both joy and grief is a wonderful gift from God. Please remember that Jesus wept and it is healthy for us to do the same. We are praying that you will have the freedom to weep.
In some of the African countries when a person dies the relatives sit out under a tree for 15 days. Everyone in the area comes by to share the grief and ask the person to tell all the details of the death. They are wise enough to know that it is healthy to talk about the loved one and death. The bereaved talk it out rather than bottling it up. In other words they do not suppress their grief but openly let it out again and again.
We remember the passage of Isaiah 53:3-4 that assures us that Jesus is very familiar with grief (3). Then in verse (4) we are told that He has already born our "grief's" (plural) and carried our "sorrows." This is much like forgiveness. We are already totally forgiven. Yet, we must lay hold of this by faith for it to be a reality in our lives. So, we are not made to carry the load of grief or sorrow. Jesus is able and willing to take that load from us and carry it for us. We have seen many people just come into a conscious awareness of His presence and ask Him to take their grief or sorrow. He has done that and their heart was freed and their burden lifted. We encourage you, if you are burdened, to do this for yourselves. If you have an opportunity to minister to others you can go with them into a conscious awareness of His presence with them and lead them to give their burden to Him.
Never does a situation arise like this that I do not remember the words of Charles Spurgeon that goes something like this. "God is too loving to be unkind and too wise to make a mistake. So, when we cannot trace (follow) the hand of God we can still trust the heart of God." My understanding is that when I cannot understand what God is doing I can still trust that His action/s come from a heart of love.
Please know that mom and I love you and are praying for you at this time. We will continue to pray for you and the families who has the loss and the church families involved.
His grace and peace to you,
Clarence and Peggy
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