Almost 2 weeks ago Renee and I loaded our 3 kids (4 if you count Kenzington Raine, who is due to arrive in 6 and a half weeks!) in our mini-van and headed to the Great White North, my home country of Canada. We were going to Waterloo, Ontario, the city in which we pastored for 6 years. We were excited about this trip because we were going to get to see and spend time with some of the best friends we have ever made.
While we were there Renee and I both were given the opportunity to minister at Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly, our former church. It was a wonderful thing just to sit in the Sunday morning service and sense the presence of God and to see and hear Pastor Marshall preach the word of God. One of the greatest gifts God ever gave to WPA and to the Matchetts has been the friendship and leadership of Pastor Marshall and Merrie Eizenga.
On Monday, June 7th, we went to go see Pastor Gwen Lipke. Pastor Gwen served on our staff when we pastored in Waterloo and if you ever met Gwen you knew she had a pastor's heart. Her love of people, in my opinion, was without an equal. She reminds me of Mother Teresa. Her commitment and compassion towards those who are hurting is something that I always admired and I have asked God to give me more of that which she had.
Back to Monday, June 7th. We went to see Gwen. For the past 2 years she has been fighting a battle with cancer. Although when we arrived you would have never known it. She was the same old Gwen. Positive, smiling, pleasant, and praising God. There was no bitterness. There wasn't any blaming God. There was only gratitude and thanksgiving. Man, that hit me.
As we left we took pictures. Little did she or anyone else know that within 48 hours her battle would be over. On Wednesday evening of the same week, Pastor Gwen passed away. She will be missed but her legacy, her example, her love for God and for people will live on because it lives on in all of us who knew her. For all of us who knew her were changed because of her. Thank you Pastor Gwen.
Pastor Gwen Lipke: A Class Act.
A Chosen Vessel.
A Life Well Spent.
2 comments:
Great blog, Todd. Pastor Gwen was definitely one of a kind and left a legacy in many lives. She will forever be missed and never forgotten. My prayer is that I would have the same kind of impact in other's lives - that I would love and live like the example Gwen left right up until her last earthly breath. I AM A LIFE THAT WAS CHANGED!!!
I concur!
Interestingly, my own mother's name is Gwen. Pastor Gwen called me her son, not in the same way that my mother calls me son, but in the same way that Paul called Timothy his son. Missing you Mom.
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