A week ago Saturday our community, and teens/families in our church, suffered the loss of 19 year old Andrew Marketich. Andrew was very close to one of our families in the church, a number of students, and I knew him through my work at the local Christian school where he graduated from in 2006.
I was asked to co-officiate the funeral and embraced the opportunity to help in any way possible. It was very difficult to spend 3 hours at the viewing and repeatedly witness people physically, emotionally, and spiritually go through that part of the grieving process. The most tragic reality was that many of Andrews peers do not have a living understanding of Jesus Christ. Though many others do, I cannot escape the eternal dangers of those who choose to live a silent faith among their peers and those they have the greatest influence. This thought came out as a rather emotional challenge to my students this past Sunday morning. When will WE share the hope that changes everything... including times like this! If we do not... what does that say?
Matthew 10:32-33 ~ 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Please pray for the Marketich family and Andrews friends. Andrew leaves behind three brothers and one sister. Pray that those of his friends who know the living Christ will have opportunity to share with those that do not. Be responsible with the hope you've been given through Jesus. LIVE RESPONSIBLY! LOVE RESPONSIBLY!
1 comment:
I'm so sorry.
I didn't know him personally, or at all really. But i know what it's like to lose someone. I'm still getting over Casey Reist, and that was almost a year ago. Rest In Peace Andrew & Casey. They're in a better place, waiting for us. It's going to be hard to get through, for everyone. Rest In peace Andrew.
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