Tonight, I'll Be at Memorial, but I'll Be Celebrating a Life Elsewhere

We're coming up on a year since Mr. Jackowiak's untimely death, but tonight something special is happening to help remember his life and impact at Concord. Bill Beck actually wrote a pretty decent article on "Jake." You can see it here.

I was impacted by Mr. Jackowiak. So were a number of other people. This is a fitting tribute to a man that helped make so many into the people they are today.

Thanks Jake.

GC

Honoring a Hero(ine)

Joan Andrews-Warrior

When I began Sunday School teaching at Faith UMC, I thought that the only one that was thinking and praying for me was the awesome Jon Andrews. A few years later and a commitment to the SOAR Program at NMC and I found out much differently.

I remember the day so vividly. We were being introduced to the congregation as the Summer SOAR class of 2008. Myself and 6 other people that would be ministering to children, students and young adults for the summer. Clearly, we would need all the prayer we could get. It was that morning that I found out, someone had been praying for me for a long time.

I believe it was second service and I saw Larry, Jon's dad who I had met before and went to introduce myself. And it was in that moment that I met Joan. She told me, "I've been praying for this day for a long time."

Wow.

I couldn't even comprehend why someone would pray for me; let alone for the day that I officially entered a ministry that wasn't back home. But even more than that, SHE NEVER EVEN MET ME! I didn't realize it then, but after some time to reflect and process through that moment, I was so blessed because of Joan Andrews and her dedication to prayer.

Today and tomorrow, Joan's friends and family will begin to celebrate and remember the life of this great warrior. I know she's dancing in Heaven, because Jon told me so. But I am so thankful and blessed because Joan Andrews chose to be eternally minded and knew the power of asking her Lord and Savior to come and guide my life. I will miss her, but know that she joins a number of beautiful soldiers in singing praises to our King as they watch over us.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Joan Andrews, for:

supporting your son who poured into me and continues to pour into me
raising a family that knows the Lord and their bright faces bring joy to me in ministry
praying for me, when you didn't even know who you were praying for
being the devoted prayer warrior and devoted follower of Christ that you were

A Testament to a Hero

A great man he was. Larry Jackowiak, or "Jake" as he was always called around Concord, went to be with the Lord early this morning. A longtime leader of leaders at Concord, the former baseball coach, athletic director, and Concord Community administrator was truly the definition of a Minuteman. Giving of his time, talents and passion to provide students with and education that lasts, Jake was a devoted father, passionate Cubs and Bears fan, and an awesome neighbor who was a great mentor from afar for a number of years to me.

I know that he will be greatly missed by hundreds, if not thousands, of the lives that he touched through all of the things that he was involved with.

It hasn't set in yet, but I know that there is a place in my heart that is more empty because of his passing. My prayers today go out to his wife Robin, my friends and his sons, Adam and Eric, and his daughter Amy. May the love of their community and the peace of the Lord wrap around them and remind them that they are deeply loved.