Personal From Ministerial and Member Services
As I write this morning, I am still quite stunned by the news of the sudden and unexpected death of another of our beloved pastors, Shawn Cortelyou. I’m sure that many of you have had the same reaction. Shawn was one of our younger pastors, just 50 years old. Of course, all our hearts go out to Shawn’s wife, Beth, and their three daughters, and to Shawn’s parents, Larry and Terri Cortelyou, elder and wife in the Central Illinois congregation. Quite a few of our teenagers and young adults also knew Shawn, as he was Camp Director at Camp Woodmen for seven years, up until 2018. Shawn also served as Council of Elders reporter since 2013. Shawn’s warm smile will be greatly missed by all of us. Your prayers for the entire Cortelyou family are greatly appreciated.
Barbara and I are now making plans to visit both the Elkhart and Munster, Indiana, congregations which Shawn has pastored since 2009. Hopefully another winter storm that seems to be brewing won’t make travel difficult.
Deaths such as this one always sober me in regard to the fact that there are no guarantees for any of us individually when it comes to the length of our physical lives. Time and chance happen to us all (Ecclesiastes 9:11). “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). But God has also promised to never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And God will provide as we turn to Him in faith at difficult times such as this one. God will help us cope through these very tough and trying times.
I always long and yearn for the coming of God’s Kingdom in its fullness. At times like this, I am always grateful for this calling to truth and understanding of the human condition, and of the incredible potential for all of us to thrive in eternity as God’s glorified children.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago and spend a few nights with one of our newest pastors—but long-time faithful member and elder—Bill Bradford, and his wife Joanne and their son Bill. I greatly appreciate their warm hospitality. It was wonderful getting to know them all better. On the Sabbath, Bill and I traveled to Beloit, Wisconsin, where we have a small congregation with faithful long-time members, and a few newer and younger members. As often happens on these congregational visits, I became reacquainted with a member who had stayed in our home in Hudsonville, Michigan, when he was attending a singles activity about 30 years ago! It was really great to see him in attendance, continuing to contend for the faith once delivered!
Bill and I also had the opportunity to spend part of the evening with elder and wife, Galen and Corinne Morrison, and with Artis Roenspies, widow of the former pastor of the Beloit congregation, David Roenspies. I believe that Barbara and I may have met the Roenspies for the first time attending the Feast in Alaska and the Morrisons at the Feast many years ago in the Wisconsin Dells. Sometimes it is difficult to remember exactly when old-timers like us first met! It was really wonderful to enjoy such a fine Sabbath and to fellowship with brethren and servants of like mind!
Bill and I had several hours to talk and to discuss many different issues at their home and as we traveled back and forth to Beloit. Although I am not sure when that will be, I plan to visit the Chicago congregation and am already looking forward to that trip and visiting the brethren there! I so wish Barbara and I could visit both Randy and Mary D’Alessandro on that visit, but we look forward to spending time with Mary. We also look forward to seeing our good friend, Randy, a bit later on—as we hold the hope of the resurrection so dear and precious as we fondly remember him!
Wishing you all a very rewarding, inspiring, and peaceful Sabbath day!
