A few weeks ago on June 25, 2008, at our local church, my family and I had the pleasure of listening to mega-church pastor Greg Laurie as he gave his testimony of how he came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. A close personal friend of our local pastor, Pedro Garcia, Greg obviously gave our church priority as he made the rounds, essentially to promote the national release of his autobiographical work, Lost Boy: My Story. To be sure, I was intrigued also in a professional capacity. His Bastard Hippie to Power Preacher story was already making the news wires, and I felt compelled to attend. His is an incredible story of God's grace and redemption, and I walked away from that service determined to highlight and chronicle the event, and his message, in one of the blogs for this magazine. Without a doubt, his childhood story of fatherlessness and chronic family dysfunction is riveting and contemporary, and falls within the scope of The Real Proposal magazine. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I felt in my spirit the need to wait — that, perhaps, the "story" had not yet fully unfolded. Now, I understand why.
On Thursday, July 24, 2008, Greg Laurie suffered every parent's worst nightmare. His much-beloved son, Christopher, 33, was killed in a tragic motor vehicle accident on Riverside Freeway in Corona, California, when the station wagon being driven by Christopher collided with a Department of Transportation tractor in the car pool lane. Even more poignant is the fact that Christopher is survived not only by his loving parents, Greg and Cathe, but also his very pregnant wife, Brittany — who is due in November — and their infant daughter, Stella, who turned two on Saturday, just two days after the accident. As it turns out, Greg Laurie's Lost Boy story is destined to become only part of his testimony to the world. Indeed, the real story of Greg Laurie became abundantly clear on Sunday, July 27, 2008, three days after the devastating loss of his son, when he got up in front of his 15,000-member strong Harvest Christian Fellowship congregation to declare unequivocally and with great forbearance to the world, "I still believe." To be sure, the video above bears witness to what must be his finest moment as an evangelist, that defining hour — given, perhaps, only once in a lifetime — when the world looks on to see how personal tragedy and horrific circumstances challenge our faith in a loving God who has declared, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
On so many levels, and specifically through this tragedy whether he yet realizes it or not, Greg Laurie has already been elevated to a higher level of calling. It is our hope that he takes the time and space to do whatever is necessary to mourn the loss of his son. But there can be no doubt that he has now been given a broader platform to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And there can be no doubt that he has been equipped with an even greater capacity to present God's plan of salvation, which gives the world hope for eternity through the belief that death has been swallowed up in victory. What's more, there is also further opportunity to connect with countless others who have suffered significant loss but who find themselves not quite as able or equipped spiritually to navigate the minefield of recovery. Many parents, even those who know God in a personal way, are deeply challenged when a child dies. To be sure, not everyone has the strength, the capacity, or the wisdom to comprehend Job's cry — echoed by Greg Laurie — in the face of similar adversity, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away: may the name of the Lord be praised."
Inconceivable as it might be to even contemplate, how exactly does one survive the death of one's child? Indeed, how does one survive when life dictates the loss of several children to unrelated causes, as was the fate endured by Stephen R. Marsh and his wife, Winifred — the parents of five girls, Jessica, Heather, Courtney, Robin, and Rachel, three of whom have died in early childhood? Stephen writes, "The death of a child is a terrible loss that destroys many families. Often the fate of a family or some of its members hangs by a thread." And this is clearly a sentiment reiterated by Carol Staudacher in her BeliefNet article, The Journey Through Sorrow: When a Child Dies— Surviving the death of dreams, in which she articulates a parent's deep sense of loss:
"... As a parent, you're supposed to be the provider, the nurturer, the protector, the mentor, the guide. You invest love and hope and certain beliefs in your son or daughter. But most of all, you do not outlive your child. When tragedy strikes and you do bury a child, you're faced with reconstructing a life that has been suddenly robbed of its parental responsibilities and joys..."
What's more, the deep personal sense of loss in not limited to the parents whose child dies. As Donna Lamb, LSCSW writes in her article entitled, Surviving the Death of a Child:
"...Numerous secondary losses accompany the death of a child, including loss of the family as it existed prior to the death. Surviving children lose the emotional, and perhaps physical, availability of their parents, grandparents “lose” their children to parental grief and spouses lose the support of each other–each whose emotional plate is so full that they cannot be there for the other. The impact of a child’s death on a marital relationship cannot be underestimated. Neither parent will be the same person as they were before the death..."
Stephen R. Marsh indicates in his essay that, after such loss, it is only through loving and understanding, and by the pure knowledge of God — without hypocrisy and without guile — that families can be supported in their pain and aided on the path to healing. And, indeed, it is our profound belief as well that we are called into such places of adversity, not for our devastation, but to overcome the circumstances and, ultimately, show others the way out. The Bible declares that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Therefore, the difference has to be found in how, as Christians, we navigate the mud puddles as well as the storms of life.
To say, within the context of a national media blitz to promote his Lost Boy work, as well as his church's upcoming, world-renowned Harvest Crusades — which kick off at Angel Stadium this August 15-17 — that the eyes of the world have been focused on Greg Laurie would be an understatement. Which is all the more why we are grateful for the powerful images Greg and his family have presented so far of God's grace and sufficiency, which God Himself has declared is sufficient for the day. We pray for the Laurie family right now that they rise to the challenge that God has allowed to their door. May they rest in the assurance that Christopher was no Lost Boy in this life, and neither is he in the next. May they find healing and recovery through God's amazing grace and their commitment to finish the race that has been set before them.
In closing, I am reminded that, through the prophet Isaiah, God challenges us to remember, "The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find peace as they lie in death."
Rest in Peace, Christopher Laurie.
EDITOR'S NOTE (08-01-08): A private memorial service was held for Christopher Laurie on Friday, August 1, 2008 at 11 a.m., Pacific Time. You may watch the service by visiting Harvest.org, or clicking here. You may also pass along condolences and thoughts for the Laurie family by posting comments on Greg's blog.
RELATED SITE: The Christopher Laurie Memorial Fund
RELATED RESOURCE: Greg Laurie Archive World Net Daily
RELATED VIDEO (BELOW): Lost Boy: The Documentary Trailer.
(To order the 90-minute film version of Lost Boy: The Documentary on DVD, click here or visit The Real Proposal e-shop)
9 comments:
An amazing example of unshakable faith in the midst of calamity. When you think about this situation, (as you also mention in your article) there is more than one death that occurred through the passing of this young man. In this one person, not only did a son die, but a father, a husband, a brother, a best friend, and an integral member of a family unit. When we lose someone we love, it is so easy to question God's faithfulness. It seems like our whole world has been shattered in an instant. But at the same time, we remember that we have hope, even in the darkest hour. They are gone from us in body, but are forever alive in spirit. They're impact on our lives will forever live on. And the legacy they leave behind can be even greater than the lives they lived. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and what Satan means for evil, God brings good out of it. In the end, we always see that God has not left or forsaken us, but that He had been the one giving us the strength to carry on the entire time. We learn that in Him, we are stronger than any obstacle put in our path. And in Him, we can use our haertaches and our mess to become our heartfelt messages to reach out to others. As Greg says, to God be the glory!
"God, help me to see things the way you do." This has been my perpetual prayer as I reflect on the numerous sufferings and tragedies faced by God-fearing Christians today. Two months ago, gospel singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman lost his five-year-old girl - his "Cindrella". Now Greg Laurie and his son! Anyone who has viewed Greg Laurie's documentary "Lost Boy" can attest to the fact that this man had an extremely rough childhood. You would think that his days of suffering were over and he would enjoy his later years in peace. Yet obviously God had planned otherwise.
You would think that those who sell their lives out for God would enjoy His peace and rest. Yet more times than not, I have seen that the opposite is true. God often tests His people to their breaking point and then finally says enough right before they crack.
Don't get me wrong. I have been a Christian from a very early age, and love the Lord with all my heart. I firmly belive in His sovereignty and that His ways are higher than ours. Yet I realize that I must be honest about how I often feel. In my own life I have witnessed those closest to me - and myself - suffering for the glory of God. Daily you must take up your cross and follow Christ - in joys and in suffering. Yet sometimes I feel as if we, His children, are reaching out to Him praying for Him to intervene and save us from a particular situation and He responds by letting us fall flat on our faces. BUT! We should be comforted. Why? Because there is this deep "cosmic reason" that we just cannot understand at the moment and in the meantime we should not question Him about it. Not very comforting!
I humbly ask the Lord's forgiveness because I realize that this is the wrong attitude. The last thing I want is to be resentful toward God. Hence my prayer, "God help me to see things the way You do." Yet when I see situation after situation arise where I see God's people suffering, I can't help but wonder, "God, can such suffering truly be justified? It brings You glory, but what about the pan it brought us?" I pray that Greg Laurie finds the comfort and support he needs in God. And may his family make it through this storm with their faith still in tact. In spite of it all, may he (and others going through sufferings, myself included) continue to say, "The name of the Lord be praised."
Cristina,
Your comment breaks my heart. I completely understand where you're coming from, but you cannot allow what you see to dictate your faith or how you perceive situations. Our entire Christian walk is based not on what we see occurring in the moment, but on what God has promised us. And He promises never to leave us or forsake us. He promises never to give us more than we can bear. And He promises to be our strong tower whom the righeous run to and are safe.
It is hard to understand why God allows certain things. But we MUST continue to trust that ALL things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That means YOU, ME, GREG LAURIE, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, and anyone else who cals upon the name of the Lord. Do not let Satan discourage or deceive you. God sees all, and no suffering goes unnoticed. Often time our greatest testimonies are birthed out of suffering. When we ask God to use us, we have to surrender to whatever that plan He has for us may be. But rest assured that His plan is not for our destruction, but to give us hope and a future. And to bring others into a relationship with Him. We serve a BIG God, and when He does things, it's not for one person, but for the salvation and redemption of many. Stay encouraged, sister!
Great post! I didn't know anything about Greg Laurie before readng this and watching the video, but he definitely seems like a man of great character. Exactly the kind of preacher we need to see more of today - who lives what he preaches even in the tough times. Too many of these fame-seeking hypocrites out there!
WOW! Our prayers go out to this strong man of God and his family.
Words of comfort from our family to the family of Greg Laurie and all his church members and those who had the oppurtunity to know him, are so small when we know that his son has gone home to be with his heavenly father, sad though it is, he has made our faith so much stronger and all we can do is pray that our heavenly father makes us stronger to help each other thru times like these. May God strengten the family thru this sad period and show us how strong we can be when we have the Father beside us.
Thank you for this article that pays tribute and gives honor to the Laurie family. I am so, so grateful for the Internet and publications like yours that devote time and energy to the people that make a POSITIVE difference in this world, as Greg Laurie has. Here is a REAL story that can truly impact others in a positive and powerful way. And where is CNN, People magazine, Time magazine, and Newsweek with this story? Too busy it would appear, chasing the trainwrecks they consider newsworthy, who will eventually turn up either in the county jail or in a body bag, which they can then turn around and mull over like vultures looking for the pickings.
I was so grateful for this article and the references given, which I have forwarded to a friend who has recently suffered the loss of her daughter. Sometimes when people lose their loved ones it is so difficult to find the right words to say to them personally. Sometimes, what can possibly be said that would cut through their pain? But here is a man who shows the way through the sheer grace of God. I am sure he will look back at this time and know for 100% sure that it was God who carried Him. What an inspiration!
Nice piece. I very much appreciated hearing Greg Laurie's take on the kind of suffering appointed for Christians because there are so many people who don't get this aspect of God's "refining" process... the kind of "shaking" of the shakable things in our lives that He just about promises, so that the unshakable aspects of our faith and character can be developed. As a matter of fact, how many Christians are told to expect this aspect of the Christian walk when they come to accept Jesus Christ? Didn't most of us think that our troubles were over now that we were "saved", and that we were all just going to enter into the "kingdom of God" singing Kumbaya? :)
There are too many evangelists that gloss over this aspect of the Christian walk in their salvation message, which typically leaves baby Christians in for a rude awakening when God's "discipline" begins to unfold...sooner rather than later. For sure no one explained that all hell would break loose in my life after I came to Christ! There are so many times that God doesn't seem to make sense, but we are called to trust that there is a purpose and a plan in everything he brings to our door. And in spite of all I too have endured, I also still believe!
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