Thank You Andrew

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ( Romans 12:6-8)

Andrew had a lot to offer. He gived his money and time to charity and organization like Rebuild Africa. He was a friend to many especially my family. Unselfishly, he gave of his time to Val, his kids and others. I still remember when he asked to take Bildine along with his family for apple picking. Bildine still carry that memory today. He did lots of voluntary work. He served as parent helper when I did kids church at the vineyard. He was a peacemaker- Settling disputes among his boys at home and small group members under his supervision. He was a teacher. He taught me Vineyard 201 and I enjoy his teaching. Today I am applying what I learned. That encourages me to understand that he lives on - In me and in every small group leader. He was a minister. I called him my small group pastor. He was a cheerful person, always smiling and giving words of affirmation. I left Boston in 2003. At the time I left, Andrew still look great. I heard about the cancer while in Liberia and pray with all that is in me, asking God to heal and restore Andrew's health. But, today Andrew is asleep. God did not heal his body but instead took him away from the painful body. He is absent from the body and united with Christ 2 Cor. 5:8. As I think about this, I can imagine how happy Christ and the angels must be. Psalms 116:15 say "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." So, Christ is happy!!! As I mourn, I mourn with this one thing in mind, Eventually, God will put an end to death. Rev. 21:4. While we wait for that great getting up morning, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Thank you God for sharing Andrew's life with us. Thank you Andrew's family for sharing Andrew with us and Thank you Andrew for loving us all. We will miss you.


Bartoe Walker

Liberia

Full of life

The night we heard about Andrew's death, Teri and I toasted a glass of wine "To Andrew and Val".  Talking over dinner about interactions we'd had with Andrew, the thing that kept coming up is how we remember Andrew as being full of life.  That phrase really resonated with us, and we shared several memories which fit well with that theme.

Brian Odom

Oh Andrew

It's hard to write about all the ways Andrew's been part of my life. There were all the different classes he taught at the Vineyard, the countless wedding ceremonies he officiated that I attended, the sermons preached, and the leading by example as he shared life's stories with Val during the leading of the Marriage Course. Here are a few specific memories that come to mind:

The first time I met Andrew was in 2001 during my small group that Prashant Murti was leading. I introduced myself to Andrew thinking he was another new person coming to the group only to find out Andrew was observing that night as the Small Groups pastor! (I was still new at the Vineyard at the time).

My first time directly working with Andrew was in 2005 when I was head of the Logistics team at the church and Andrew was one of the main people (in addition to Chi-Ray) overseeing the transition to our new church building. (see accompanying picture as we were touring the construction of the building) I had many conversations with Andrew on the best way to handle all the details of smoothly running our own church as well as how to not exhaust myself in the process. His leadership was invaluable in the important task of taking care of the practical as well as the spiritual needs of people serving. Here is a snapshot from my meeting minutes during that time of tasks to do:

Andrew will take care of how people are doing things, making it more welcoming so people want to serve

I think that sums it up – Andrew wholeheartedly was part of serving the church and meeting people's needs.

Two funny times I remember with Andrew was the time I first started dating my husband and we were walking into church together and were coming in from the parking lot – we were holding hands but when we got closer to the church and I started seeing people (like Andrew) I got embarrassed and let go of my then boyfriend's hand and tried to pretend we hadn't been holding hands. Andrew called me on that and joked with me about my shyness in admitting I was dating (Andrew loved to laugh and have fun!). The other time was when I first visited the Boston site of the church and asked Andrew how things were going as we were walking into service. While holding his cup of coffee, Andrew said, "Great! I love it that I can bring my coffee into the service!" Somehow I think this may have led to the site at Cambridge adopting that privilege when we merged the sites back together… : )

There are moments like these when I just have to laugh at Andrew's candor and good nature. Though I wasn't as closely connected to him and his family, I was definitely touched by his life. While I was looking back on my pictures of events and celebrations at the Vineyard, Andrew is in almost all of them because he was such a huge presence in the church. He will be missed.

Karen Stevenson

LIKE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD

I remember the Boston Vineyard as a 20 person small group over Pu Pu Hot Pot on Main st. I remember the day that Andrew and Val came to Boston and joined the church. I remember Andrew as a man after Gods own heart, a man that imitated Christ in ways that many of us will never reach this side of heaven.

Thank you to Shanti who so eloquently summarized all of my feelings about Andrew's death and the impact that it brought to me. My heart is poured out for Val and the kids. What glorious promises the word has for those who mourn, for those who have given so much. I cannot understand this, but Val, I love you and am holding you up in prayer.

Let us press on toward the goal that Jesus has promised!

Shannon McDonnell

Rota, Spain

Thank you, Andrew.

Andrew, thank you for your kindness. I remember God used you to bring healing and comfort when you prayed for me after service. You encouraged me that God had good plans for my life.

I wanted you to live longer on this earth, but I imagine that it's better up there with Jesus. What do you think of human life now from heaven's perspective? How does it feel to see and experience God/Love so clearly and be freed from brokenness and sin?

I can imagine you cheering us on to run the race well for our King. Thank you for being an example to us of fighting the good fight. Thank you for being a trailblazer to heaven and giving us the gift of wisdom to number our days. Your life lives on in our hearts and spurs us on.

See you again someday.

- Rusan Symons

A True Gentleman

Our family have crossed paths with the Snekviks Senior and junior over the years.

All of them live out Christ in their lives to the full every day. You can never be around

the family without conversation coming around to Jesus and how he is impacting our lives every day.

Andrew possessed this in abundance - although we did not know him as intimately, he is remembered by our children

as a funny, friendly man ready to listen and include you in a crowd.

I remember entering a room on one occasion, unfamiliar with many there, yet Andrew took time to engage me in conversation and make me feel welcome. That was him all over - in essence, enigmatic, a true gentleman, keen observer of people, and our lives are less enriched because of his passing.

Love abundantly,

The Bareham Family.

on losing a comrade

i wrote this in an email recently to a friend with a strong faith of her own, who had expressed condolences and shared the fear that came up for her when confronted with young death:

andrew is the third peer we've lost in the last few years. every time i've gone through a range of reactions, including:

1) this place/time sucks. pardon my language, but that's pretty much the sentiment. death, sickness, evil, injustice are all fruits of the kingdom of darkness, which for now we can only see partially vanquished.

2) so my resolve to fight is strengthened. to make sure that i am wholly dedicated to the kingdom of light and love and rescue. this is a day-by-day struggle, to take care of responsibilities that seem mundane while remembering what exactly is eternal: family, friends, neighbors, enemies, and the work of building the kingdom. much of the time i miss it.

3) with the disciples to say to Jesus, "where else can i go? you alone have the words of eternal life." even when i am angry that He didn't save the life of someone i love, and i just don't get his "Human Resources" decisions, i can still only find life in Him. and that is the only way to deal with the misery of loss. He is a good Lord, and He allows me to come angry, discouraged, frustrated, whatever.

someone once shared the analogy of a field commander and a battlefield. He is in charge, and we will will one day win, but there are losses every day. i don't understand His purposes in allowing those losses, but there are mysterious words in Scripture about the power and productiveness of suffering in His kingdom. it is perhaps our most powerful weapon.

4) to seize the day with the ones i love and live every day with beauty.

5) wondering, like you, what suffering lies ahead. my lifeline is to draw closer to Jesus. perfect love casts out fear. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound thinking. this has been my mantra for many years now and praise God that fear is no longer a dominating presence in my thought life. but i still get harassed with "invitations" to fear and have to keep holding up the truth. my "life verse" chosen by my parents is linked to my name, from Phil. 4: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." this is my prophetic calling, to embrace peace and live in prayer and thanksgiving, come what may.

thanks for engaging on this level of life. it's one of the things i like about you!

peace for today,

shanti