By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Ps.116:15)

Ever since the ‘Fall of Man’ death has been with us. Life is filled with times of joy and times of sorrow. The death of a loved one or a friend is always painful. And for the Church and society at large, the death of a leader in the Christian Community is an enormous loss.

Jeannette Calahasen’s death is heaven’s gain and earth’s loss! She will be missed dearly by her immediate and extended family as well as many Christians across the nation!

St. Paul wrote: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: Yet what I shall choose I know not. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide is more needful for you.” (Phil.1: 21-24)

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor.5: 6, 8)

I know that Jeannette would have preferred to still be among us, but her life was in God’s hands and He does all things well. The Holy Scripture states: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom.8: 28)

It has been my pleasure to have known Jeannette Calahasen as a friend and colleague in the Ministry for many years and will miss her. I first met her and her husband Roland in High Prairie when she began singing in our Crusades, and then later in Faith Cathedral (now People’s Church) when together we started the Native Revival Church in the Fellowship Hall.

BORN AGAIN AT MIDNIGHT!

I’ll never forget the night I met her husband Roland and was invited to spend the night at their home in Gruard. After a midnight snack and some serious ‘table talk’ concerning the claims of Jesus Christ, Roland knelt on the kitchen floor in repentance and faith.

As he prayed the “sinner’s prayer” he was overcome by the Holy Spirit and keeled over on the floor. Jeannette and I joined Roland in joyful prayer as he confessed his sins and invited Jesus into his heart and life. The RCMP Constable was born again!

My prayers go out to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ precious name for the Calahasen family. May God sustain you and fill the void that Jeannette’s death has created. When John the Baptist was martyred, his disciples buried his body and then they went to Jesus and told Him all about it!

That’s the bottom line. He is the ONLY ONE who understands and will help us all through it! Amen.