“During her cancer journey, I would often tell her that I’m jealous; jealous that she gets to be with Jesus before me.”

Sitting and hearing Ernie’s story reminded me of a foundational truth that I so often forget; eternity with Jesus is the hope that we cling to. It’s an easy Sunday school lesson, but in trials, eternity can seem forever away, hope can be displaced, and pain can leave us grasping. As I sat at the kitchen table over a cup of tea, I saw the faith of a man who knew where his hope rested.

Ernie, now living in Oregon, has been a missionary with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) for 30-plus years. He was serving in Austria as a church planter when he met and fell in love with Suzy at a GEM annual conference. They soon wed and continued serving with GEM, mainly in Kosovo and with the refugee crisis in Greece. Many exciting opportunities came their way, including Suzy becoming the vice president of GEM and adopting two children (the first children with disabilities in Kosovo to be adopted by foreigners!). The family’s ministry was diverse and changed as needed. “[We were] committed to doing what God has asked us to do. What did he ask? To reach the world for Christ.”

Ernie and Suzy returned to North America in July 2017 to better care for their disabled adult children as programs in Kosovo were nonexistent. GEM offered ministry opportunities in the U.S. office before Suzy was diagnosed with cancer in August 2019. Suzy battled cancer and passed away on September 16, 2020.

“God’s goal is that people are with him for eternity. Eternity with Jesus. That is the hope,” Ernie said, “So when Suzy was dying, we grieved together, but we also talked about the hope of us living with Christ. Suzy lived out her hope. And now she’s with Jesus.”

Eternity with Jesus is a life-changing hope. For Ernie and Suzy, it led them to serve abroad, to adopt, and to train others going into the mission field. It’s also the kind of hope that shows a grander perspective to Ernie in the midst of tragedy.

Follow the thread of Christ-followers throughout the centuries and it’s remarkably easy to find the narrative of ordinary people who held onto this hope. These were men and women who saw hunger, war, and death, while at the same time knowing that this world is not their home.

Ernie continues to serve with GEM. You can find him on his computer or over the phone accepting new GEM applicants; discipling, encouraging, and coaching new appointees in their fund-raising efforts; and mentoring Kosovo field leaders.

As I sat at that kitchen table with him, I saw a mature hope in Christ, marked by grief, being lived out.