A Year Later...

Today marks the one year anniversary of the home going of a dear servant of Christ. I have thought of Mike often over this past year and miss being able to pick up the phone to speak with him, send an email or text to him or stop by and visit with him. His legacy lives on and in many circles, his name still comes up in conversation as a great man of faith. I thank God for him and his impact on my life and the life of my family.

I wrote this blog the day after he went to be with the Lord last year and wanted to share it with you today.

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​This morning as I was driving in the car, I wept. Selah’s version of “God Blessed The Broken Road” came on. God truly has blessed the broken road that has led me straight to Jesus. My heart was heavy, sad and burdened.
 
Last night we got word that a dear friend and brother in Christ was valiantly ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior. His body has been made perfect and healed and he now rests in the presence of Glory. We praise Him that our dear friend’s suffering is over, but we mourn the loss of a servant of Jesus Christ.
 
Very few things in life stand out as mile markers – you know, those moments in life where you can see a fork in the road so clearly and as you look back on that exact moment, you realize that God was there before the fork in the road, at the fork in the road and with you on whatever road was chosen. For us as a family, one of our mile markers is Mike Fechner.

​Solely by a God-ordained appointment, my husband met Mike Fechner. Their first meeting took place shortly after Mike was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-smoker's lung cancer. He had been given only 18 months to live (he ended up walking this earth for a little over 5 years after that first diagnosis). That God-ordained meeting led us to eventually see Mike share his testimony at the church where he was a former pastor on staff, and at the time a church member.

It is the church we now call home. A church home may not mean a lot to some of you, but for us, it means everything.
 
That one meeting has changed the trajectory and legacy of our family forever. And wherever my testimony is shared for my days on this earth, Mike’s name will be a part of it. His legacy of faith, endurance, perseverance, suffering and taking up his cross daily will live on long past my days.
 
His life and legacy have shifted the kingdom of darkness into light. Not because Mike was Mike, but because he was willing to be broken, bruised, battered and serve out of complete obedience and surrender to the Lord.

​We should all live with that mindset. We should be more consumed with pushing back the kingdom of darkness and ushering the lost into the kingdom of God.
 
God has truly blessed the broken road that has led us to a closer relationship with Him, with fellow believers and with the lost. Part of that blessing was getting to know and do life with Mike and his beloved family.
 
I know without a doubt that Mike was ushered into the presence of God with the words, “well done good and faithful servant” not because he was perfect and sinless, but because he was all in and completely obedient.
 
Mike, until we meet again, we will miss your smile, your charisma, your heart, your boldness and your contagious, joyful love for the Lord.