Have you ever watched something happen to a friend that the very thought of it happening to you brings tears to your eyes or trembling to your heart? I remember waking up one morning in high school to the news that the dad of one of my good friends had a heart attack or stroke and passed away in the middle of the night. As my parents and siblings talked, I quietly went back upstairs and sat crying in my room because I couldn’t imagine losing my dad like my friend had. I prayed for him and also asked the LORD, “please give me more years with my dad.”

Well, last month our family was hit with the hardest news I’ve ever received. My younger brother, Joshua, who is married with five kids, was making one of his usual Wednesday evening flights and flew by his cabin to greet a neighbor when some combination of nature and mechanical failure caused his plane to suddenly go to ground. Joshua died in the crash.

I’m still in shock and it’s hard to believe he’s gone. There are so many things I want to say about Josh, but it seems most fitting to ask for your prayers right now. Please pray for Joshua’s wife, Sara, as well as his kids, Annie, Noah, Molly, Emily, and Axel. Remember my parents Deland and Gloria, as well as me and my siblings Nicole and Joseph. Pray that we would be able to find and give space to one another to grieve our loss. A Celebration of Life will be held October 16. I’ve been asked to give a message of reflection on Joshua’s life and his hope in Christ. Prayers for clarity and emotional strength would be greatly appreciated. Here are some picture as well as the link to his obituary.