Hope In Tragedy

The phone rang and my son passed it to me, “It’s for you, Dad.” I had just sat down on the couch after an afternoon of Saturday yard work “Hello, this is Mike.”

A weak voice replied, “Can you come to the farm, there was an accident and Scott has been killed.” I heard the words, but everything in me didn’t want to believe them. Fifteen minutes later, I turned into the farm and saw the ambulance and yellow police tape circling the accident scene.

Before I turned the van off, I prayed, “Father, please help this family.” I picked up my Bible, opened the door, and began walking towards the farmhouse.

The police officer met me on the front yard and asked who I was. I told her I was the family’s pastor. “It’s good you are here,” she said. I asked her what happened and she replied that an accident took the young man’s life and he died instantly.

The words sunk in and the enormity of the situation began to take hold of me.

Scott was a close friend of ours. He was often in our home. I was his pastor. I noticed that his relationship with Jesus has been growing and he was making life choices that indicated his commitment to live in a God honoring way. He was 18.

Six days later, we buried Scott and the memorial service had over 1300 of his friends and family present.

The memorial service was about celebrating the life that God gave Scott and celebrating the work of God in Scott. We found hope when we turned to God who gave Scott life, who sent his own son to die for Scott and for others who would trust Jesus as their savior. The family has confidence that since Scott put his faith in Jesus as his Savior that he is now in heaven, with Jesus. In the middle of a horrific tragedy, the family has hope.

As a pastor I was deeply touched by the power of hope that Scott’s family held on to. Those who live for Jesus have hope that when our earthly body dies it is not the end, rather it is the beginning of living for eternity with Jesus in heaven. This we believe is where Scott is. With his heavenly Father.

Three days after the accident there was a bit of a strange weather system with the combination of sun, dark clouds and rain. I noticed a rainbow in the sky. The next day, I was at the farm with Scott’s father and the topic of the rainbow came up. He said there were actually two rainbows right next to the farm.

Do you know the biblical meaning of a rainbow? God made a promise, a covenant not to fill the entire earth with a flood again. The rainbow is a sign of Gods promise and it gives hope. There is an end to suffering.

It’s as if God was saying at that moment, “I know the loss is enormous, but Scott is all right, he isn’t suffering.” And maybe the second rainbow was for the family and for you and I. God is saying, “I am with you in your suffering, I am close to you and I will not forget you. Put your hope in me.”

- today is two months since the accident
- this was written for the Chilliwack Times

Scott Elzinga and Heartland Fellowship

On the morning of Friday, May 29th 2009, the Elzinga family buried their son and brother, Scott Elzinga. Scott was 18 years of age and was tragically killed in a farm accident on May 23rd. The Celebration of Life service was held On May 29th at 1:30pm at 1st Avenue Church in Chilliwack.

More than 1200 people in a sea of orange were in attendance to remember Scott and remember the work of God in Scott's life.

Patt and Bouwe along with their three girls Hannah (Matt), Shanine (Chris) and Heidi invited everyone to the family farm for refreshments. Hundreds of people came and with them food. With a harp playing in the background, people visited, grieved and gave thanks to God for the life he gave Scott.

Scott was born on September 14, 1990, baptized on Oct 14, 1990 and professed his faith in Christ publically on Easter morning, 2006. Scott graduated from Unity Christian High School in 2008 and completed one year of college at Columbia Bible College where he played basketball.

Our Heartland family was shocked at the news of Scott's death. Scott was one of us and it is difficult to accept the reality that he is no longer with us. The day after the accident, we gathered for worship as a church family and surrounded the Elzinga's with our prayers and promises from God. It was an emotional and deep time of prayer, worship and hearing the word of God.

When people first heard the news, many people came to the farm right away. Food, offers of help and many loving hugs and tears were given. In the days that followed, the Heartland family was mobilized to help the Elzinga's. There were immediate needs (food and being present) along with short term needs - services and events to plan and the people of Heartland stopped their regular routines and helped and cared.

From my perspective as a pastor, I have never seen that deep and widespread expressions of care and mercy in my 15 years of ministry. So many took the initiative, self-organized, and gave. From my heart and the heart of the Elzinga's, thank-you Heartland!

During the viewing, on Thursday, May 28th at Woodlawn funeral home, the family gathered for prayer. We read together Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Please continue to pray and seek ways to support the family in the long term. The family is coping with your prayer, but the road ahead of them will be difficult.