Six years...

Jason & Lindsay at Donner Lake, Summer 2004
A beautiful note from Jason's parents:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:14-21

When Jason graduated from high school in 1996, we framed this prayer for him, knowing that he was beginning a journey to seek the ministry God was calling him to. Eight years later, his role in that ministry was complete, as was Lindsay’s, and God took them home. God had strengthened them with power. Christ did dwell in their hearts. They did grasp how wide, how long, how high and how deep the love of Christ is. They had been filled up. We believe there was much rejoicing when they entered heaven’s gates, and although we still miss them so very much, we have been comforted and encouraged by the miraculous things God has done and continues to do through their ministry.

To Him Be The Glory!

Bob and Delores Allen

Six years ago today, Jason & Lindsay entered heaven. I have spent a lot of time imagining what that moment must have been like... to suddenly find yourself face-to-face with Christ Himself! What an amazing thing to even think about!

But of course I can't help but feel the real sting of sadness when I think about what happened to end their lives here on earth. It was so completely cruel and heartless. They did absolutely nothing to deserve it! They curled up in their individual sleeping bags, side-by-side, and went to sleep after having enjoyed a beautiful day together... never having any clue what was about to happen. Praise God Almighty that what their killer did could not destroy their souls! And, interestingly enough, by God's design this tragedy has done much to save the souls of countless others! Truly, truly AMAZING!

It is because of Jesus that we have real hope! Yes, God allowed Jason & Lindsay to be murdered. But He is painting on a canvas far bigger than we can see or comprehend and He knew that through their deaths, many others would hear about the love of Christ and be saved! I didn't know what God would do when I had first heard that Jason & Lindsay had been murdered. I was in gut-wrenching grief and was hurting SO much! I couldn't see through the tears how this could possibly be a GOOD thing, but I did truly feel God's presence and His comfort! It was so incredible! When I was so broken, I was closer to God than ever before! And slowly I began to see the beauty that was rising from the ashes.

The example of true faith that I saw in Jason & Lindsay's families was the same rock-solid faith that Jason & Lindsay lived by... and their reaction to this tragedy was profoundly different than anything I had seen before. They were in deep grief, but they were praising God through the pain! In the shadow of death, they were trusting and believing that God was Sovereign and Holy and Good... and they understood that Jason & Lindsay were now LIVING in His presence! This tragedy has become a megaphone for the HOPE that Jesus Christ has brought to the world... and there have been many lives touched and transformed because of it! Praise God!!!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Thank You Jesus for showing me through this heartbreak that You are King over all and that no one can tear us away from You! Thank You for giving me a longing for heaven that never ceases! Thank You for understanding our pain and carrying us through it! Thank You for lifting up Jason & Lindsay as an example for how to live and walk with You! Thank You for completing Your work in them and shining Your light through their legacy. To You be all Glory! You are amazing and I am eternally grateful for the incredible hope we have because of You! Most of all, thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for every single one of us! I pray that all people will turn to You, seek Your face, and accept Your gift of eternal Salvation! There is no one like You! ♥