TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND AND A WOMAN OF FAITH

It is with very heavy hearts that we write this tribute to a woman who was not only our pastor’s wife, but also a dear friend and a wonderful woman who became a very special part of our family’s life.

You were a woman of faith, kindness, love, and encouragement. You had a way of making people feel welcomed, encouraged, and reminded of the goodness of God. Looking back now, we realise how much of an impact you had on our lives and how many beautiful memories you left with us.

Working with you at KLM gave me the opportunity to know you not just as a colleague, but as a true friend. You introduced me to Glory Gate Chapel and encouraged me to come and worship there. I listened to you, visited the church, and from the moment I started attending, I never looked back. What started as an invitation from a friend became something that would eventually become an important part of my family’s spiritual journey. I introduced my children to the church, and Glory Gate became a place where we grew in our faith, worshipped together, and created many memories.

You became a great pillar of encouragement to us. You were always reminding us of the importance of coming to church, reading the Bible, praying, and keeping God at the centre of our lives. You never got tired of encouraging us to remain close to God, and those words will continue to stay with us.

One of the things we will always remember about you was your love for giving testimonies. You were always ready to share what God had done for you, whether it was something big or something as simple as waking up to see another day. You also encouraged everyone around you to give a testimony.

You taught us that we should not wait for something extraordinary before thanking God. Even in the difficult moments, you would encourage us to simply say, “Thank you, God.” You reminded us that there is always something to be grateful for, whether things are going well or not. That simple lesson has stayed with us and is something we will continue to carry throughout our lives.

And how can we forget your dancing in church?

We will always remember you dancing with so much joy and freedom whenever you worshipped God. Your happiness was infectious, and watching you praise God was something that always brought a smile to our faces. Your dancing, your testimonies, your encouragement, and your joyful spirit became a part of what made you so special to us.

We will miss seeing you in church. We will miss hearing you give your testimonies. We will miss your encouragement to read our Bibles and come into God’s presence. We will miss your beautiful smile, your joyful spirit, and, of course, your dancing.

It is difficult to accept that we will no longer see you doing all these things. There will be moments when we go to church and instinctively look for you. There will be moments when we hear someone giving a testimony and remember how you always encouraged everyone to share theirs. And there will be moments when we see someone dancing in church and think of you.

But even through our sadness, we choose to be grateful to God for your life and for the privilege of having known you.

We are grateful for the friendship that began at KLM, for the invitation that brought us to Glory Gate, and for the years of memories, encouragement, laughter, worship, and faith that followed. We are grateful that God used you to touch our family in such a meaningful way.

You were truly a good woman to us, and your impact will not be forgotten. The lessons you taught us, the encouragement you gave us, and the example you showed us will continue to live on in our family.

As we say goodbye, we do so with love and gratitude. We pray that the God you served and encouraged so many of us to trust will receive you into His loving arms.

Rest peacefully, dear Aunty. We will miss you more than words can express, but we will always remember you with love, gratitude, and a smile.

Thank you for being a friend to our family. Thank you for introducing us to Glory Gate. Thank you for encouraging us to know God, to read His Word, and to always give thanks. And thank you for the beautiful memories you have left with us.
You will forever remain in our hearts.

Rest well until we meet again.