November 8, 2006
He Did It
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The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. —2 Timothy 2:2
At the memorial service for LeRoy Eims, longtime staff member with The Navigators, I pondered why hundreds of colleagues and friends had come from across the US to pay tribute. Why did so many people love him so deeply?
As a young Christian, LeRoy had been challenged to disciple others one-on-one. He took seriously Paul’s charge to Timothy: “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). LeRoy embraced that clear, simple command of Scripture and practiced it faithfully for more than 50 years.
Scores of people who packed the church that afternoon had lived in LeRoy and Virginia Eims’ home. They had been embraced, encouraged, and instructed by him. As his spiritual children, they had multiplied his ministry by investing themselves in others, just as he had in them.
One sentence in a written tribute captured the essence of the man: “His life was characterized by singleness of purpose, great creativity and a wonderful sense of humor.”
LeRoy’s example spurs us on to a lifetime of faithfully following the Lord. He did it! And by God’s grace, so can we.
The heart is blessed;
It is in giving—not in seeking gifts—
We find our quest. —Anon.