the Glocal Trekker Blog

When we started NorthWood 20 years ago, a lady named Jo Arthur was a part of the initial 19 families that launched. She was a very successful CPA and she and her husband Bob oversaw and worked in the nursery. Both of my children grew up in their laps on Sunday mornings. She did my taxes for 20 years. She did the books for the church. She did the books for other churches. She also helped set up and do the books for our NGO that’s registered globally.

NorthWood was never her "style" with reference to music--but she didn’t care. She cared more about the fact we were reaching the lost, starting churches, engaging the world than anything. She and her husband Bob are that rare combination of people who love God that have figured out, it’s really not about us--but God and God’s ways are just fine even if it’s not our preference.

Last Tuesday afternoon I visited her in the hospital. She was admitted because she was just "tired." She rarely gets sick. I prayed with her and told her I was thinking about her. That night they sent her husband home--she’d be just fine. But she wasn’t. Wednesday morning at 4:30 am she died--unexpectedly. She died of cancer and she didn’t even know it. At first I felt anger at the doctor, the hospital--how could they miss this--how can anyone have cancer and not know it? But, then, I thought how gracious God was. Jo was going strong up till the last. She didn’t have months of slowly dying, lying in a bed. She didn’t even know she had cancer. She was just tired and went home to be with Jesus. Not a bad way for a believer to go.

NorthWood will miss Jo—but, Jo, we will be with you before too long.