Earlier this month my friend Tim Evans went to be with the Lord. Tim spent 22 years with the Schaumburg Il. Fire Department, retiring as Deputy Fire Chief at the age of 41. I’m sure he did many heroic things as a firefighter, but that’s not why I call him a hero. Tim and his wife Anne spent the last 24 years in full-time ministry, culminating in REAL LIFE ministries, which has a strong marriage focus.
I don’t recall how we initially connected with Tim+Anne, but we become solid friends at our first in-person meeting. When you were with Tim he made you feel like you were the only person in the world. He was loving, generous, and wise.
My reasons for mentioning this here is unity, something I know Tim was all about. Lori and I are (soft) complementarians. Tim+Anne fall on the egalitarian side. If you’re all about marriage ministry, that’s a pretty major difference. But none of us allowed that to keep us from being friends. We focused on our similarities, our love for the Lord, and our deep desire to see people healed and marriages become strong.
The issue of complementarian vs egalitarian came up almost every time we were together and I know Tim hoped to someday get us to see it their way. But the issue never dominated our time together. We had far too many other things to discuss and we just enjoyed hanging out together. In a world that divides on every little issue, it’s a blessing to have friends who are different but still love and support you. If I followed the way of division I would have been cheated out of my time with Tim+Anne. Instead, I was greatly enriched. I am a better man, husband, and follower of Christ because Tim touched my life.
Goodbye Tim. I know you’re having a paaaarrty with God, but I miss you. I’ll think of you every time I have a Ruben with cheddar.
A post worth reading:
The Generous Husband | If I Were an Egalitarian…◄ A guest post Tim+Anne wrote for TGH.
Image Credit: © REAL LIFE ministries
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Such sad news. However, thanks for the lesson that we are far better off concentrating on what we have in common with others instead of where we differ. If the world felt that way, life would be much more pleasant.
Sorry for your loss, but thank you for the message, one that is so very needed right now.