Wayne Clark

Dear Nick and Colleen

I woke up early this morning and could not go back to sleep.  I was thinking of Matt and as I lay in bed staring up with tears in my eyes, my thoughts went back 19 years ago to a Sunday school class room at the Idyllwild Bible Church.  I remember a room of young people and a fun loving young man with a beautiful grin who loved to play soccer.  I remember times when we would take the kids out and how Matt would clown around always with that grin.  I remember teaching Matt and his classmates Ephesians 2:8,

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves,………It is the gift of God, not of works so that no one can boast.”

 I clearly remember how easy it was for Matt to remember verses we taught.  I wish I could go back to that time and sit out on the grass again, talk with Matt and run and play soccer with him and his classmates.  I remember a father’s day celebration two or three years ago I believe, when Matt and Michael came up to Idyllwild to honor their Dad.  I remember talking with Matt afterwards and him telling me how he would never forget Psalms 1:1-6 a verse I was able to teach him and one he told me he would never forget.  He then recounted the verse for me.

¹ Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers………………………………….

Matt went on from that time and classroom and he and I lost touch with each other which is so common with Sunday school teachers and students.  I am however grateful to God for the time I had with Matt.  I am thankful for Nick and Colleen who so loved their son and who raised him and brought him to church every Sunday.  I thank God for the gift of Matt’s life.

I want to briefly encourage all who read this, to invest in the life of a young person like Matt.  Share your time, energy and love for young people who need to know God’s love and plan for their lives.  It won’t be easy, they’ll giggle, squirm, talk out of turn, act up and generally be kids, but I promise that the privilege of teaching and getting to know one who is created in the image of God will bring great reward.  Matt did all this for me 19 years ago.

I love you Matt and can’t wait to see that beautiful grin of yours on the day the Lord takes me home.

Wayne Clark

~ by Ken on April 17, 2008.