Pastor: Jim kirkwood,I am so sorry for the lost of your love and companion,Mary. I'm so gratful that you and Mary,during my troubling times,in the 90's, had led me to the grace message,and I'm eternally and forever grateful to you, and Mary for the message of God's matchless grace,God bless you Jim, and your family,Thank you.

I met Mary when Jim and I were being ordained by Des Plaines Bible Church. At the time Pastor Massey was preaching verse-by-verse concerning the gifts for the church age.

And there before me, in a small package, was Mary, the personification of the gift of hospitality. It struck me as providential that I should meet an example of of this and so much more at the very time we had been studying this subject.

We lost touch as the ministry took me away from the Chicago area, but through the tape ministry I kept hearing about Jim's 'Miriam' as he would call her from time to time. Always a slight pause in his voice before he spoke her name, to remind his listeners she was still this gift of God, and his completion.

Over 25 years later, in the late 90's I contacted Jim via phone just to say hello to one I considered a friend and Biblical guide for many years. I was a bit surprised, however, when Jim called Mary to the phone to include her in our conversation. After her first few words, however, I recalled her gift, and it was like a flood of Christian love. To Mary, It was as if we had not missed a single day in our friendship.

What a wonderful reunion we shall have. What a glorious Lord we do have, for his gifts, the Ressurection, and anticipation with joy to see our loved ones again.

Almost every funeral I have attended in my life has been wrought with much excrutiating pain and  awful suffering.  The attendees are heartbroken for their "loss", and the gutwrenching anguish they exhibit makes you wonder if they can survive 1 more day of life, as their condition appears terminal. Statements like, "how will we go on", and "I can't live without her" abound. In Satan's evil age this is the norm, as the unsaved have no "hope", even at the thought of death.

My family just attended Mary Kirkwood's funeral last night, and witnessed and enjoyed the exact opposite! Smiling faces, old friends and acquintances reunited, joy and love everywhere, as the attendees there overflowed with love. Not only that, but my wife Cheryl and I actually felt blessed by the whole event. Why?  Everyone we knew who attended was in the same family, the family of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It actually seemed like a "family reunion"!

Then, John Kirkwood took the pulpit, and not only spoke about events Mary & her family experienced, as is done at most funerals, but his message hammered home in a wonderful way the love Mary had for "The Lord's Work", and the importance of Christ as the central purpose for life itself. I pray daily I would have the desire for service to The Master as the Kirkwood's have had for so many years.  This message, capped off by 2 outstanding musical performances, and the fellowship of so many saints, made this funeral a true blessing and reason for every believer in Christ to rejoice as we await our coming redemption. 

Thank you for such an uplifting event, especially in light of what could have been under the circumstances. We will treasure Mary's service, and look forward to seeing her again...

1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting, o grave, where is thy victory?