Our beloved brother in the Lord, John Moreland, has run the race, finished strong, and received the crown of glory from our Lord Jesus, as of March 15th, 2005. All who knew him can still hear his resonating deep baritone voice, thundering with the word, "GLORY!"
The work of the ministry is continuing through the board of directors at Northwest Ministries.
Here are the collected renditions of what was spoken at the funeral service held for John on March 19th, 2005.
Unfortunately, we cannot reproduce the most moving music that was presented by family and friends, and we all know how much John loved music. Nor can we reproduce the figure in the sky that appeared over the burial site (as you can see on this web site, he also loved visual pictures), when two airplanes in the sky had crossed paths, and a singular giant cross was formed at the initial fleeting moment we gathered around the coffin and looked up.
What we have included here in the tribute to John, is a background picture representing John's fondness for "America's best kept secret," Montana, and the majesty of something he loved to see while visiting there, Bald Eagles. While John clearly was not an animist, he truly appreciated the beauty and grandeur of all of Father God's creation. So, the picture is just a metaphor, which causes all of our heart-spirits to soar.
As webmaster for the Northwest Ministries web site, I have John to thank, in the first place, because he knew my artistic and computer abilities, from having seen my publishing-work in professional settings over the years, so he pursued the acquisition of web site publishing software for me to learn, and insisted that I become the webmaster.
John had been pressing me more and more, to do more of my writing about Jesus' Kingdom matters, and less in the business realm where I have spent most of my life.
This is a similar move in spirit to when Bob Terrell encouraged John to move from Midland, to be near Bob in Azle, Texas, so they could reduce to print the things they had been learning and teaching over all of their years together in ministry.
So, I do plan on changing the thrust of my writings going forward, to include more or what the Lord inspires me to write on. And, after meeting with some Northwest Ministries board members, I am encouraging them to do the same. The fruition of this new effort will be seen here on the pages of this web site.
Here are my thoughts, as I wrote them shortly after the funeral service, to a collection of my Christian friends, who also knew of John. At the end is a link to a page I wrote and circulated the next day - I sincerely hope it is all a blessing to you.
19 MAR 05
Dear Friends and Family,
It is with wildly mixed emotions that I sit here writing some thoughts about the day. We buried the 78 year-old body of John F. Moreland, Jr. today and committed his spirit to the eternal place with Jesus, as was decided by him and Him a very long time ago.
I could write for hours about the relationship I had with John since 1972, that my wife Joanne and I had with both John and his wife Sue since 1973, that I have had the privileged to share in so many facets of relationship, yes walking together in Spirit, and, in ministry. I'll not do that at this juncture (and all the people cried "Amen.").
Suffice it to say that the vacuum left by John's being called home by Jesus, can only be filled by Jesus Himself, and THAT is exactly how both of them would have it. I've not experienced such swollen tear ducts and a choked up throat in quite a long time. It is with great difficulty that I remove his eMail address from my address book and lists. BUT, I am also encouraged about the eternal place John has gone to, as well as the work that Jesus still has for us to accomplish, whom are left on this side of eternity for a bit longer.
In the days and weeks to come, we will endeavor to see that a realignment be based upon what Jesus desires. And when I say "we" let me indicate this, John was a challenging leader about something that is still sorely needed in today's non-institutional church, i.e. The Body of Christ - that being open-handed fellowship. John lived and breathed a dynamic touch from Jesus on this subject, and we are not a group of people given to furthering the Gospel according to John Moreland, but the true Good News of Jesus in us and through us as us, and John Moreland would wholeheartedly approve that his name not be the focal point, but that Jesus' would be.
To that end, we desire to see that no vacuum left by a man be filled by an institution, but that the Holy Spirit of Christ be truly invited to do His realignment and give us His marching orders for going forward.
John Moreland was a trained military sailor in the US Navy, and like every military person, he was trained in one of many principles, that I am sure he would want us to continue. That being, that when a comrade is felled in the battlefield, the realignment of the chain of command be instantly set in place, lest any more be taken by the enemy, lest any bickering within the ranks undermine the going forward of the military force, and for the solidarity of integrity of the corps. The metaphor here cannot even begin to touch what Father intends for the Spirit-ranks of His Army, yet, I am sure that both Father (first and foremost) and John (our beloved in agreement) would intend that we pick up, dust off, and move on as quickly as possible.
That is our aim, with no disrespect for our beloved, where we continue pursuing the call which we do have on our own lives, with full aplomb, integrity, and fervor, as inspired by Holy Spirit. Grieving is honorable, fully understandable, and sure to happen, but our desire is that none are lost in the battle fray, not one.
We fully intend to corral all who were touched by Brother John, with no intent toward moroseness, and we wish to continue to press on to The Great High Call in Jesus, with this in mind - let us truly encourage each other, most especially in the diversity that Father has truly invested in each of us, for we are each called as His ambassadors and warriors, to continue His Great work, while it is yet called today.
As we say in the business realm, if you wish to continue to be included in "the loop" please let us know. If there is someone you think may have been left out of the loop, unintentionally or by accident, let us know. This may take a little bit of time to accomplish, but it is key that we try, and I believe that we will see much more to come in days ahead, according to Jesus' Spirit. Let us pick up the pieces that are left and useable in this battlefield, and press on to the next. No one, including Jesus, ever said war was pretty. It is most difficult. But, as the book of James says, regarding these temporal tests and trials, it produces, "...the perfecting of our faith." What greater epitaph could be placed on a man's life than he continually be an encouragement toward the ongoing uplifting and building of The Body of Christ - into eternity!!!
My love and thoughts go out to each of you as we all ponder these times.
Jeff
Link To "Passing The Baton," by Jeff Pohlman
