Abounding Service

Derek DeVelder from Abounding Service, here. I have something very difficult to share with you. Gary De Velder recently passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at age 83. I know this may be a shock. It certainly was for us.

Gary — my father, and the founder of Abounding Service had been on a long cancer journey, taking chemo every two weeks for seven years in order to keep the aggressive colon cancer at bay. It spread from his colon to the bladder, then eventually his liver.

Dad collapsed at home and died Thursday morning, January 29. I saw him at the hospital and he looked peaceful.

We lost a lion. My stepmom, Cindy, lost her husband. Her family, my family, and the community of Abounding Service — we are all grieving, partly because we were “supposed to” have more time. A few more months, questions, conversations.

Through that grief, we see how Gary faithfully served Jesus, deeply loved others, and lived his mission with those he loved right up until the very end. Then he died quickly and peacefully.

Board Vice Chair Rafiki Niyonzima (Rwanda) asked our board of directors and us: “What is your mission? We want to serve the Lord in our mission right until the end!” Gary did exactly that.

On Monday, January 26, Dad taught both English classes and looked good. On Tuesday, he participated in our online Zoom class and blessed a woman in Afghanistan as he poured into her and the whole class. On Wednesday, he sent out the homework for the next day, and on Thursday morning he died.

Dad is absolutely beloved by our volunteer Encouragers and refugee / immigrant friends.

Marvin (Congo) “He is my Papa! Teacher Gary is the Papa of Abounding Service!”

Thi (Vietnam) “He looks like my father. He was my father.”

To honor Gary’s life and legacy (you’re his legacy), will you please join us at his memorial service / celebration of life?

The service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am at Grace Community Church in the Student Center (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282)

Dad’s personal request is that, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abounding Service in his memory.
aboundingservice.org/donate

To be clear, you are his legacy. You, me, all of us — with people we may never meet, expanding the ripples of impact we may never see.

As Gary’s legacy, Abounding Service is continuing to press ahead, bringing refugees, immigrants, and Americans together.

Together with you, we continue Gary’s vision of empowering the marginalized to serve others. You, me, all of us — we are his legacy.

You are an honor to Dad,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

P.S. To honor Gary’s life and legacy (you’re his legacy), will you please join us at his memorial service / celebration of life?

The service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am at Grace Community Church in the Student Center (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).

❤ Omary (Congo) takes us all to Christmas! In the Tuesday night online "What's Working Workshop," the question was, "How do you celebrate Christmas? — In your previous country and here?"

Omary started us off with: "I talk about the birth of Jesus with my children. They don't hear about it in school and I want them to know Jesus."

After Omary (circled) spoke at length, several of our refugee friends such as Lumai (Burma), Ageta (Ethiopia), and Kethia (Congo) shared their rich and meaningful cultural celebrations of the birth of Jesus.

Their shares were deeply authentic, yet safe for people in class who celebrate this season differently from them.

It's more than words for Omary and so many refugees. They live it.

This time of year, many of us celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We see the outpouring of His love in the lives of refugee friends, in volunteer Encouragers, and in you.

However you celebrate this season, we want to share that love with you this Christmas!

Just like you share it with us!