I have written about Curt and Jackie McSherry before in February of 2019. I wrote then:

“Many people influence all of us in different ways. The primary reason we are towing a travel trailer with a plan to visit more than 400 parks across the United States is due in a large measure to the enthusiasm for both camping and National Parks and the encouragement we had with Curt and Jackie McSherry.”

When we were traveling last year, Jackie died. We were not able to attend the service. Then this Spring while we were in the Southwest, Curt passed away. Again we missed the service and we both felt awful about our absence. While it is true that they were instrumental in us traveling with an RV, yet that is not their primary gift to us.

Before I ever met them, Jackie called me at my church office one day as they were moving to Toano back to her childhood home after years of service to the county all around the world. It was to ascertain if Williamsburg Christian Church teaching was faithful to the scripture. She let me know at the outset that they would be attending a different church, but not one she was confident was centered on the Gospel. It was a long call but even over the phone I could sense a joyful, delightful person. Several weeks later they arrived at the church I served as they were not content to attend where Jesus was not uplifted. What a special day for us as we then grew to know and love them both. The served willingly, provided generously, opened their home and hearts to so many people and their joy was infectious and their wisdom welcome. They were wonderful examples of a good marriage, of a life of service, of faith and grace. When I told them that we were beginning a new church in Toano they were thrilled because it was their prayer and desire to be able to invite friends to a church they trusted in their hometown. And on opening day and beyond, there was Curt at 80 unloading chairs and tables each week to transform a gym to a worship area and Jackie’s welcome with hugs and smiles melted the skeptical and the lonely and the anxious hearts. Their gift to us and to hundreds more was the gift of themselves: to serve, to love, to share and to invest their time and energy that faith might grow, grace abound and Jesus be glorified.

We were with them again years later at the opening of the new facilities for the Toano church, Lifepointe. They were so excited. It is difficult to imagine what the impact on the Kingdom was through their service to their Lord. A few weeks later, Cindy and I had our last visit with them in their home. A place where so many people were blessed by Curt and Jackie. Of course we did not know it was the last visit. Thankfully, for believers, it is only the last time on this planet.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Rest In Joy /June 17, 2023 by Dave Hileman