Hello amazing Life Changers family,
This has been an incredibly tough and devastating week as our friend Andrea Hughes passed away on Wednesday night. If you have been around in the Life Changers story for any amount of time you will know that Andrea has courageously and powerfully been fighting the Lupus disease as well as the many other related challenges along the way.
I just felt the need to say a few simple things in this time of mourning, and as we support the Hughes and Van Rhyn families at this time:
- Andrea was a gift.
The Father of “How much more” (Matthew 7 v 11) is the way that I have been taught to understand the God who reigns over all. Andrea has fought many fights over these last few years, but her greatest fight was not against a disease called ‘Lupus’, it was the fight of faith…Which she won!
In John 11 v 25-26, Jesus is quoted as saying,“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
In every challenge, trial, pain and deathly diagnoses, Andrea believed this and held onto this truth over all. In every way and against every challenge she inspired us all to hold onto great faith in our Savior, and she now continues to do so.
Her journey of tears and pain is over, and her journey of experiencing the perfect and passionate eternal presence of God has just begun.
Revelation.21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
- This family have led us.
Psalm.46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.”
Over my years of pastoring in the local church I have witnessed a number of families journey similar moments as this family have with their beloved wife, daughter and sister, and I am overcome with gratitude to God for the way this family have led us in this journey.
The countless moments of leading us as a community in faith to pray and contend for Andrea’s health, even when the diagnoses were really bad.
The unwavering willingness to love and care for Andrea, regardless of the cost at the time.
Their unity and intimacy as a family every step of the way.
Their expressed knowledge and reality that “God is their refuge and strength”, that has been a very real and powerful reminder to all those close to them.
The unwavering courage that never left them in this tough journey of the last few years.
Thank you for leading us in more ways than you will ever know. My only encouragement in this time is to keep running to your “very present help in trouble” and the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3)
- The response of the Life Changers community of faith.
Acts 2:5
“…but the church were earnestly praying…”
On behalf of the Hughes and Van Rhyn families, I want to thank the Life Changers community and friends who have loved, supported and prayed unceasingly for Andrea. You have been incredible!
I know this was not the end result any of us might have wanted, but as a family and a faith community you have never stopped praying and petitioning God for every one of the breakthroughs along the way. Don’t get me wrong, we have seen some amazing things in this journey with Andrea! I believe that as we continue to pursue Him in such a manner, we will see even greater things.
You are an incredible people of faith, love and hope! I thank you on behalf of the family for every prayer prayed, every message sent, every tear shed and your continued passion and faith in Jesus.
As a pastor and a friend of Andrea and this family, I am personally heartbroken for my friends Mark, Andrew, Una, Wynette, Kierin and the rest of the family. Yet even with a broken heart at this time, I remain incredibly grateful for the unfailing love of our saviour Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We will be celebrating the life of Andrea Hughes on the 1st of November, 2pm, at the Life Changers building in Tableview. Please feel free to join the family at this special moment. On the families request we will be hosting a High Tea after the memorial. Please feel free to bring a contribution towards this moment.
Mark on behalf of the Life Changers family.