Until We Meet Again

On Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at around 7:10 PM, the sovereign Lord, in his infinite wisdom and according to his most holy will, drew the soul of our dear sister Stacey to himself. He did this through a process of testing through bitter suffering through which she proved the genuineness of her faith by continuing to trust in her Creator and Redeemer, at all times. Although she was a new believer, she demonstrated a steadfast and sincere faith in the Triune God, that is usually associated with “more seasoned saints.” Stacey has been (and continues to be) a refreshing encouragement to us all.

We well remember her infectious joy, bright smile and her exemplary boldness for the Lord, through which she freely and openly praised him for his goodness that culminated in the salvation of her soul. She possessed a deep desire to learn more of God, his word and his will for her life and demonstrated an exemplary diligence and conscientiousness during her catechetical training. For someone who was hitherto unfamiliar with such terms as catechesis, catechism, radical depravity, original sin, and so on, she was not afraid to wrestle with and even master these terms and concepts. Many times she would exhort Elder Yancy and me to speed up her instruction because she had already obtained a sound grasp of the principles, doctrines and nuances currently covered. However, her incitements did not flow from a prideful heart and from ostentatious motives but from a sincere and candid craving to enhance her learning.

Stacey Ann Malveaux exuded a deep, holy affection for the Lord and for the things and the people of the Lord. This attitude and perspective permeated everything that she did. She loved her church and was delightfully boastful of her new family in the faith to her family after the flesh in Lafayette, Louisiana. At the repast following her funeral service, her mother wryly admitted this truth. As one who had witnessed the miraculous change that the Holy Spirit had wrought in her life and who was stanchly assured of her salvation, Stacey had an unquenchable burden for the Lord to produce these realities in the lives of her children Joseph, Darrell and Danina. As a matter of fact, she had planned to pass on the training she had received to Danina in preparation for the latter’s training by the elders. Her final hospitalization derailed her intention.

Stacey leaves a deep void in our midst. Her favorite seat in the congregation of the righteous no longer bears her frail frame. At this time, while her body is in the grave, her soul is with her Lord thoroughly rested from fatigue, fully relieved from pain, fully healed of infirmities, and above all, completely freed from the most opprobrious affliction of all, the presence, power and penalty of sin.

Although she has been among us for a brief while, our sister has taught us not only how to live well but also how to die well. As Kayla stated yesterday, even while undergoing the most relentless and brutal attacks of pain, she maintained an unflappable focus on the Lord whom she knew would deliver her, whether from or through her sickness. Undoubtedly, she wanted to remain on earth to serve the Lord and to exhort her children unto salvation, but she also knew that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phi 1:21. As she lay at death’s door her testimony of faith is reminiscent of the heavenly affirmation of the third angel’s message, ““.. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, “” to which the Holy Spirit responded, ““.. Blessed indeed, ..that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”” Rev 14:13. What is our fitting response? “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” v. 12.

We will miss you Stacey. However in the Lord Jesus there are no terminal goodbyes only a realistic and robust hope…until we meet again … at Jesus’ feet. “Christians never say goodbye!” C. S. Lewis.