God blessed Carl Wesselhoeft with a long life which he lived in patience, grace, and joy. From a farm in Germany, through stays in Canada and Somalia, and ultimately to his much-loved Turkey Run Mennonite Church, Carl walked a course at times difficult, but with joy in the goal. As I reflect on sixty years of knowing Carl, thirty of those years as co-pastors of the congregation at Turkey Run, I see four guiding values in his life.
First, he might say, “I will see all of life through the lens of the coming kingdom of God.” From the Gospel of Mark we read, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and “Come follow me.” Carl chose to link the present with the eternal Kingdom. When a new baptismal class formed, he would ask me, “Are you sure they are converted?” In other words, have they understood their need and placed their faith in Jesus? He saw the Kingdom as something to be lived out in the context of the faith community, which for him was Turkey Run, CMC (now Rosedale Network of Churches), and the broader circles of faith. He often said that we are not here to promote ourselves, but to be faithful, generous, forgiving, loving of our enemies, and hospitable to all. Put simply, follow Jesus!
If Carl had an obsession, it was the kingdom of God.
He recently shared part of this quote, “The Kingdom of God is the most radical proposal ever proposed to the mind and allegiance of man….”(E. Stanley Jones, The Unshakable Kingdom and The Unchanging Person), and in his final sermon series he preached through the Gospel of Matthew. If Carl had an obsession, it was the kingdom of God.
Secondly, “I will live as long as I am alive.” Psalm 92 reads, “The righteous will flourish as a palm tree…. They will still bear fruit in old age” (v.12a, 14a NIV). Carl stayed the course; he did not shuffle to the sidelines, become a spectator, or worse, a critical bystander. Once after sharing with him some news of a family serving in a foreign country, he paused and then said, “O to be young again.”
Even as his body weakened, his spirit remained strong. He continued to live in step with the Spirit by being firmly connected and committed to a faith community and maintaining an active prayer life. When I mentioned the stack of prayer cards that he prayed through daily, he reminded me that my family and I were in there. A number of you reading this were also.
Thirdly, “I will not become a grouchy, old man.” “In everything give thanks” (I Thess. 5:18a NKJV). Carl was full of gratitude. When remembering his blessings, he included God’s leading to a Christian family where as a young man he responded to the gospel. He often expressed thanks for his wife, Leota, his family and their care of him, the church family, harmony in the church, successful building projects at the church, and the many young families attending Turkey Run. Even after experiencing unrealized dreams, wounds, and losses he would exclaim, “I am so blessed!”
Lastly, “I will always be a student.” Titus 2 says, “In everything, set an example by doing…good. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech” (v. 7-8a NIV). In his lifetime as a teacher, he remained a serious student, always reading, listening, and thinking. Sometimes, his thoughts on a particular text or word would include the Scripture’s meaning in German. When I was a young pastor, he often asked me what I thought on theological issues, sometimes in order to continue seeking and learning himself and sometimes to teach. At times he would wonder if we were losing or drifting from important doctrine. For Carl, the truth was always seen and understood in the light of Jesus and His resurrection.
I am so thankful that Carl included me in his life. He shared with me a wide range of emotions. We sometimes struggled with decisions in the work of the church together, but I always found in him a safe place to be myself. This gift was one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Over the years, Carl gave me a number of books which he saw as worthwhile. About a month before he passed away, he gave me what would be the last. Part of what he wrote in the front of the book read, “Please accept this gift…I am about ready to say goodbye to this life. Turkey Run has been such a blessing. To God be all the glory! Carl J. Wesselhoeft”
Carl did not become weary. He saw the Kingdom afar off and with a teachable and generous spirit, he brought it near.
2 Responses
Rob – Thanks for sharing such loving memories. We were very blessed by Carl’s presence at Pastors’ Conference, and the strong interest he still expressed in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
You expressed so many rich and meaningful thoughts and actions of a true man of God, Rob! 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13. Thanks for writing and reminding us of them.