We met Adam and his parents 14 years ago when we first moved to Redland, when he was 3 years old. They’d heard about our Awana program from their neighbors, so they brought Adam to my (Lisa) Cubbies class, even though the parents were not Christians. He became friends with our Jeffrey and Jewelissa, who were also Cubbies. He was very shy and withdrawn, and being an only child, found himself at home amongst our family full of children. For two years I taught him in Cubbies, and he soaked it all in. For seven years he attended Awana faithfully. His dad usually brought him and they even began to attend church. Adam spent a lot of time at our home and our children prayed for his salvation fervently, and even wrote him letters telling him he needed to accept Jesus as his Savior. For some reason they felt an urgency about Adam’s need to become a Christian. When he was 10, the parents began having some challenges. We lost contact with them until about two years ago, but we continued to pray for the family. We knew the seeds had been planted years ago in Adam’s little heart.
Early one morning a few weeks ago, our doorbell rang. Standing at the front door, looking worn and tired, was Adam’s father. He immediately grabbed Steve and just hugged him for a long time before he spoke. “Adam’s been killed in a motorcycle accident,” he said tearfully. “He was 17 years old.” As he and Steve cried together, Adam’s dad told the story, but then the tragedy turned into beauty as the story unfolded. Adam had become a dynamic, on-fire, born-again believer, witnessing to everyone he knew, including his parents, even going on missions trips. His first love was Jesus. He begged his parents to stay together. Shortly before his death, they gave their lives to the Lord, and their marriage is now stronger than it has ever been.
More than 500 people attended this young man’s memorial service, a service that glorified and lifted up the name of Christ. Dozens and dozens testified to the incredible spiritual impact he’d had on them during his short life. The picture of Adam in the memorial program showed the smiley-faced, big-eared, shy little 3-year-old boy who walked into my Awana Cubbies class 14 years ago, with a heart ready to learn about the love of Jesus for the first time.
I had no way of knowing at the time how short his life would be, or how important it would be to plant those spiritual seeds of God’s love in Adam’s little heart. A reminder to remain faithful to the work God has given us to do, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem at times!
Earlier this month we met with some fellow VMers; what an encouragement this was to both Leslie and me. 
