Our whole family feels a deep sense of peace about what transpired on Monday. Incredibly, dad never really went into a coma, as all the medical professionals predicted he would due to such a high level of poisons in his system from kidney failure. Of course, true to his nature, he had a very strong "constitution!" As a family we took turns providing 24-hour care during the last week, managing to keep him comfortable and relatively pain-free right to the very end, with the wonderful help of Roxanole (Morphine Sulfate) and other recommendations provided by the primary hospice nurse. (We had hospice care at his home for the last ten days.) Though quite weak and bed-fast the last three days and nights, he was able to maintain enough alertness to interact with us - and acknowledge the love and support he was getting from good friends who stopped by. Throughout, Dad never really complained about anything.
We (dad's sister Mary Ellen - a retired nurse, my brother Verle, and I) took turns providing the primary care so that we could maintain good energy levels. Dad's sister Miriam, and brother Allen also hung out at the house each day to help with this and that. Verle did the hard slog of night shift all week and I relieved him of that Friday and Saturday night, and then left for home Sunday evening, just 5 or 6 hours prior to his death - I stayed around most of the weekend, and busied myself sorting through things in mom's desk, and alternated with interactions with Dad - while Verle continued to sort through a remaining batch of papers at Dad's desk that Dad was too weak to deal with. I observed signs and symptoms of impending death, and anticipated this possibly happening on Sunday evening. However, Dad's heart didn't really wind down until Verle was sleeping in the room next to his in the middle of the night. That's the short version.
However, Verle did have a very important personal experience surrounding Dad's home-going (sometime near or shortly after 3:30 AM, within a half hour of his death.) Verle told me later on Monday about this. Near that time my brother suddenly intuited the presence of a strong negative "evil force" that tried to invade the room. Simultaneously, he observed Dad make a visual negative reaction to "something" which he too must have seen -- at the very point when Dad was at his weakest, from a physical point of view. (Of course, by then he could no longer speak.) Verle immediately banished this force which he had sensed, with all the power and authority in Christ that he could appropriate -- and the "atmosphere" cleared forthwith.
Verle laid down again in the next room, but shortly thereafter Dad "slipped away" as Verle thought he heard Dad's respirations slow then stop. Yes, Dad was gone when Verle got up once again to check, so he threw his hands toward heaven, "releasing" Dad to the angels in a spirit of quiet victorious praise.
Dad went extremely peaceful at an estimated time of 4 AM -- a point when a couple of his close friends (told me when I called them several hours later) had been awake and praying for him at that time - Dad's situation laying heavy on their minds and hearts!
SO, THANKS SO MUCH to all of you who helped "stand in the gap" - keeping vigilant attention at your own homes - interceeding on his behalf and protecting his peace when he found himself in that very thin space between earth and heaven.
It seems like such a short time since we went through all this with my mother, Edna, after she died on April 25 of this year. If you know my father Dean and would like to be involved but simply can't join us in person this weekend for "The Great Celebration" of his life, this website I set up today (its actually called a "blog", short for "weblog") offers a significant opportunity:
This shall become an ongoing "work-in-progress" -- where my own plus a number of other family members' and friends' stories, reflections, and experiences surrounding dad's life are gradually being centralized here as a witness to the impact he made in people's lives.
If you got fairly well-acquainted with my father, you will most likely want to bookmark this website and check back from time to time, since I anticipate that others will continue to post their recollections. Specifically, in that regard, I encourage you to think about sharing something of your own experience of Dean, or how he made a difference in your life and perspective. Some of the postings here will likely be read on Sunday at his memorial service.
It's also OK to send something via my primary email address that I check often, at Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com -- and if you would rather not have it posted on this blog, or read publicly, just say so. (I will ask for permission to "publish" here, in any case, if it seems to contain sentiments or facts of a more personal nature.)
In grace and gratitude,
Clair
Text of Dean's obituary in the local newspapers
NAPPANEE - Dean L. Hochstetler, 78, of 1752 Waterfall Drive, died at 4 a.m. Monday (Oct. 30, 2006) at home.
He was born Oct. 6, 1928, in Marshall County to William and Mary (Maust) Hochstetler, graduated from Bremen High School in 1947 and married Edna M. Swartzentruber on Dec. 7, 1952. She died April 25, 2006.
He is survived by three sons, Clair (Carole Anne) of Goshen, Verle of rural Bremen and Lee (Susan), currently in North Carolina, on leave from a Wycliffe Bible Translators assignment in Mali, West Africa.
He also is survived by eight grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Ellen Kaufman and Miriam Hochstetler of rural Nappanee; and one brother, Alan Hochstetler of Williamsburg, Va.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Eugene; and one son, Donald.
Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Thompson-Lengacher and Yoder Funeral Home, 950 N. Main St., Nappanee, and from 2 until the 4 p.m. Sunday memorial service and celebration of life at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 64901 C.R. 11, Goshen, at C.R. 38.
Mr. Hochstetler donated his body to the Anatomical Education Center of IU Medical Center in Indianapolis.
Mr. Hochstetler and his wife, Edna, had been involved with the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church congregation for the past 15 years. He was owner/operator and later a partner with his son, Verle, of Equipment Service, a welding and farm-machinery repair business between Nappanee and Bremen.
He also traveled widely around the world with his wife and became a skilled counselor, pioneering a Christian spiritual deliverance ministry spanning more than 40 years. On May 25, 1986, Mr. Hochstetler was officially ordained by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference as the first person to be credentialed for this particular specialized ministry in the history of the denomination. For the past 10 years, he focused on teaching and leadership development to assure the continuation of this ministry for the generations to follow.
Dean enjoyed flying as a private pilot, was a classical music aficionado and was widely read in a variety of disciplines. He was trilingual and enjoyed interactions with people from many cultures, traveling in over 40 countries, most of them alongside his wife. Enjoying her faithful support in the spiritual ministry, they often hosted friends and guests from across the country and around the world in their home.
Memorials may be given to the Mission Commission of Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, to be utilized to support the training experiences and expenses of people involved in spiritual deliverance ministry.
[Above is the text of the edited obituary as it appeared in The Elkhart Truth, October 31, 2006. Click on this for the original obituary as submitted by the family and printed word-for-word the same day in the South Bend Tribune - as far as I know, still available online with no password required to access it.]
He was born Oct. 6, 1928, in Marshall County to William and Mary (Maust) Hochstetler, graduated from Bremen High School in 1947 and married Edna M. Swartzentruber on Dec. 7, 1952. She died April 25, 2006.
He is survived by three sons, Clair (Carole Anne) of Goshen, Verle of rural Bremen and Lee (Susan), currently in North Carolina, on leave from a Wycliffe Bible Translators assignment in Mali, West Africa.
He also is survived by eight grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Ellen Kaufman and Miriam Hochstetler of rural Nappanee; and one brother, Alan Hochstetler of Williamsburg, Va.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Eugene; and one son, Donald.
Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Thompson-Lengacher and Yoder Funeral Home, 950 N. Main St., Nappanee, and from 2 until the 4 p.m. Sunday memorial service and celebration of life at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 64901 C.R. 11, Goshen, at C.R. 38.
Mr. Hochstetler donated his body to the Anatomical Education Center of IU Medical Center in Indianapolis.
Mr. Hochstetler and his wife, Edna, had been involved with the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church congregation for the past 15 years. He was owner/operator and later a partner with his son, Verle, of Equipment Service, a welding and farm-machinery repair business between Nappanee and Bremen.
He also traveled widely around the world with his wife and became a skilled counselor, pioneering a Christian spiritual deliverance ministry spanning more than 40 years. On May 25, 1986, Mr. Hochstetler was officially ordained by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference as the first person to be credentialed for this particular specialized ministry in the history of the denomination. For the past 10 years, he focused on teaching and leadership development to assure the continuation of this ministry for the generations to follow.
Dean enjoyed flying as a private pilot, was a classical music aficionado and was widely read in a variety of disciplines. He was trilingual and enjoyed interactions with people from many cultures, traveling in over 40 countries, most of them alongside his wife. Enjoying her faithful support in the spiritual ministry, they often hosted friends and guests from across the country and around the world in their home.
Memorials may be given to the Mission Commission of Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, to be utilized to support the training experiences and expenses of people involved in spiritual deliverance ministry.
[Above is the text of the edited obituary as it appeared in The Elkhart Truth, October 31, 2006. Click on this for the original obituary as submitted by the family and printed word-for-word the same day in the South Bend Tribune - as far as I know, still available online with no password required to access it.]
I didn’t know you were Dean’s son!
From Pastor Gordy Henke: (typical of several emails from pastors)
Hi Clair,
I didn’t know you were Dean’s son and I wanted to just write a brief note and congratulate my brother on his life and homegoing! Dean and I met a number of years ago, I had him come and speak 3 Sundays in a row several years ago when River of Life was a fledgling congregation and then he personally met with several individuals who needed his expertise in being freed from their prison in some manner.
Clair, I bless you and your surrounding family and trust God to see you through these days but with eternity in view and the end in sight, we have a sure hope. May God pour out to you his great love and comfort and having your eyes of understanding enlightened, see already the reward waiting for you wonderful and insightful father.
Blessings,
Gordon Henke
River of Life Fellowship, Middlebury, IN
Hi Clair,
I didn’t know you were Dean’s son and I wanted to just write a brief note and congratulate my brother on his life and homegoing! Dean and I met a number of years ago, I had him come and speak 3 Sundays in a row several years ago when River of Life was a fledgling congregation and then he personally met with several individuals who needed his expertise in being freed from their prison in some manner.
Clair, I bless you and your surrounding family and trust God to see you through these days but with eternity in view and the end in sight, we have a sure hope. May God pour out to you his great love and comfort and having your eyes of understanding enlightened, see already the reward waiting for you wonderful and insightful father.
Blessings,
Gordon Henke
River of Life Fellowship, Middlebury, IN
Express my love, respect, appreciation...
Dear Clair:
If your dad is still cognitive, please express my love, respect and appreciation for his life and ministry. I'd appreciate an update when it is appropriate.
Your friend,
Ron Susek
(Author, pastor, evangelist)
If your dad is still cognitive, please express my love, respect and appreciation for his life and ministry. I'd appreciate an update when it is appropriate.
Your friend,
Ron Susek
(Author, pastor, evangelist)
Poetic tribute by Delora Reinhardt
Tribute to My Spiritual Earthly Father,
Dear Precious Spiritual Father who was sent from God,
How I thank-you for your earthly Fatherly love.
You have been there for me through thick and thin.
And helped me to liberty in Christ, and how to spiritually win.
Through stories, laughter, and some giggles too,
Your affirmation was felt thru and thru.
Our lives have been filled with joys and tears.
How we have grown through the many years.
You were not perfect, you were a human man.
How I appreciated how you listened and tried to understand.
Thanks for being that vessel for me, to receive God's love,
He found you worthy to give gifts from above.
I know you are on a difficult path that is hard to see,
may you stay close to Jesus Christ, who will help you rest and "Be".
I have commanded angels to watch you thru this journey's end,
God says he will be faithful to you, because you are a faithful and true
friend.
You left a legacy that we feel privileged to carry on,
so there needs to be no more worry when you are gone.
Rest and know that you fought the battle and had a good fight,
and the peace to know that you depended on the Holy Spirit's might!
Say hi to the Trinity, and to the Saints, and Edna too,
as you enter heaven's gates, and will no longer be blue.
I bid you to cheer us on with the heavenly choir,
as our time gets near in this final hour.
This tribute is to you, oh blessed one,
To say how I love you, for all that you have done!!
Love,
Delora Reinhardt
Dear Precious Spiritual Father who was sent from God,
How I thank-you for your earthly Fatherly love.
You have been there for me through thick and thin.
And helped me to liberty in Christ, and how to spiritually win.
Through stories, laughter, and some giggles too,
Your affirmation was felt thru and thru.
Our lives have been filled with joys and tears.
How we have grown through the many years.
You were not perfect, you were a human man.
How I appreciated how you listened and tried to understand.
Thanks for being that vessel for me, to receive God's love,
He found you worthy to give gifts from above.
I know you are on a difficult path that is hard to see,
may you stay close to Jesus Christ, who will help you rest and "Be".
I have commanded angels to watch you thru this journey's end,
God says he will be faithful to you, because you are a faithful and true
friend.
You left a legacy that we feel privileged to carry on,
so there needs to be no more worry when you are gone.
Rest and know that you fought the battle and had a good fight,
and the peace to know that you depended on the Holy Spirit's might!
Say hi to the Trinity, and to the Saints, and Edna too,
as you enter heaven's gates, and will no longer be blue.
I bid you to cheer us on with the heavenly choir,
as our time gets near in this final hour.
This tribute is to you, oh blessed one,
To say how I love you, for all that you have done!!
Love,
Delora Reinhardt
AMBS - Chair of Pastoral Care Dept: Expressing gratitude for Dean's teaching in deliverance ministry & a new book dedicated to him!
Dear Clair,
Here is a paragraph I´d like to communicate to your Dad in some way, if still possible. In any event, it is also a summary word of grateful testimony.
Thank you so much - blessing to you,
Daniel
-----------------
Brother Dean,
I am grateful for your ministry of deliverance, your reflections on the significance of such ministry, and your gentle prodding to church and seminary to take it more seriously. I appreciate having received from you numerous case studies, articles, and personal notes all pointing to the importance of recognizing and dealing with the reality of evil and the need to confront the demonic and to bind the spirits in the name of Jesus and the power of the Spirit of the living God. Together with my colleagues at AMBS, I am grateful for your generous gift of time, resources and money in support of the study of, and equipping for deliverance ministry.
How fitting, then that the recent publication of the book EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT: CONTINUING JESUS´MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE is dedicated to you!
You have been both a pastoral minister and a prophet who unfailingly “fought the good battle." No question, therefore, the words of Jesus apply personally to you: “Well done, good and trustworthy servant…enter into the joy of your master” (Mt. 25:21). Praise be to God for your life and ministry.
Daniel Schipani,
Professor and Chair of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Dept.
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Here is a paragraph I´d like to communicate to your Dad in some way, if still possible. In any event, it is also a summary word of grateful testimony.
Thank you so much - blessing to you,
Daniel
-----------------
Brother Dean,
I am grateful for your ministry of deliverance, your reflections on the significance of such ministry, and your gentle prodding to church and seminary to take it more seriously. I appreciate having received from you numerous case studies, articles, and personal notes all pointing to the importance of recognizing and dealing with the reality of evil and the need to confront the demonic and to bind the spirits in the name of Jesus and the power of the Spirit of the living God. Together with my colleagues at AMBS, I am grateful for your generous gift of time, resources and money in support of the study of, and equipping for deliverance ministry.
How fitting, then that the recent publication of the book EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT: CONTINUING JESUS´MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE is dedicated to you!
You have been both a pastoral minister and a prophet who unfailingly “fought the good battle." No question, therefore, the words of Jesus apply personally to you: “Well done, good and trustworthy servant…enter into the joy of your master” (Mt. 25:21). Praise be to God for your life and ministry.
Daniel Schipani,
Professor and Chair of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Dept.
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
He is one of the few I know that will be leaving the world in a better condition than they found it...
Thank you for your note regarding your father. We especially appreciated the information about the preparations for continuing his ministry. I am a much better Christian because of the many things he has taught me. I particularly recall with great joy a trip he made to the south in which I accompanied him to Atmore, Alabama, where he conducted a seminar for the staff of a Christian prison ministry.
...I am convinced that he is one of the few I know that will be leaving the world in a better condition than they found it. Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us. Come see us sometime. I have a great story to tell you concerning your mother when you parents visited here several years back. But you need to be here, standing where she was, when you hear it.
Blessings,
Del Yoder
(A relative of my mother's in Alabama)
Blessings,
Del Yoder
(A relative of my mother's in Alabama)
Re: A son's reflections on life and losing his father (the prologue)
Clair,
Thank you so very much for sharing this moving and beautifully written piece on your father! I believe I met your dad a number of years at Camp Friedenswald where he did some sharing on his ministry.
Also I remember reading about him in the GOSPEL HERALD. He was a pioneer in a field not very well-researched by Menno theologians and church leaders; his work will live on and continue to bear fruit.
Lynn Liechty
Berne, IN
Thank you so very much for sharing this moving and beautifully written piece on your father! I believe I met your dad a number of years at Camp Friedenswald where he did some sharing on his ministry.
Also I remember reading about him in the GOSPEL HERALD. He was a pioneer in a field not very well-researched by Menno theologians and church leaders; his work will live on and continue to bear fruit.
Lynn Liechty
Berne, IN
A son's reflections on life and losing his father (the prologue)
To family and friends of my father, Dean Hochstetler, from far and near:
Some of you are likely already aware of the current circumstances, but know that my father Dean's death is imminent, only six months after my mother Edna died from cancer on April 25. While I find myself in the midst of "anticipatory grief" -- an all too familar feeling by now -- it is, once again, a very moving time with much blessing, truth be told. This sort of experience has been like flinging open a window to my soul, motivating me to reflect deeply about my own life journey and specifically, my relationship with Dad.
While some things will remain committed only to memory, I conveyed a lot in writing the last two evenings. Though I'm not sure exactly why, I've felt prompted to share some of my reflections in this more public venue. While it's both cathartic and therapeutic to pull these sorts of thoughts together, to consider posting all this publicly does indeed call forth some courage - I know from experience how vulnerable this can make one feel. It's hard to predict what will happen when one shares such intimate reflections at a sensitive moment like this in family life, because of varying perceptions of what is "appropriate." I intend to share the link to this blog more broadly after talking with Dad himself some more on Tuesday.*
I do hope that by risking a higher level of self-disclosure, this may contribute to others' understanding (though admittedly, from a very personal and "biased" perspective) regarding what sort of person my father really is, and the difference he has made in the lives of many. Here you will have access to my own personal reflections on what our relationship has been like, as father and son. Most important for this current moment in my experience, I will be trying to convey how blessed I feel for the opportunity to have him in my life as my own father, though for certain stretches I experienced this blessing simultaneously as a significant personal challenge - trying to absorb what it all means. I also recognize that some of what can be found here will likely come as quite a surprise -- should the reader happen to know me only from contexts where we have not yet discussed these important dimensions of family background or spiritual "world view."
(Warning: this is LONG, so just move on if you don't have five or ten minutes to read this and then contemplate your own parent's passing - because this account will quite likely prompt you in that direction!)
---
Any day now, even though still alert and with a fairly clear mind, his doctors expect Dad to go into a coma because his kidneys have, for the most part, stopped working and the numbers that measure his kidney dysfunction have now risen to a level where this usually happens. My brother Verle and Dad's sister (retired RN) Mary Ellen, who both live about five miles away, have been alternating with his assisted living at his own home in Nappanee for quite some time already, seeing Dad at least twice a day. Dad has been experiencing congestive heart failure for over a dozen years and his cardiologist has consistently managed the medical balancing act, bringing Dad through some perilous times, which offered him about 10 extra years of life - we celebrated his 78th birthday just two weekends ago.
Verle is one of those sons who has probably had a fairly rare experience, managing a whole sweep of changes in relationship with his father, and I give him a huge amount of credit: Verle worked the first chunk of his adult life for his dad in "the shop" beside the home where we four sons were raised - a very successful farm equipment service/welding/general repair business. Then he became an equal partner with Dad in the business, until Dad got way too busy with the counseling work, then he bought Dad out and became sole owner -- transforming the business into a metal fabricating company with a new building a mile away -- and then with dad working for him part-time. Later Verle sold the business due to some exceedingly difficult life circumstances (during which Dad provided a great deal of emotional support) and in recent years Verle had his role as a son reversed, in many respects -- becoming Dad's primary care-giver and tending to many intimate emotional and physical needs.
Last week I initiated, with Dad's permission of course, getting him admitted to hospice care at his home, just to stay ahead of the situation before it gets out of hand physically. (He's a very big man and recently is expanding even more, due to kidney failure, if you know what I mean.) I felt we should take advantage of the extra support that home care/hospice has to offer my dad and our family during such a time as this. (As a member of our hospice team, I see way too many families that wait too long to get this started, so I followed through with my own advice.) Dad began using a walker -- instead of his gnarly homemade cane made from a unique tree branch -- just on Saturday. Though very unsteady now, he has no pain whatsoever - just very aware that he is about to fade away from consciousness. So we are making the most of the time:
My brother Lee and his family (on leave in the US now from Wycliffe Bible Translation work in Mali, West Africa) made their way here from North Carolina with his family yesterday and today -- arriving this morning. Dad's brother Alan arrived this afternoon from Williamsburg, Virginia. (My uncle Alan's own Parkinson's Disease couldn't keep him from driving one of his beloved old cars!) Dad called his scattered grandchildren on the phone this past weekend, to say goodbye and to offer his blessing to them, even a couple of them who have kept some emotional "distance." I listened to him talk with my daughter - powerful stuff. Friends are phoning today, or dropping by for a bit to offer their affirmation and farewells.
Dad told me a week ago he can feel his life rapidly drawing to a close, that he his laying his life down now with absolutely no regrets, plenty of good memories, and with great hope and anticipation for the future. I can see that he is dying content, pain-free, with no further expectations, knowing that he has fulfilled everything that God called him to do, and really looking forward to joining my mother Edna, my brother Donald, his own parents, and a host of others who look forward to his joining "the great cloud of witnesses."
Those who know him well can probably just hear him say what he told my brother Verle a few days ago, when he asked Dad what it feels like to be dying: "Well, yesterday I plowed, today I'm working the ground, and quite soon I'm going to plant."
Yesterday evening (Sunday) at 6 pm there was a special service in his home when he and his friends ritualized a transfer like "the mantle of Elijah" - the leadership of his special counseling and deliverance ministry he pioneered in this area - to Ben (school teacher) and Angela Snyder (professionally trained counselor.) A similar ceremony for Delora Reinhart (a hospital nursing supervisor) who has been a key partner in his effort to provide continuity of leadership for the future, occurred earlier Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. It was attended by almost all "the original twelve" in an interdenominational group (now expanded to several dozen) Dad has been teaching and mentoring for the past decade, plus some leaders from the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. Harold Bauman joined the group in the afternoon and shared a few words, as well. He teaches the advanced group, since this training program now involves three levels.
Yes, Dad's vision has come to fruition, quite a long way since the days of overt opposition from the leadership of the Mennonite Church, then his ordination 20 years ago by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference specifically for this type of specialized ministry. (When you stop to think about it, it's no wonder there were great hurdles to cross - I mean, jeepers, he not only fought with "demons" that constantly sought to pester him - he fought the demons of others, as well!) I've observed the whole sweep of it develop since square one as a teenager, but sometimes from afar, not "inside" this ministry -- though certainly very aware of what is going on, and constantly questioning and learning a host of valuable things. A while back I reconciled myself with my own clear calling I knew I needed to pursue. And I never felt any pressure from my father to be the one to bear "his mantle" (whew!) although I have facilitated some important networking and referral of "difficult cases" at various key points along the way.
Of course, as his eldest son, there would naturally be many personal "issues" to deal with along the way, as you can imagine, but we have always managed to find a way to work through them. (I shared at some depth my own views and experience with my relationship with my father on the MennoLink email list two or three years ago, after someone else brought up the topic of his ministry, which generated quite the discussion for about a month afterward.)
During a conversation I had with Dad the middle of last week I shared with him (though I could hardly speak at the time) that there have been a number of moments throughout the years when I wondered why in the world was I born into a family with a father like this (who presented such intellectual, emotional and theological conundrums in my life.) However, in spite of our unique "takes" on life, and of course some differences in perspective, I told him that "I am extremely grateful and proud to have been able to call him my father, and to be his son."
As I entered adulthood I embraced his own searching, exploring, daring, yet humble, listening, and affirming approach to life - to justice - to foster freedom in people's lives. But I didn't realize the connections then - for quite some time I only focused on how different we were - I was seeking differentiation. It was such a revelation when (somewhere in my 40's and especially during Clinical Pastoral Education) I began to reflect on how deeply embodied these values were -- not only descriptive of my own central drive in life, but part of my family heritage. I not only got some family "junk" to work through, but a whole lot of desirable character as well -- from him! I didn't really articulate all those fancy words and concepts in that moment last week - but I know that he knew what I meant. And his affirming response, that included words of pride and gratitude for the lives and relationship he has been able to enjoy with all his sons, was a moment I'll not forget. It was one more special time -- a mutual feeling of profound blessing.
Last evening I sent a word of personal thanks to a special group of people, some of whom have walked with my Dad for the last twenty-plus years through a lot of uncharted terrritory. These are people serving on what was originally called an "Accountability Committee" set up by the Church Life Commission of the local district of the Mennonite Church in the mid-1980's to discern what was really going on with my dad and his "work." (These days the official name of that group is "The Bondage and Deliverance Committee of the Church Life Commission" of the IN-MI Conference.) They have worked hard recently to set up standards of readiness for ordination of others to such ministry. Dad needed this group, because he had no formal credentials, no real college or seminary education - though he was widely read and has taught many a seminary class. (He told me Sunday morning, when it was just the two of us, that if he had it to do all over again, and had a choice, he would have pursued the field of psychology.)
Over the past two decades Dad shared countless case studies from his counseling work with this special committee, and met with them regularly -- even up through this past summer when he declared that his life's work was done. Their legacy of hard work and great support over the years to my father, has undergirded what he was able to accomplish. There is no doubt in my mind that this ministry could never have approached the depth and durability it has today without the work of that group. This committee provided a basis for his integrity, validation, discernment of direction, and the start of integration of this ministry into the life of the church as a whole, as far as the Mennonite Church is concerned.
As a result, this sort of ministry is no longer deemed "parachurch", as it often gets relegated in relation to other mainline denominations, but has been getting integrated back into the central ministry of (at least some) of our churches for the long haul - right where it belongs, just as Jesus himself taught us to do. (Matthew 10:1-8) Dad's impact reached far beyond the Mennonite Church, however, into several other denominations and their seminaries -- for a long time before his efforts were appreciated and incorporated by leaders within our own church.
Dad often shares an overarching concern with me when we converse about this subject: that the Mennonite seminaries train and recruit into their faculties more instructors who are competent to "carry the torch" for the next generation; to take the place of those who have been doing it but are retiring; to teach these specific spiritual counseling and pastoral care strategies to many pastors-in-training, and other professionals in the healing arts, who pursue advance studies at our seminaries and beyond. Those who have benefitted from this already in their training, scattered in this country and across the world, are constantly sending stories, messages of support, and appeals to network -- expressing appreciation for having acquired these skills, realizing they would otherwise be rendered quite powerless to deal with many of the perplexing and oppressive pastoral care situations they face. He (and my mother, his partner) really made a difference in hundreds, possibly thousands of lives - we'll never know how many, nor does he care to keep track.
I am personally concerned that we actively build up a network of healing professionals including discerning psychologists and psychiatrists who can work together on an interdisciplinary team alongside others in the pastoral community, to make referrals to each other, share experiences, and work together on "tough cases." There are encouraging signs in this area locally, as conversations ensue with such professionals that I encounter in my own work, day to day, indicating to me that the capacity for this to develop is quite good. I hope I, too, can make a difference in this dimension, as I endeavor to deploy my own networking skills and explore the possibilities.
Anyway, back to yesterday: everyone who gathered for the meeting with him recognized that to have such a ritual put them in more "uncharted waters" -- however, one of the participants in this ministry group had earlier received specific guidance from the Holy Spirit about the need for this sort of transitional ritual - and how it should be done - and Dad simply followed through, saying they shouldn't wait. It had to be done now if it was going to be done. (It's been the basic modus operandi of his life - following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, as he "plowed new ground" - but being very responsible to others in the process.)
For me personally, though I was behind the camera, to witness what happened and what all was said as the day unfolded yesterday was quite the moving experience, to say the least. I can understand now why it was important to happen before "time runs out." (I won't go into details here, but I have the highlights of these experiences all recorded on video DVDs. I happened to have my movie camera along when I arrived early Sunday morning to take my turn caring for him during that day - before I realized any of this was going to happen.)
Yesterday Dad was still able to compose his thoughts, read, and speak, and even sing a little bit! He had already transfered his unique library the day before -- about a thousand volumes, together with many other papers he authored over the years and recently sorted through -- into Ben Snyder's hands. Sunday evening as he read from scripture, Dad quoted the Apostle Paul: "I have run the race...I have finished the course..."
Lynda Hollinger-Janzen and I had hoped to get together with him over the past weeks, to prepare to do interviews and collect materials to write a book about his extraordinary life, since he gave me permission to pursue that about the end of August, and I invited her to collaborate on this, but just as I was leaving on a two week vacation in connection with my daughter's wedding. Others have been badgering him to let someone do this before, but he would never give permission. Though many of his friends and acquaintences share how they initially quaked in fear and wonderment at how they would be received by one who had developed such a widespread reputation for success in freeing people from their demonic oppression -- this is the dad I've come to know, especially in recent decades: a very humble man well aware of his own weaknesses and failings, who resisted drawing attention to himself, but instead yearned to draw people's attention to focus on the One who sits on "the Throne of Grace" as he loves to put it.
Lynda herself shared a story today that she said I could post, which illustrates this dynamic in his personality so well:
----
"I’d spoken with Dean in the context of meetings and seminars but the first time my husband and I went to visit him on a personal matter in 2002, I was very nervous. His powerful presence awed me. What evidence of demonic activity would he see in me, even though I was going to meet him on behalf of someone else?
We parked the car by a cornfield and prayed before gathering up the courage to pull into his driveway. I don’t think I would have been more apprehensive before the Pearly Gates expecting St. Peter to answer the ring than when I rang the Hochstetler’s doorbell. Dean opened the door and just stood there with such a big, welcoming smile on his face that worry could not coexist in the presence of this great compassion.
“Perfect love casts out all fear.” I John 4:18
Dean, of course, spent hours with us. He armed us with deliverance prayers, books, case studies ... and assured us that we were equipped by the power Jesus gives to confront and overcome evil.
We thank God for Dean and Edna’s faithful courage and obedience that opened the windows of God’s redeeming love in so many lives." --Lynda Hollinger-Janzen, Mennonite Mission Network
----
Dad loved people, listened to them for hours on end, helping them clean up their guilt issues and face their systemic family problems that were often rooted in generations of spiritual dysfunction. He resisted dependence; his goal was always for counselees to become empowered for themselves; to learn to appropriate "the all-sufficient power and authority of Jesus within their own lives." More often than not, no literal demons were manifested, but woe be to the one or several who did. However, Dad exercised great patience with people, because some "tough cases" took weeks or months before people could resist their relapses successfully. He did not like to work alone, in fact, considered that dangerous, and always, always, mentored other leaders in the process.
He did not ever take on a case without considering their follow-up needs, first ensuring that others were ready to tend to the client's pastoral care issues that would inevitably need to be addressed. And he never charged a fee or took a dollar for his work, unless they absolutely insisted, and it was for their own psychological benefit to do so. Mom and Dad's living room was often "the office" and they worked together to exercise their gifts of hospitality. This is the character of my father -- the Dean Hochstetler that I know. Some of these skills and principles that I learned from observation, and from listening to him respond to my questions have been invaluable in my own work and ministry. And I don't even know the half of it.
Towards the middle of September, as I made ready to pick up on this "book writing" opportunity, I could tell from further conversation with Dad that he really didn't want to do much interviewing in preparation for it. He said there is a lot that can be researched about his life after he's gone, some tapes that were already made, and reams of papers and case studies he wrote. Yes, there is a lot of research that could be done, and I'm sure will be done by others for some time to come.
The truth of the matter is he's felt "too tired" to participate in such a process. So I hestitated to push it too much, and decided to back off -- to just letting things unfold a bit more naturally. I had brought my video camera with me on a previous visit and reminisced with him spontaneously then for a few hours, drawing out some stories and getting good footage for the sake of other family members and generations to come.
This morning, upon awakening, I got the inspiration to set up a weblog soon - where folks who know him can post their own thoughts, affirmations, stories and testimonials - to jump-start that book. The idea came as I checked my email this forenoon, and realized the responses to a message I sent out last night to an email list of his friends were already rolling in and continued to do so all day -- not only from around this country, but others as well. Here is just one sample among the many:
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Dear Clair:
I am expressing appreciation for Dean's ministry. The Lord has used him at times to greatly influence the call upon my life. Shortly after high school I had a dream wherein I was delivering a friend from demonization. At that time I knew very little of this ministry. However, soon after that, this friend was taken to Elkhart General Hospital and Dean ministered to him. This set forth a 16-year journey in ministry and education with a variety of exposures to deliverance and inner-healing ministry. Currently I am in a PsyD. program, as a student, at a Christian university [the university was named here] believing God has directed me to a full-time ministry of discipleship therapy to the hurt, the burdened, and the demonically- oppressed. The Lord has used Dean to help me greater understand the unique ministry God is calling me to. It has been an honor to know him and to have had some teaching from him.
As I move into the field of Christian psychology and am battling against oppression from both purely "secular" psychology and the spirit realm, as well, I will continue to remember the path the Lord blazed through Dean, as well as the struggles he had -- both with the church and secular society.
Dean, thank-you for your courage, strength, and willingness to be used by God in a unique and bold way.
With Great Appreciation,
(Signature of this pastor, now a Psy.D. student)
-----
If anyone reading this on "the web" (or getting this passed along to them from someone else who copied it from this source) knows my father Dean, and wants to send a personal message to him, that can be done either 1) by posting right here on this blog, as a reply, or 2) by sending it to my email address at Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com
However, you will want to do this in the next day or so, if you want to make sure he gets a chance to hear it himself. One could also try calling him at home -- and for those interested I can give the phone number privately. One of us will be there with him all the time, until he's left us - to figure out "the rest of it" for ourselves.
Clair Hochstetler
Monday evening, October 23, 2006
P.S. Please click on the "comments" line - it appears right below each posting - if you would like to share your own reflection, affirmation, or story about my father Dean with other readers and our family. ("Tall stories" and tales of humorous situations you have found him in are OK, too, because I know there are a few floating around out there! Simply post it now or later - over the weeks ahead. And please feel free to pass along the location of this website, via this link: http://deanhochstetler.blogspot.com/ )
Send private messages (that you don't want posted here) to Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com
Some of you are likely already aware of the current circumstances, but know that my father Dean's death is imminent, only six months after my mother Edna died from cancer on April 25. While I find myself in the midst of "anticipatory grief" -- an all too familar feeling by now -- it is, once again, a very moving time with much blessing, truth be told. This sort of experience has been like flinging open a window to my soul, motivating me to reflect deeply about my own life journey and specifically, my relationship with Dad.
While some things will remain committed only to memory, I conveyed a lot in writing the last two evenings. Though I'm not sure exactly why, I've felt prompted to share some of my reflections in this more public venue. While it's both cathartic and therapeutic to pull these sorts of thoughts together, to consider posting all this publicly does indeed call forth some courage - I know from experience how vulnerable this can make one feel. It's hard to predict what will happen when one shares such intimate reflections at a sensitive moment like this in family life, because of varying perceptions of what is "appropriate." I intend to share the link to this blog more broadly after talking with Dad himself some more on Tuesday.*
I do hope that by risking a higher level of self-disclosure, this may contribute to others' understanding (though admittedly, from a very personal and "biased" perspective) regarding what sort of person my father really is, and the difference he has made in the lives of many. Here you will have access to my own personal reflections on what our relationship has been like, as father and son. Most important for this current moment in my experience, I will be trying to convey how blessed I feel for the opportunity to have him in my life as my own father, though for certain stretches I experienced this blessing simultaneously as a significant personal challenge - trying to absorb what it all means. I also recognize that some of what can be found here will likely come as quite a surprise -- should the reader happen to know me only from contexts where we have not yet discussed these important dimensions of family background or spiritual "world view."
(Warning: this is LONG, so just move on if you don't have five or ten minutes to read this and then contemplate your own parent's passing - because this account will quite likely prompt you in that direction!)
---
Any day now, even though still alert and with a fairly clear mind, his doctors expect Dad to go into a coma because his kidneys have, for the most part, stopped working and the numbers that measure his kidney dysfunction have now risen to a level where this usually happens. My brother Verle and Dad's sister (retired RN) Mary Ellen, who both live about five miles away, have been alternating with his assisted living at his own home in Nappanee for quite some time already, seeing Dad at least twice a day. Dad has been experiencing congestive heart failure for over a dozen years and his cardiologist has consistently managed the medical balancing act, bringing Dad through some perilous times, which offered him about 10 extra years of life - we celebrated his 78th birthday just two weekends ago.
Verle is one of those sons who has probably had a fairly rare experience, managing a whole sweep of changes in relationship with his father, and I give him a huge amount of credit: Verle worked the first chunk of his adult life for his dad in "the shop" beside the home where we four sons were raised - a very successful farm equipment service/welding/general repair business. Then he became an equal partner with Dad in the business, until Dad got way too busy with the counseling work, then he bought Dad out and became sole owner -- transforming the business into a metal fabricating company with a new building a mile away -- and then with dad working for him part-time. Later Verle sold the business due to some exceedingly difficult life circumstances (during which Dad provided a great deal of emotional support) and in recent years Verle had his role as a son reversed, in many respects -- becoming Dad's primary care-giver and tending to many intimate emotional and physical needs.
Last week I initiated, with Dad's permission of course, getting him admitted to hospice care at his home, just to stay ahead of the situation before it gets out of hand physically. (He's a very big man and recently is expanding even more, due to kidney failure, if you know what I mean.) I felt we should take advantage of the extra support that home care/hospice has to offer my dad and our family during such a time as this. (As a member of our hospice team, I see way too many families that wait too long to get this started, so I followed through with my own advice.) Dad began using a walker -- instead of his gnarly homemade cane made from a unique tree branch -- just on Saturday. Though very unsteady now, he has no pain whatsoever - just very aware that he is about to fade away from consciousness. So we are making the most of the time:
My brother Lee and his family (on leave in the US now from Wycliffe Bible Translation work in Mali, West Africa) made their way here from North Carolina with his family yesterday and today -- arriving this morning. Dad's brother Alan arrived this afternoon from Williamsburg, Virginia. (My uncle Alan's own Parkinson's Disease couldn't keep him from driving one of his beloved old cars!) Dad called his scattered grandchildren on the phone this past weekend, to say goodbye and to offer his blessing to them, even a couple of them who have kept some emotional "distance." I listened to him talk with my daughter - powerful stuff. Friends are phoning today, or dropping by for a bit to offer their affirmation and farewells.
Dad told me a week ago he can feel his life rapidly drawing to a close, that he his laying his life down now with absolutely no regrets, plenty of good memories, and with great hope and anticipation for the future. I can see that he is dying content, pain-free, with no further expectations, knowing that he has fulfilled everything that God called him to do, and really looking forward to joining my mother Edna, my brother Donald, his own parents, and a host of others who look forward to his joining "the great cloud of witnesses."
Those who know him well can probably just hear him say what he told my brother Verle a few days ago, when he asked Dad what it feels like to be dying: "Well, yesterday I plowed, today I'm working the ground, and quite soon I'm going to plant."
Yesterday evening (Sunday) at 6 pm there was a special service in his home when he and his friends ritualized a transfer like "the mantle of Elijah" - the leadership of his special counseling and deliverance ministry he pioneered in this area - to Ben (school teacher) and Angela Snyder (professionally trained counselor.) A similar ceremony for Delora Reinhart (a hospital nursing supervisor) who has been a key partner in his effort to provide continuity of leadership for the future, occurred earlier Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. It was attended by almost all "the original twelve" in an interdenominational group (now expanded to several dozen) Dad has been teaching and mentoring for the past decade, plus some leaders from the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. Harold Bauman joined the group in the afternoon and shared a few words, as well. He teaches the advanced group, since this training program now involves three levels.
Yes, Dad's vision has come to fruition, quite a long way since the days of overt opposition from the leadership of the Mennonite Church, then his ordination 20 years ago by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference specifically for this type of specialized ministry. (When you stop to think about it, it's no wonder there were great hurdles to cross - I mean, jeepers, he not only fought with "demons" that constantly sought to pester him - he fought the demons of others, as well!) I've observed the whole sweep of it develop since square one as a teenager, but sometimes from afar, not "inside" this ministry -- though certainly very aware of what is going on, and constantly questioning and learning a host of valuable things. A while back I reconciled myself with my own clear calling I knew I needed to pursue. And I never felt any pressure from my father to be the one to bear "his mantle" (whew!) although I have facilitated some important networking and referral of "difficult cases" at various key points along the way.
Of course, as his eldest son, there would naturally be many personal "issues" to deal with along the way, as you can imagine, but we have always managed to find a way to work through them. (I shared at some depth my own views and experience with my relationship with my father on the MennoLink email list two or three years ago, after someone else brought up the topic of his ministry, which generated quite the discussion for about a month afterward.)
During a conversation I had with Dad the middle of last week I shared with him (though I could hardly speak at the time) that there have been a number of moments throughout the years when I wondered why in the world was I born into a family with a father like this (who presented such intellectual, emotional and theological conundrums in my life.) However, in spite of our unique "takes" on life, and of course some differences in perspective, I told him that "I am extremely grateful and proud to have been able to call him my father, and to be his son."
As I entered adulthood I embraced his own searching, exploring, daring, yet humble, listening, and affirming approach to life - to justice - to foster freedom in people's lives. But I didn't realize the connections then - for quite some time I only focused on how different we were - I was seeking differentiation. It was such a revelation when (somewhere in my 40's and especially during Clinical Pastoral Education) I began to reflect on how deeply embodied these values were -- not only descriptive of my own central drive in life, but part of my family heritage. I not only got some family "junk" to work through, but a whole lot of desirable character as well -- from him! I didn't really articulate all those fancy words and concepts in that moment last week - but I know that he knew what I meant. And his affirming response, that included words of pride and gratitude for the lives and relationship he has been able to enjoy with all his sons, was a moment I'll not forget. It was one more special time -- a mutual feeling of profound blessing.
Last evening I sent a word of personal thanks to a special group of people, some of whom have walked with my Dad for the last twenty-plus years through a lot of uncharted terrritory. These are people serving on what was originally called an "Accountability Committee" set up by the Church Life Commission of the local district of the Mennonite Church in the mid-1980's to discern what was really going on with my dad and his "work." (These days the official name of that group is "The Bondage and Deliverance Committee of the Church Life Commission" of the IN-MI Conference.) They have worked hard recently to set up standards of readiness for ordination of others to such ministry. Dad needed this group, because he had no formal credentials, no real college or seminary education - though he was widely read and has taught many a seminary class. (He told me Sunday morning, when it was just the two of us, that if he had it to do all over again, and had a choice, he would have pursued the field of psychology.)
Over the past two decades Dad shared countless case studies from his counseling work with this special committee, and met with them regularly -- even up through this past summer when he declared that his life's work was done. Their legacy of hard work and great support over the years to my father, has undergirded what he was able to accomplish. There is no doubt in my mind that this ministry could never have approached the depth and durability it has today without the work of that group. This committee provided a basis for his integrity, validation, discernment of direction, and the start of integration of this ministry into the life of the church as a whole, as far as the Mennonite Church is concerned.
As a result, this sort of ministry is no longer deemed "parachurch", as it often gets relegated in relation to other mainline denominations, but has been getting integrated back into the central ministry of (at least some) of our churches for the long haul - right where it belongs, just as Jesus himself taught us to do. (Matthew 10:1-8) Dad's impact reached far beyond the Mennonite Church, however, into several other denominations and their seminaries -- for a long time before his efforts were appreciated and incorporated by leaders within our own church.
Dad often shares an overarching concern with me when we converse about this subject: that the Mennonite seminaries train and recruit into their faculties more instructors who are competent to "carry the torch" for the next generation; to take the place of those who have been doing it but are retiring; to teach these specific spiritual counseling and pastoral care strategies to many pastors-in-training, and other professionals in the healing arts, who pursue advance studies at our seminaries and beyond. Those who have benefitted from this already in their training, scattered in this country and across the world, are constantly sending stories, messages of support, and appeals to network -- expressing appreciation for having acquired these skills, realizing they would otherwise be rendered quite powerless to deal with many of the perplexing and oppressive pastoral care situations they face. He (and my mother, his partner) really made a difference in hundreds, possibly thousands of lives - we'll never know how many, nor does he care to keep track.
I am personally concerned that we actively build up a network of healing professionals including discerning psychologists and psychiatrists who can work together on an interdisciplinary team alongside others in the pastoral community, to make referrals to each other, share experiences, and work together on "tough cases." There are encouraging signs in this area locally, as conversations ensue with such professionals that I encounter in my own work, day to day, indicating to me that the capacity for this to develop is quite good. I hope I, too, can make a difference in this dimension, as I endeavor to deploy my own networking skills and explore the possibilities.
Anyway, back to yesterday: everyone who gathered for the meeting with him recognized that to have such a ritual put them in more "uncharted waters" -- however, one of the participants in this ministry group had earlier received specific guidance from the Holy Spirit about the need for this sort of transitional ritual - and how it should be done - and Dad simply followed through, saying they shouldn't wait. It had to be done now if it was going to be done. (It's been the basic modus operandi of his life - following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, as he "plowed new ground" - but being very responsible to others in the process.)
For me personally, though I was behind the camera, to witness what happened and what all was said as the day unfolded yesterday was quite the moving experience, to say the least. I can understand now why it was important to happen before "time runs out." (I won't go into details here, but I have the highlights of these experiences all recorded on video DVDs. I happened to have my movie camera along when I arrived early Sunday morning to take my turn caring for him during that day - before I realized any of this was going to happen.)
Yesterday Dad was still able to compose his thoughts, read, and speak, and even sing a little bit! He had already transfered his unique library the day before -- about a thousand volumes, together with many other papers he authored over the years and recently sorted through -- into Ben Snyder's hands. Sunday evening as he read from scripture, Dad quoted the Apostle Paul: "I have run the race...I have finished the course..."
Lynda Hollinger-Janzen and I had hoped to get together with him over the past weeks, to prepare to do interviews and collect materials to write a book about his extraordinary life, since he gave me permission to pursue that about the end of August, and I invited her to collaborate on this, but just as I was leaving on a two week vacation in connection with my daughter's wedding. Others have been badgering him to let someone do this before, but he would never give permission. Though many of his friends and acquaintences share how they initially quaked in fear and wonderment at how they would be received by one who had developed such a widespread reputation for success in freeing people from their demonic oppression -- this is the dad I've come to know, especially in recent decades: a very humble man well aware of his own weaknesses and failings, who resisted drawing attention to himself, but instead yearned to draw people's attention to focus on the One who sits on "the Throne of Grace" as he loves to put it.
Lynda herself shared a story today that she said I could post, which illustrates this dynamic in his personality so well:
----
"I’d spoken with Dean in the context of meetings and seminars but the first time my husband and I went to visit him on a personal matter in 2002, I was very nervous. His powerful presence awed me. What evidence of demonic activity would he see in me, even though I was going to meet him on behalf of someone else?
We parked the car by a cornfield and prayed before gathering up the courage to pull into his driveway. I don’t think I would have been more apprehensive before the Pearly Gates expecting St. Peter to answer the ring than when I rang the Hochstetler’s doorbell. Dean opened the door and just stood there with such a big, welcoming smile on his face that worry could not coexist in the presence of this great compassion.
“Perfect love casts out all fear.” I John 4:18
Dean, of course, spent hours with us. He armed us with deliverance prayers, books, case studies ... and assured us that we were equipped by the power Jesus gives to confront and overcome evil.
We thank God for Dean and Edna’s faithful courage and obedience that opened the windows of God’s redeeming love in so many lives." --Lynda Hollinger-Janzen, Mennonite Mission Network
----
Dad loved people, listened to them for hours on end, helping them clean up their guilt issues and face their systemic family problems that were often rooted in generations of spiritual dysfunction. He resisted dependence; his goal was always for counselees to become empowered for themselves; to learn to appropriate "the all-sufficient power and authority of Jesus within their own lives." More often than not, no literal demons were manifested, but woe be to the one or several who did. However, Dad exercised great patience with people, because some "tough cases" took weeks or months before people could resist their relapses successfully. He did not like to work alone, in fact, considered that dangerous, and always, always, mentored other leaders in the process.
He did not ever take on a case without considering their follow-up needs, first ensuring that others were ready to tend to the client's pastoral care issues that would inevitably need to be addressed. And he never charged a fee or took a dollar for his work, unless they absolutely insisted, and it was for their own psychological benefit to do so. Mom and Dad's living room was often "the office" and they worked together to exercise their gifts of hospitality. This is the character of my father -- the Dean Hochstetler that I know. Some of these skills and principles that I learned from observation, and from listening to him respond to my questions have been invaluable in my own work and ministry. And I don't even know the half of it.
Towards the middle of September, as I made ready to pick up on this "book writing" opportunity, I could tell from further conversation with Dad that he really didn't want to do much interviewing in preparation for it. He said there is a lot that can be researched about his life after he's gone, some tapes that were already made, and reams of papers and case studies he wrote. Yes, there is a lot of research that could be done, and I'm sure will be done by others for some time to come.
The truth of the matter is he's felt "too tired" to participate in such a process. So I hestitated to push it too much, and decided to back off -- to just letting things unfold a bit more naturally. I had brought my video camera with me on a previous visit and reminisced with him spontaneously then for a few hours, drawing out some stories and getting good footage for the sake of other family members and generations to come.
This morning, upon awakening, I got the inspiration to set up a weblog soon - where folks who know him can post their own thoughts, affirmations, stories and testimonials - to jump-start that book. The idea came as I checked my email this forenoon, and realized the responses to a message I sent out last night to an email list of his friends were already rolling in and continued to do so all day -- not only from around this country, but others as well. Here is just one sample among the many:
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Dear Clair:
I am expressing appreciation for Dean's ministry. The Lord has used him at times to greatly influence the call upon my life. Shortly after high school I had a dream wherein I was delivering a friend from demonization. At that time I knew very little of this ministry. However, soon after that, this friend was taken to Elkhart General Hospital and Dean ministered to him. This set forth a 16-year journey in ministry and education with a variety of exposures to deliverance and inner-healing ministry. Currently I am in a PsyD. program, as a student, at a Christian university [the university was named here] believing God has directed me to a full-time ministry of discipleship therapy to the hurt, the burdened, and the demonically- oppressed. The Lord has used Dean to help me greater understand the unique ministry God is calling me to. It has been an honor to know him and to have had some teaching from him.
As I move into the field of Christian psychology and am battling against oppression from both purely "secular" psychology and the spirit realm, as well, I will continue to remember the path the Lord blazed through Dean, as well as the struggles he had -- both with the church and secular society.
Dean, thank-you for your courage, strength, and willingness to be used by God in a unique and bold way.
With Great Appreciation,
(Signature of this pastor, now a Psy.D. student)
-----
If anyone reading this on "the web" (or getting this passed along to them from someone else who copied it from this source) knows my father Dean, and wants to send a personal message to him, that can be done either 1) by posting right here on this blog, as a reply, or 2) by sending it to my email address at Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com
However, you will want to do this in the next day or so, if you want to make sure he gets a chance to hear it himself. One could also try calling him at home -- and for those interested I can give the phone number privately. One of us will be there with him all the time, until he's left us - to figure out "the rest of it" for ourselves.
Clair Hochstetler
Monday evening, October 23, 2006
P.S. Please click on the "comments" line - it appears right below each posting - if you would like to share your own reflection, affirmation, or story about my father Dean with other readers and our family. ("Tall stories" and tales of humorous situations you have found him in are OK, too, because I know there are a few floating around out there! Simply post it now or later - over the weeks ahead. And please feel free to pass along the location of this website, via this link: http://deanhochstetler.blogspot.com/ )
Send private messages (that you don't want posted here) to Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com
THANK YOU, for what you taught me about caring for the spiritually wounded...
Dear Clair,
Thank you for taking the time to write to us and share your Dad's journey. He is one of God's treasures. We treasure him too. It has been a privilege to work with him on the Bondage and Deliverance Committee. God bless you as you walk by his side in these days. You are in our prayers. Please keep us posted. Peace, Grace Whitehead
Dear Dean,
As Clair described your situation, I understand you are shedding your earthly life and ready to be transformed into God's eternal design. You will step into the Glory of God with all the saints before you. Sometime you will find us joining you.
THANK YOU for what you taught me back in December 1990 and the years following. The last 16 years have provided numerous occasions to teach others. Today I rejoiced as I met with a woman who has finally walked down the path of deliverance to the point where she was in a conference at the Indianapolis/Carmel ICBC. She has found deep levels of understanding but not until hours and hours where spent in patient listening and acceptance. THANK YOU for what you taught me about caring for the spiritually wounded.
THANK YOU for the many stories you told us which represented hours of your life laid down in serving the LORD. The LORD JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH IS OUR LORD AND VICTOR !!
I don't want to say good-bye; instead, I will say until later in the presence of JESUS!! May the peace of Jesus fill every cell of your being on this journey.
God's blessing and peace to you and your family,
Grace Whitehead
Parkview, Kokomo, IN
------------------------
(Background note from Clair: Grace is a long-time member of the Accountability Committee, now known as the Bondage and Deliverance Committee which is itself under the Church Life Commisssion, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference)
Thank you for taking the time to write to us and share your Dad's journey. He is one of God's treasures. We treasure him too. It has been a privilege to work with him on the Bondage and Deliverance Committee. God bless you as you walk by his side in these days. You are in our prayers. Please keep us posted. Peace, Grace Whitehead
Dear Dean,
As Clair described your situation, I understand you are shedding your earthly life and ready to be transformed into God's eternal design. You will step into the Glory of God with all the saints before you. Sometime you will find us joining you.
THANK YOU for what you taught me back in December 1990 and the years following. The last 16 years have provided numerous occasions to teach others. Today I rejoiced as I met with a woman who has finally walked down the path of deliverance to the point where she was in a conference at the Indianapolis/Carmel ICBC. She has found deep levels of understanding but not until hours and hours where spent in patient listening and acceptance. THANK YOU for what you taught me about caring for the spiritually wounded.
THANK YOU for the many stories you told us which represented hours of your life laid down in serving the LORD. The LORD JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH IS OUR LORD AND VICTOR !!
I don't want to say good-bye; instead, I will say until later in the presence of JESUS!! May the peace of Jesus fill every cell of your being on this journey.
God's blessing and peace to you and your family,
Grace Whitehead
Parkview, Kokomo, IN
------------------------
(Background note from Clair: Grace is a long-time member of the Accountability Committee, now known as the Bondage and Deliverance Committee which is itself under the Church Life Commisssion, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference)
He was never to busy to lend a helping hand to anyone who came along...
Dear Clair:
A friend forwarded your e-mail to us, as I don't think your Dad had ours. We were deeply saddened by your news about your Dad. Both your Mom and Dad were dear friends of ours and in our home many times over the last 25 yrs. Dean would come to Ft. Wayne to teach and Edna would come with him. He taught and trained us in deliverance as well as sharing some incredible stories of his experiences. He was never to busy to lend a helping hand to anyone who came along. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him!
We did call and talk with your Dad this morning. He sounded good and we were so glad to be able to tell him how much we loved and appreciated him.
Please keep us informed. Our prayers are with you and the rest of the family as you walk through this time of sorrow.
With love,
Leslie and John Kindler
(Close friends from Ft. Wayne, IN)
A friend forwarded your e-mail to us, as I don't think your Dad had ours. We were deeply saddened by your news about your Dad. Both your Mom and Dad were dear friends of ours and in our home many times over the last 25 yrs. Dean would come to Ft. Wayne to teach and Edna would come with him. He taught and trained us in deliverance as well as sharing some incredible stories of his experiences. He was never to busy to lend a helping hand to anyone who came along. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him!
We did call and talk with your Dad this morning. He sounded good and we were so glad to be able to tell him how much we loved and appreciated him.
Please keep us informed. Our prayers are with you and the rest of the family as you walk through this time of sorrow.
With love,
Leslie and John Kindler
(Close friends from Ft. Wayne, IN)
As the Lord brings to mind I want to pray for those who received your "mantle" of ministry...
Dean,
I have thought of you frequently the past five months, as I knew you did not have good physical health. What a pleasure it is for me to be able to thank you for your friendship, counsel and ministry.
The Lord Jesus did not give me the gifts of ministry as He did you. I want to say thank-you for opening our minds to the ways that Satan tries to work against the Kingdom of God. I thank God for your boldness and faithfulness to your calling. I prayed especially that Jesus would prove to you at the end of your life that He has won the Victory! I know that my own earthly life is winding down, and all I ask is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to face my Lord with a joyful spirit and to enter "the Gates withThanksgiving and the Courts with praise." All glory belongs to Him!
You are appreciated and loved! A lot of good memories I have of you and Edna. Until we meet again in the MORNING! PEACE!
As the Lord brings to mind I want to pray for those who received your "mantle" of ministry.
Helen Weirich
(My mother Edna's cousin)
I have thought of you frequently the past five months, as I knew you did not have good physical health. What a pleasure it is for me to be able to thank you for your friendship, counsel and ministry.
The Lord Jesus did not give me the gifts of ministry as He did you. I want to say thank-you for opening our minds to the ways that Satan tries to work against the Kingdom of God. I thank God for your boldness and faithfulness to your calling. I prayed especially that Jesus would prove to you at the end of your life that He has won the Victory! I know that my own earthly life is winding down, and all I ask is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to face my Lord with a joyful spirit and to enter "the Gates withThanksgiving and the Courts with praise." All glory belongs to Him!
You are appreciated and loved! A lot of good memories I have of you and Edna. Until we meet again in the MORNING! PEACE!
As the Lord brings to mind I want to pray for those who received your "mantle" of ministry.
Helen Weirich
(My mother Edna's cousin)
A message of gratitude from Burkina Faso (Africa)
Dear Clair,
Please convey my greetings to Dean if he is still able to receive them. And Clair, to you and family: What I sense is what I may call sweet sadness. It is tough to part ways, but you are thankful for the full rich lives of both your parents. May God give you all a special measure of peace and thankfulness during this difficult time.
Anne GK
Dear Dean,
God's richest blessings and joy be with you as you anticipate joining Him in glory. Dean, I want to thank you again for all the articles, books, and advice you have sent to us over the years. Would your Elisha be willing to continue to receive questions from persons like me over in Africa?
I am so thankful that you have had the opportunity to prepare for spiritual continuity of your ministry.
Bon voyage,
Love,
Anne and Daniel Kompaore
Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso
============
Ben and Angela Snyder said, in response to this post:
We would definitely welcome questions from you.
11/05/06
============
And here is Ben and Angela's email address: absnyder@peoplepc.com
-Clair
Please convey my greetings to Dean if he is still able to receive them. And Clair, to you and family: What I sense is what I may call sweet sadness. It is tough to part ways, but you are thankful for the full rich lives of both your parents. May God give you all a special measure of peace and thankfulness during this difficult time.
Anne GK
Dear Dean,
God's richest blessings and joy be with you as you anticipate joining Him in glory. Dean, I want to thank you again for all the articles, books, and advice you have sent to us over the years. Would your Elisha be willing to continue to receive questions from persons like me over in Africa?
I am so thankful that you have had the opportunity to prepare for spiritual continuity of your ministry.
Bon voyage,
Love,
Anne and Daniel Kompaore
Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso
============
Ben and Angela Snyder said, in response to this post:
We would definitely welcome questions from you.
11/05/06
============
And here is Ben and Angela's email address: absnyder@peoplepc.com
-Clair
He made a huge impact on our lives...
Clair:
My husband Larry and I heard him often talk about his precious family. We are just so honored to know all of you.
Please tell Dean, (We don't want to bother him at this time) but are so grateful for the times spent with him and Edna. We so appreciate the times he counseled Larry & I and our son Dan...what a ministry he had, and blessed us with his wisdom, and encouragement!!! He made a huge impact on our lives. We always loved the times he taught and also assisted Ben at the Spiritual Warfare classes on Sat morning.
Dean, I cannot begin to thank you and Praise the LORD for you enough, for all you did for our family!!! I look forward to seeing you & Edna in Heaven. THANK YOU!!!!! You fought the good fight, you finished the race........Praise be to the LORD!!!!!
With very much love,
Dar Sawyer
Clair---this finds my keyboard very wet as well....what a wonderful gentleman in every sense of the word. Thank you so much for this e-mail, we will be praying for you and the rest of the family during this hard time.
God Bless you and your sweet wife-
Love to you both,
Dar
-----Original Message-----
From: Clair Hochstetler
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:15 PM
To: (Group E-mail)
Subject: Alert regarding dad -- Dean Hochstetler (and notice of cutoff of this email address)
Family and friends:
You may already be well aware of this, but know that my father Dean's death is imminent, only six months after my mother Edna died (April 25.) Today he authorized the termination of this email account from the local internet access company when he wrote a final check to pay off the current bill plus the next one.
Any day now, even though still alert and with a fairly clear mind, his doctors expect him to go into a coma because his kidneys have, for the most part, stopped functioning and the numbers that measure his kidney function are at the level where this usually happens. My brother Verle and Dad's sister Mary Ellen, who both live about 5 miles away, have been alternating with his assisted living here at his home, for quite some time already, seeing Dad at least twice a day. But he also now has hospice care here at his home, as of Thursday this week. He has no pain whatsoever - just very aware that he is about to fade away from consciousness.
My brother Lee is on his way from North Carolina with his family as we speak. So is Dad's brother Alan, driving in from Virginia. He has been calling his grandchildren to say goodbye and says he knows his time on this earth is rapidly drawing to a close. Other friends are beginning to drop by for a bit to offer their affirmation and farewells.
This evening there was a special service in his home when we ritualized a transfer like "the mantle of Elijah" - the leadership of his special counseling and deliverance ministry he pioneered in this area - to Ben and Angela Snyder. A similar ceremony for Delora Reinhart, a partner in his effort to provide continuity of leadership for the future, occurred earlier this afternoon. It was also attended by almost all "the original twelve" in an interdenominational group Dad has been teaching and mentoring for the past decade, plus some leaders from the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. It was such a blessing to witness this - still able to compose his thoughts, read, and speak, and even sing a little bit! Dad transfered his unique library, about a thousand volumes, together with many other papers he authored over the years and recently sorted through, into Ben's hands yesterday. He read from scripture tonight quoting the Apostle Paul that "I have run the race...I have finished the course..." (I have it all on video.)
He told me the middle of this week that he his laying his life down now with absolutely no regrets, plenty of good memories, and with great hope and anticipation for the future. He is dying content, with no further expectations, knowing that he has fulfilled everything that God called him to do, and really looking forward to joining Edna and his son Donald, his mother and father, and a host of others who look forward to his joining "the great cloud of witnesses."
You can probably just hear him saying what he told Verle a few days ago, when asked what it feels like to be dying: "Well, yesterday I plowed, today I'm working the ground, and quite soon I'm going to plant."
If you have any further messages to send to Dean, in the next day or so, you may either send them to his sisters Miriam and Mary Ellen, via meh1934@bnin.net or me at Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com, or you may try to call him at home at 574-773-4915. One of us will be there with him all the time.
With gratefulness for your friendship and support of dad -- and a fairly wet keyboard at my end this evening...
Clair Hochstetler
My husband Larry and I heard him often talk about his precious family. We are just so honored to know all of you.
Please tell Dean, (We don't want to bother him at this time) but are so grateful for the times spent with him and Edna. We so appreciate the times he counseled Larry & I and our son Dan...what a ministry he had, and blessed us with his wisdom, and encouragement!!! He made a huge impact on our lives. We always loved the times he taught and also assisted Ben at the Spiritual Warfare classes on Sat morning.
Dean, I cannot begin to thank you and Praise the LORD for you enough, for all you did for our family!!! I look forward to seeing you & Edna in Heaven. THANK YOU!!!!! You fought the good fight, you finished the race........Praise be to the LORD!!!!!
With very much love,
Dar Sawyer
Clair---this finds my keyboard very wet as well....what a wonderful gentleman in every sense of the word. Thank you so much for this e-mail, we will be praying for you and the rest of the family during this hard time.
God Bless you and your sweet wife-
Love to you both,
Dar
-----Original Message-----
From: Clair Hochstetler
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:15 PM
To: (Group E-mail)
Subject: Alert regarding dad -- Dean Hochstetler (and notice of cutoff of this email address)
Family and friends:
You may already be well aware of this, but know that my father Dean's death is imminent, only six months after my mother Edna died (April 25.) Today he authorized the termination of this email account from the local internet access company when he wrote a final check to pay off the current bill plus the next one.
Any day now, even though still alert and with a fairly clear mind, his doctors expect him to go into a coma because his kidneys have, for the most part, stopped functioning and the numbers that measure his kidney function are at the level where this usually happens. My brother Verle and Dad's sister Mary Ellen, who both live about 5 miles away, have been alternating with his assisted living here at his home, for quite some time already, seeing Dad at least twice a day. But he also now has hospice care here at his home, as of Thursday this week. He has no pain whatsoever - just very aware that he is about to fade away from consciousness.
My brother Lee is on his way from North Carolina with his family as we speak. So is Dad's brother Alan, driving in from Virginia. He has been calling his grandchildren to say goodbye and says he knows his time on this earth is rapidly drawing to a close. Other friends are beginning to drop by for a bit to offer their affirmation and farewells.
This evening there was a special service in his home when we ritualized a transfer like "the mantle of Elijah" - the leadership of his special counseling and deliverance ministry he pioneered in this area - to Ben and Angela Snyder. A similar ceremony for Delora Reinhart, a partner in his effort to provide continuity of leadership for the future, occurred earlier this afternoon. It was also attended by almost all "the original twelve" in an interdenominational group Dad has been teaching and mentoring for the past decade, plus some leaders from the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. It was such a blessing to witness this - still able to compose his thoughts, read, and speak, and even sing a little bit! Dad transfered his unique library, about a thousand volumes, together with many other papers he authored over the years and recently sorted through, into Ben's hands yesterday. He read from scripture tonight quoting the Apostle Paul that "I have run the race...I have finished the course..." (I have it all on video.)
He told me the middle of this week that he his laying his life down now with absolutely no regrets, plenty of good memories, and with great hope and anticipation for the future. He is dying content, with no further expectations, knowing that he has fulfilled everything that God called him to do, and really looking forward to joining Edna and his son Donald, his mother and father, and a host of others who look forward to his joining "the great cloud of witnesses."
You can probably just hear him saying what he told Verle a few days ago, when asked what it feels like to be dying: "Well, yesterday I plowed, today I'm working the ground, and quite soon I'm going to plant."
If you have any further messages to send to Dean, in the next day or so, you may either send them to his sisters Miriam and Mary Ellen, via meh1934@bnin.net or me at Clair.Hochstetler@gmail.com, or you may try to call him at home at 574-773-4915. One of us will be there with him all the time.
With gratefulness for your friendship and support of dad -- and a fairly wet keyboard at my end this evening...
Clair Hochstetler
I feel we will be experiencing a great loss in our small group...
Dean, I feel we will be experiencing a great loss in our small group. You always had such wisdom of giving advice to our needs. Your prayers always started out by thanking God for his wonderful provision of salvation and his power to keep us faithful to Him.
I have missed Stanley greatly and know you will see him too now. I almost envy you in going to see your loved ones and our wonderful Jesus who loved us so much and wanted a relationship with us that he gave His life so that we could be in God's presence forever.
I just came home from seeing my son Jerry and his family in Michigan. They are part of a church planting in their town and are reaching out to those who need Jesus. I was overwhelmed of the outreach they are doing and of the love for the people that is being shown. It is called "epic" which means great story and they want people to know God's great story.
I will be praying that you will have a peaceful passing.
Phyllis Kehr
I have missed Stanley greatly and know you will see him too now. I almost envy you in going to see your loved ones and our wonderful Jesus who loved us so much and wanted a relationship with us that he gave His life so that we could be in God's presence forever.
I just came home from seeing my son Jerry and his family in Michigan. They are part of a church planting in their town and are reaching out to those who need Jesus. I was overwhelmed of the outreach they are doing and of the love for the people that is being shown. It is called "epic" which means great story and they want people to know God's great story.
I will be praying that you will have a peaceful passing.
Phyllis Kehr
Worry could not coexist in the presence of this great compassion...
Clair,
I’d spoken with Dean in the context of meetings and seminars but the first time my husband and I went to visit him on a personal matter in 2002, I was very nervous. His powerful presence awed me. What evidence of demonic activity would he see in me, even though I was going to meet him on behalf of someone else?
We parked the car by a cornfield and prayed before gathering up the courage to pull into his driveway. I don’t think I would have been more apprehensive before the Pearly Gates expecting St. Peter to answer the ring than when I rang the Hochstetler’s doorbell. Dean opened the door and just stood there with such a big, welcoming smile on his face that worry could not coexist in the presence of this great compassion.
“Perfect love casts out all fear.” I John 4:18
Dean, of course, spent hours with us. He armed us with deliverance prayers, books, case studies ... and assured us that we were equipped by the power Jesus gives to confront and overcome evil. We thank God for Dean and Edna’s faithful courage and obedience that opened the windows of God’s redeeming love in so many lives.
Lynda Hollinger-Janzen
Mennonite Mission Network
I’d spoken with Dean in the context of meetings and seminars but the first time my husband and I went to visit him on a personal matter in 2002, I was very nervous. His powerful presence awed me. What evidence of demonic activity would he see in me, even though I was going to meet him on behalf of someone else?
We parked the car by a cornfield and prayed before gathering up the courage to pull into his driveway. I don’t think I would have been more apprehensive before the Pearly Gates expecting St. Peter to answer the ring than when I rang the Hochstetler’s doorbell. Dean opened the door and just stood there with such a big, welcoming smile on his face that worry could not coexist in the presence of this great compassion.
“Perfect love casts out all fear.” I John 4:18
Dean, of course, spent hours with us. He armed us with deliverance prayers, books, case studies ... and assured us that we were equipped by the power Jesus gives to confront and overcome evil. We thank God for Dean and Edna’s faithful courage and obedience that opened the windows of God’s redeeming love in so many lives.
Lynda Hollinger-Janzen
Mennonite Mission Network
(From a Psy.D. student) The Lord used him (Dean) at times to greatly influence the call upon my life...
Dear Clair:
I am expressing appreciation for Dean's ministry. The Lord has used him at times to greatly influence the call upon my life. Shortly after high school I had a dream wherein I was delivering a friend from demonization. At that time I knew very little of this ministry. However, soon after that, this friend was taken to Elkhart General Hospital and Dean ministered to him. This set forth a 16-year journey in ministry and education with a variety of exposures to deliverance and inner-healing ministry. Currently I am in a PsyD. program, as a student, at a Christian university (George Fox University) believing God has directed me to a full-time ministry of discipleship therapy to the hurt, the burdened, and the demonically- oppressed. The Lord has used Dean to help me greater understand the unique ministry God is calling me to. It has been an honor to know him and to have had some teaching from him.
As I move into the field of Christian psychology and am battling against oppression from both purely "secular" psychology and the spirit realm, as well, I will continue to remember the path the Lord blazed through Dean, as well as the struggles he had -- both with the church and secular society.
Dean, thank-you for your courage, strength, and willingness to be used by God in a unique and bold way.
With Great Appreciation,
Heath Fervida
I am expressing appreciation for Dean's ministry. The Lord has used him at times to greatly influence the call upon my life. Shortly after high school I had a dream wherein I was delivering a friend from demonization. At that time I knew very little of this ministry. However, soon after that, this friend was taken to Elkhart General Hospital and Dean ministered to him. This set forth a 16-year journey in ministry and education with a variety of exposures to deliverance and inner-healing ministry. Currently I am in a PsyD. program, as a student, at a Christian university (George Fox University) believing God has directed me to a full-time ministry of discipleship therapy to the hurt, the burdened, and the demonically- oppressed. The Lord has used Dean to help me greater understand the unique ministry God is calling me to. It has been an honor to know him and to have had some teaching from him.
As I move into the field of Christian psychology and am battling against oppression from both purely "secular" psychology and the spirit realm, as well, I will continue to remember the path the Lord blazed through Dean, as well as the struggles he had -- both with the church and secular society.
Dean, thank-you for your courage, strength, and willingness to be used by God in a unique and bold way.
With Great Appreciation,
Heath Fervida
AMBS Professor Swartley: "Through you I have come to know and see the transforming power of Jesus' work on the cross, sometimes in miracle dimensions"
Dear Clair,
Thank you for this moving detailing of events transpiring for your Dad. What a remarkable life and ministry he had. To God be the glory. If he is conscious and can receive it, please pass on to him these words:
You, Dean, have been an important influence in my life for over twenty years. Through you I have come to know and see the transforming power of Jesus' work on the cross, sometimes in miracle dimensions. Yes, literally we are saved from death and though death by the words and work of Jesus, triumphing over all the powers of the enemy. As you walk the path that crosses over the Jordan, may our dear Lord Jesus Christ be there on the other side, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." One day, and God alone knows how long, I hope by God's grace to join you."
Blessings of love and peace,
Willard Swartley
(Professor Emeritus of New Testament,
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary)
Thank you for this moving detailing of events transpiring for your Dad. What a remarkable life and ministry he had. To God be the glory. If he is conscious and can receive it, please pass on to him these words:
You, Dean, have been an important influence in my life for over twenty years. Through you I have come to know and see the transforming power of Jesus' work on the cross, sometimes in miracle dimensions. Yes, literally we are saved from death and though death by the words and work of Jesus, triumphing over all the powers of the enemy. As you walk the path that crosses over the Jordan, may our dear Lord Jesus Christ be there on the other side, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." One day, and God alone knows how long, I hope by God's grace to join you."
Blessings of love and peace,
Willard Swartley
(Professor Emeritus of New Testament,
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary)
Yellow Creek friends: Dean, you are "something!"
Dear Dean,
You are "something" as Delora would say. Like all of us, it is only because of the Grace of God.
Russ and I want you to know that you have passed on so much knowledge and understanding to help us in life here and eternal life. We truly appreciate you and all you have done for us. You have touched and have given help to deliver many at Yellow Creek and many, many of God's children across the miles. We want to thank you for giving to the Lord in so many ways. May your heavenly rewards be great.
Love In Christ,
Russ and Rita Rupp
You are "something" as Delora would say. Like all of us, it is only because of the Grace of God.
Russ and I want you to know that you have passed on so much knowledge and understanding to help us in life here and eternal life. We truly appreciate you and all you have done for us. You have touched and have given help to deliver many at Yellow Creek and many, many of God's children across the miles. We want to thank you for giving to the Lord in so many ways. May your heavenly rewards be great.
Love In Christ,
Russ and Rita Rupp
Former pastor: "Your father was a wonderful mentor to me when I was pastoring"
Good morning, Clair:
Thank you so much for your email updating me on your father. It brings back the passing of Loretta's mother, just three years ago in very much the same way, congestive heart failure and ultimately the shutting down of her kidneys. She lived about five days after she made the decision not to do dialysis. She faded from consciousness after she had the opportunity to say goodbye to each of her children one last time. What a wonderful gift to know that we have run the race, kept the faith and have no regrets. AMEN!
Your father was a wonderful mentor to me when I was pastoring at Olive and since coming to EMU. I remember well our night together at the bedside of __(name withheld by Clair)__, who experienced a tremendous sense of bondage prior to that evening, after that he was able to face death with a sense of confidence, freedom and assurance. It was not only transformative for ____ but also for me.
I took the opportunity to talk with him several minutes this morning and to say good-bye.
Blessings to you and the family during this time of your father's home-going.
Please keep in touch.
Phil Helmuth
(Executive Director of Development and Church Relations, Eastern Mennonite University)
Thank you so much for your email updating me on your father. It brings back the passing of Loretta's mother, just three years ago in very much the same way, congestive heart failure and ultimately the shutting down of her kidneys. She lived about five days after she made the decision not to do dialysis. She faded from consciousness after she had the opportunity to say goodbye to each of her children one last time. What a wonderful gift to know that we have run the race, kept the faith and have no regrets. AMEN!
Your father was a wonderful mentor to me when I was pastoring at Olive and since coming to EMU. I remember well our night together at the bedside of __(name withheld by Clair)__, who experienced a tremendous sense of bondage prior to that evening, after that he was able to face death with a sense of confidence, freedom and assurance. It was not only transformative for ____ but also for me.
I took the opportunity to talk with him several minutes this morning and to say good-bye.
Blessings to you and the family during this time of your father's home-going.
Please keep in touch.
Phil Helmuth
(Executive Director of Development and Church Relations, Eastern Mennonite University)
Thank you for all you have taught so many of us about faithful service and understanding of the spiritual battles of life...
Dear Co-laborer, our dearly Beloved Dean Hochstetler,
Thank you, Dean, for all you have taught so many of us about faithful service and understanding of the spiritual battles of life. Your anticipated departure for Glory will be a time of great rejoicing for you but great sorrow for many of us who have served with you and profited from your great heart and shared knowledge. Thank you for your friendship with Anita and me through these many years. We love you and look forward to sharing the joys of eternity with you.
In love,
Mark and Anita Bubeck
-----------------------
(Background note by Clair, this blog's editor: Dr. Mark Bubeck is the founder and President Emeritus of the International Center for Biblical Counseling, Inc. based in Sioux City, Iowa through September of 2006. A pastor for over 40 years, Dr. Bubeck is the author of The Adversary, Overcoming the Adversary, The Rise of Fallen Angels, and Raising Lambs Among Wolves: How to Protect Your Children from Evil.)
Thank you, Dean, for all you have taught so many of us about faithful service and understanding of the spiritual battles of life. Your anticipated departure for Glory will be a time of great rejoicing for you but great sorrow for many of us who have served with you and profited from your great heart and shared knowledge. Thank you for your friendship with Anita and me through these many years. We love you and look forward to sharing the joys of eternity with you.
In love,
Mark and Anita Bubeck
-----------------------
(Background note by Clair, this blog's editor: Dr. Mark Bubeck is the founder and President Emeritus of the International Center for Biblical Counseling, Inc. based in Sioux City, Iowa through September of 2006. A pastor for over 40 years, Dr. Bubeck is the author of The Adversary, Overcoming the Adversary, The Rise of Fallen Angels, and Raising Lambs Among Wolves: How to Protect Your Children from Evil.)
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