A Tribute to Kent Eloe and His Savior

There are many heavy hearts at Bethel and around NW Indiana today. Our dear friend and brother Kent was called home to be with the Lord early last evening. And while we grieve for his family and ourselves, we do not do so as those without hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Rather, we have a (the) living hope (1 Peter 1:3), the assurance that Kent is now with the Lord and that one day we will join him there.

I had the privilege of knowing Kent in numerous different capacities; first as a fellow athlete at a rival school over 20 years ago. More recently and significantly I knew him as a fellow hunter, a businessman, a church member, and as a deacon at Bethel. I can honestly say that every memory I have of Kent is a good one; he excelled in every area of life in which I knew him, especially as a father and a husband. I don't know that I can say this about anyone else I have ever known.

Kent will be sorely missed, but his legacy will be a significant one. His testimony over the last several years as God worked in and through him in incredible ways will not quickly fade. He has touched many lives and brought much glory to His Savior.

We may be tempted to believe that the cancer won; in reality this is the farthest thing from the truth. Kent won, big time. He won because he took his cancer and used it as an opportunity to glorify God, to minister to others, and to become more like Christ. And ultimately, he claimed the prize to which he was called (Phil. 3:14).

Kent, we love you. You have been an example for us all.

And Jesus, we love you for taking the sting out of death and giving us victory (1 Cor. 15:55-57)!