It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of one of our Peacemakers’ Team.  Rob served the non profit making Christian charity with his great technical skills in computers, showing prayerful commitment, always edged with love and compassion.

My late husband Dennis and I have known Rob since he was an adult single man who attended the church that Dennis was Pastor of in Stevenage. Unfortunately Rob had an inherited genetic illness that was beginning to show itself physically. It was a progressive disease and over time his health would decline. He met and fell in love with Ruth and they decided to get married.  Together they made their commitment before God to love “for better, for worse, till death parts us”, and we had the privilege of marrying them and witnessing their love and commitment to each other throughout their married life.

Along came three children Tom, Becky and Ellie and they moved into a bungalow to accommodate Rob’s increasing disabilities more easily.  As Rob was getting weaker his faith was getting stronger and he wanted to serve the Lord more.  Dennis invited him on one of his mission trips to Norway and Rob was soon found to be a man of prayer and faith.  It reminds me of that song we sing “when I am weak Lord, you are my strength” and this showed very much in Rob as a husband, father and co-worker.  He was a wonderful disciple of Jesus Christ, he was blessed with the love that Jesus loved His Church with, unconditional, sacrificial love.  Jesus gave His life for us, He was selfless, as was Rob.  I never heard a word of complaint from Rob about his situation, just words of love and encouragement.  His prayer times always revealed words of wisdom from the Lord which he so lovingly shared with us.

He would loved to have come to Kenya with me and they would loved to have met him.  Indirectly, through his intuitive prayers and practical aid in the form of computers and computer training, he has changed so many Kenyan lives and he still remains part of the mission.

On their 25th wedding anniversary, by chance I just happened to be visiting Rob, and Ruth said to me, “Brenda can you remember what you were doing 25 years ago today?”  I thought for a moment and said “yes I was marrying you”, “that’s right”, and then Ruth took Rob’s hand and said “we love each other more today than we did 25 years ago”. “When we are weak, God is our strength”, He is sufficient.

Because of the restrictions upon us all through the coronavirus crisis, we are unable to attend his funeral, which I know, out of love and respect for Rob, many of you would love to have been there. I can tell you that Ruth is allowed just 10 people, which will obviously be taken up with her and Rob’s closest family.  The Committal Service is booked at Harwood Park Crematorium for Wednesday 15th April at 2.45p.m.  Please put that time aside to join with the family in spirit in remembering and committing Rob to the Lord.

The Lord has prepared a place at His table for Rob.  Rest in Peace dear Brother in Christ.

Brenda, Christine and all the Peacemakers Team