Farewell, Henk

In the very beginning minutes of this new year, we lost a dear friend.  Henk Kempers, our brother-in-Christ and larger-than-life Dutch missionary friend, was killed in a fireworks explosion in the Netherlands last week.  We are still reeling from the news.

We met Henk and his wife Joan and their two boys, Nathan and Ezra, during our time living in Curacao.  He had brought his family to Curacao in order to reach out to drug addicts, giving them practical help and hope in Christ.  Henk knew first-hand about this hope.  He was a former heroin-addict who gave his life to Christ decades ago, and saw the abundant life he could have with his Savior.  He longed to give this hope to others - and he did a magnificent job of it.  He was not only known for his imposing 6 foot 7 inch height, bald head and blue eyes - he was known mostly by his love for Jesus and his deep desire to see others come to know it, as well.

We shared many special moments with Henk and his family during our years in Curacao.  In 2012, we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve together.  Here is the Kempers family's first taste of an American Thanksgiving meal!

Josh and Henk were more than just friends - they were brothers.  Henk did much to encourage Josh in his own faith and to sharpen Josh's love for Christ.  They spent hours together talking. 

Just before the boys and I left the island to come to Ohio to give birth to Joe, Henk was in a terrible car accident that nearly took his life.  But God chose to spare him. He had more work for Henk to do!  In 2016, Henk and his family returned to the Netherlands and began working with the disenfranchised Roma ("Gypsy") people of Holland, seeing over 200 people come to Christ, be baptized and begin their own church. 

 Josh got to spend some more time with Henk before he finished out his contract in Curacao, but for Jack, George and I...this was the last time we saw Henk.  The Kempers family have been so dear to us and loved our family so well.

We got the news last Wednesday that our friend was gone.  In an instant, he went from wishing others a Happy New Year, to being in the presence of his Savior.  He was 54 years old.  He leaves behind Joan and their two teenage sons.  If anything, we pray that Henk's story reminds all of us that we are not guaranteed our next breath.  God could choose to take us at any moment and we need to be ready.  Henk was ready. 

Henk's story has been broadcast in many newspapers and online sites from Europe.  More people are hearing his testimony and finding out about his great love for Jesus and he leaves a rich legacy of people who were loved, discipled, prayed for and befriended by him.  We heard that over 600 people showed up for his funeral service.  Thanks to the internet, we even found an article with pictures of the ceremony. 

We, too, celebrate the life of Henk Kempers and thank the Lord for allowing us to call him friend and brother.  He will be missed by so many.