Sorrow Strikes Deep at The Forge

Christ is Faithful in the Midst of Tragedy

Dear Friends,

It is with sadness yet with hope in the resurrection Life of Christ that this summer’s report comes to you. We knew from the outset that this year’s Forge would be very different from last year’s but had no idea what awaited us and the family of one of the Forge participants.

The first two weeks were full of the Lord’s presence, fellowship, varied teaching and building up of one another. We had participants join us from Virginia, Maine, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, North Carolina, India and Haiti. Then, without warning at the very end of the second week tragedy struck. On a swimming outing to a small local lake, one of our number, a fine young man from Texas named Jake Davis went under while swimming out to a close by island and drowned. We will never know in this life exactly what happened. A nearby swimmer saw Jake struggling and tried to help him but to no avail. Jake had been out swimming twice with us without problem. On an earlier outing, he had even jumped off a large rope swing into 15 feet of water with no difficulty. Divers found his body in 6-7 feet of water.

Jake’s family responded with great faith and compassion to the shocking news. His dad and two brothers came out to Virginia and spent two days with us seeing where Jake had been and what The Forge was like. They were amazed at the initiative he had shown, the depth of friendships he had developed and the deep happiness they could see in the photos of him we had taken. One of them described this area as one the most beautiful he had ever seen and thought he might bring a group back next year. The family knew Jake had come out here in pursuit of a Christ he was growing to love and could see that he had indeed found Him in this place. Jake’s mom later described his experience here as a “transition to heaven.” She said many times that this was exactly where Jake was supposed to be. We could all see that Jake was on an upward trajectory when the Lord allowed him to come home.

Christie, our son Matt, and I went out to Houston for the funeral. Close to 500 people came to remember Jake and hear of the Lord’s work in his life. Comfort was taken in knowing that he is indeed fully rejoicing in the Lord. At the same time great sadness remains with those who loved him and will not be seeing Jake again this side of glory. We spent almost two hours with Jake’s Mom and Dad prior to the funeral, sharing stories of Jake’s time with us. The faith of Jake’s mom was especially moving. We covet your prayers for them and the other Forge attendees who had grown to love Jake.

While we were not prepared for this, we know that the Lord in His wisdom is never caught unaware. The morning Jake died Christie received an email from India from one of last year’s Forge attendees. This young man had a dream of Christie sitting in our large room, experiencing great difficulty and singing the song, “You are my strength when I am weak.” In fact this was the song that we started our memorial gathering for Jake with the day after he went to be with the Lord. She also had the sense from the Lord on waking that morning that she should confess her love for the Lord no matter what might happen. In those and other ways too numerous to share in this email, the Lord laid a foundation for what would happen. For that we have to give Him honor and bow to His sovereignty. The Lord has wrapped us all in His arms and held us close, just as He has done for Jake.

The comfort and support that we and the Davis family have received from family and friends has been amazing. Seeking the Lord’s mind one day at a time, we had several confirmations that we should go ahead and finish out the Forge program as planned. The Forge students agreed that it was especially important to stay together during this time. We knew that Jake would want that. So after taking a week off to care for the Davis family, comfort one another and attend the funeral, we held the fourth week as planned. Visitors joined us from Nepal, California, Maine, Texas, North Carolina and Washington DC for the final sessions. Times of refreshment flowed from the presence of the Lord and many were ministered to.

None of us are exactly sure how to proceed from here. We will go forward in faith. Your prayers for the Davis family are especially coveted. Where would any of us be without the hope of eternal life won for us by our Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection? Our Father in the heavens will lead us forward in His triumph in Christ Jesus. The day will come when we will rejoice in fullness with young Jake, bowing our knees before our great Savior and confessing that He is Lord. Until that day we will work to see the kingdom of God that Jake so longed to live in come on this earth.

With love for you and our great Lord,

Lance Thollander
President, Hope Builders International