As 4:45 P.M. approached and I pulled my hoodie over my head, a YouTube video by Little Light Studios finished playing on my laptop. A heavy feeling settled over me, as if I were about to attend a funeral. It was as though someone I had known all my life had gone to sleep in Jesus. But the problem was—no one had died. And yet, I was about to attend a memorial service.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but memorial services are usually held after someone has passed away. Yet no one had died. So why did it feel like I had lost someone? Why did it feel like I was about to say goodbye forever?
Because my church family had just been torn apart. At least, that’s what it felt like when this all began, and it’s what it feels like now.
For the past nine months, nearly all of Adventism has watched as events unfolded in the little town of Berrien Springs, inside the beloved Village Seventh-day Adventist Church. And now, the Adventist world watches as the Village Church is forced to say goodbye to a man who helped transform a divided house into a united family. How did he do this? By listening to the voice of God Almighty and following His direction.
Now, as the congregation is forced (and I do mean forced) to bid farewell to their beloved pastor, words fail to capture the overwhelming flood of emotions we all feel.
To say the church was packed when I arrived would be an understatement. Had our parking lot not undergone its most recent expansion under Ron’s supervision, there would have been no way for everyone to fit. Hundreds of people filled the space, their voices blending together as I walked through the all-too-familiar front doors. I had stepped up those two steps and passed through those doors countless times, but never had I encountered an atmosphere like the one inside last night. The air was thick with sorrow—you could almost hear the lament of the angels over the chitter-chatter of the people. No one wanted to be there because we no longer had our pastor, yet everyone wanted to be there to see Ron and his wife—perhaps for the last time until our Lord returns.
The entire service felt surreal. Were we really sitting here? Was this truly happening? Did the Conference leaders not hear us when we cried out that we had no desire for our pastor to be removed? The service was beautiful, heartfelt, and well-organized. But even now, as I write this, last night still doesn’t feel real.
After the service, we gathered in the church family center for refreshments. A line stretched out the door, filled with people waiting to speak to Pastor Ron and his wife, to express their gratitude for all they had done—for the church, for the community, for each of us. When it was my turn, I hugged them both and thanked them for everything they had done for me and my family.
I was adopted into an Adventist family as a baby, but during my elementary school years, I suffered at the hands of bullies and was often mistreated by those in authority who should have helped me. I searched for the love of Jesus in people, but all I found was pain. So, I left the church for a time. But after Pastor Kelly arrived at Village Church, he held a seminar series on Daniel and Revelation. Through those meetings, God revealed truths to me—about myself, about my life—and I rededicated my heart to Jesus. Pastor Ron played an instrumental role in my life during that time. His love for God was evident in everything he did.
So this? This is devastating. It’s unfair. It’s heartbreaking. But I’m reminded of our Lord’s warning in Matthew: “All these things must happen, and then the end will come.”
The Bible foretells the persecution of God’s people. The Spirit of Prophecy has shed light on the very days we are living in. Evil is called good, and good is called evil. Kingly power has been wielded against both the elders and the congregation. And now, many are left hurting. Two men of God have been wronged, and their families suffer alongside them.
We Have this Hope
But take heart, my friends. What the devil intends for evil, God will use for good—to the glory of His name. When you stand for truth, when you stand for Jesus, He stands for you. The Lord will carry His people through the storm, just as He always has.
Moses didn’t pray for the Red Sea to disappear or for the Egyptians to be destroyed as they closed in on Israel—he simply prayed for God to make a way. And then he stepped forward in faith. Then, and only then, did the way appear.
Let us love our enemies, even when they grow alongside us. Let us do good to those who hurt us, as Jesus commands. Most importantly, let us keep our eyes fixed on Him. As the world grows darker, let us cling to the hope we have in our King. Let us remember our mission as Seventh-day Adventists. Let us proclaim the Three Angels’ Messages to the world, preparing souls for the soon return of Jesus Christ. Let us pray without ceasing. Let us love even those who seem impossible to love. And most of all, let us share the love of Jesus with every person we meet.
That’s what Pastor Kelly would tell us to do. Because that’s exactly what he will continue to do until the day Jesus comes.
Johnathan Burland is a writer, musician, and disciple of Christ, dedicated to sharing Jesus with the world. Raised in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and shaped by the ARISE Discipleship and 3ABN School of Discipleship programs, he has spent much of his life walking in faith as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Through music, writing, and personal testimony, Johnathan seeks to inspire hearts, draw others closer to God, and tell the story of grace that continues to unfold in his own life.
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Details From the Editor
By order of the acting pastors and the Michigan Conference, Ron Kelly was not allowed to speak at this farewell event. The same individuals said it must not be live-streamed.
These are the same folks that prevented him from conducting a funeral service at the Village Church in January, after a grieving family asked him to do so.
There was a moment when Ron was called up on the stage and given a gift from the congregation. He accepted the gift humbly, and then turned and walked back to his seat without giving his thanks to the packed house. He wasn’t allowed to speak in the sanctuary, remember? The scene was unbelievably awkward.
In the age of iPhones, there were several recordings of the event, and we will probably post one of them later. There may be a video of the event posted on Ron Kelly’s YouTube channel, soon. We will help you find it, when it becomes available.
“Though goodbyes are never easy, we find comfort in knowing that God is in control and that His plans are always perfect. As Pastor Kelly and his family step into a new chapter of ministry, we pray that God will bless, guide, and prosper them abundantly.”
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“Sorrow endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”