It's Worth It - Cheryl Russ

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬

Just a few weeks ago, I received news that one of my family members had passed away at the young age of 19. I hadn’t seen him since him we a little boy, I didn’t really know him or have a relationship with him, but he was family. I was able to go to his funeral, and by the end of the service I felt like I knew him. Elijah was saved as a young boy, he was the life of the party. Everyone considered Elijah to be their best friend. He was a good kid. The last 2 years of his life were spent completely sold out for Christ. This year he was able to go on two different missions trips. One to Peru, and one into the deep bush of Africa. Before he left for Africa, one of his brothers pleaded with Elijah not to go. He named off an entire list of things that could happen, one of them being malaria. Elijah told him that he knew the risks, but he also knew he had to go and tell the people about Jesus. Elijah told his brother that he had to go, that whatever may happen to him “it’s worth it”. Elijah went to Africa, he was apart of giving the gospel verbally to over 1,700 people who had never heard the name of Jesus Christ before. Over 500 people were saved and over 7,000 gospel tracts were given to people in their own language.

Elijah contracted malaria while he was in Africa, and Lord took him home to Heaven on October 10, 2022. The theme of Elijah’s celebration of life were those words that he told his brother before he left, “It’s worth it”.