On July 31, 2016, beside I-80 in Nebraska, the Pals family—Jamison (29), Kathryne (29), Ezra (3), Violet (23 mos.), and Calvin (2 mos.)—departed to be with Jesus Christ. They went, sharing in his suffering (2 Timothy 1:8; cf. Mark 8:34), declaring that he died and rose for sinners (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), counting him worthy of all fame and authority and honor and glory (Hebrews 1:2; 2:9), and striving for the joy of Japan (Psalm 67:3–5). Jamison wrote on his blog, “We want Jesus Christ for Japan. That’s what ‘the joy of Japan’ really means” (joyofjapan.org). That vision hasn’t died. Death hasn’t won (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). With William Cowper, we groan and defiantly hold to our hope that “behind a frowning providence [God] hides a smiling face” (cf. Romans 8:23–25).
Jesus has conquered death by dying. After laying down his life, he took it up again for his sheep, even those in Japan (John 10:11, 14–18). So let’s send and even go to them: “how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15; cf. Isaiah 52:7). May a great multitude hear their shepherd’s voice and rejoice in his salvation (John 10:27–30)! With the psalmist we pray, “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy” (Psalm 67:3–4).
Jamison and Kathryne met at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduated with bachelor’s degrees (‘08 and ’09), and were married on August 14, 2010. He then received a master’s degree summa cum laude from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul (‘12) and worked as a grant writer for Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, Minnesota. She was a devoted and tender mother to their three children. Bethlehem Baptist Church recently appointed the Pals family to serve in Nagoya, Japan with WorldVenture. They were traveling to their last training in Colorado.
The Pals family is survived by Jamison’s family—Cedrick and Kathy Pals, Malia (Pals) and Benjamin Pate, Christopher and Karen Pals (Desmond and Lydia), Andrea (Pals) and Bradley Riederer, and Barbara Pals (grandmother)—and Kathryne’s family—Gordy and Nancy Engel, Nicole (Engel) and Adam Chose (Josephine and Nadia), Keri (Engel) and Noah Rouen (Connor, Preston, and Gavin), Christine (Engel) and Nathan Grave (Caden, Andrew, and Elim), Beth (Engel) and Joel Dougherty (Lev, Mathilde, and Hugh), Michael and Kelsey Engel, and Ladonna Schumacher (grandmother).
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