Our Story
It was 3:08 P.M. on July 4, 2016, when I received the dreaded phone call from my wife Heather. She was frantic with the news, “Michael has been in an accident and is non responsive!” We were in different locations and both raced to the ATV accident scene in Arlington, TN. When we arrived, they had already loaded Michael into the ambulance and were leaving for the hospital. A dear friend and father of one of the boys with Michael in the accident, drove us to the hospital. After we arrived, they allowed me to go back into the emergency room with Michael. His injuries were significant! I was in shock, to say the least, but I prayed for Michael to recover. God began to comfort me with His presence and I began accepting that Michael would not recover from his injuries. He never regained a heartbeat and was pronounced dead at 4:18 P.M. at the age of 14 years and 11 months old. The weight of grief set in hard on us and all of our family and friends waiting in the ER, but God’s strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit, began to move us forward with our next steps. God’s presence, faithfulness, peace, comfort, and strength was so evident! Based on the truth of the Bible and our faith in God, we know that Michael has stepped over into heaven and is more alive today than ever before. We will see him again.
July 4th, 2016 ended up being the greatest storm of our life. All of our family and friends were impacted greatly, but we held on to the hope we have in Jesus.
Romans 15:13 tells us “May the God of hope give you all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you my abound in hope”
Chris Tomlin’s song “Good, Good Father” was a favorite of Michael’s and the first song God put on my heart. Our awesome God is a good, good Father, even in our darkest days.
I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whispers of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone
You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
‘Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word
You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
Because you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
Into love, love, love
You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
You’re a good good father!
By Chris Tomlin
Michael was a testimony of God’s presence. . .
The Memorial service for Michael was a testimony of God’s presence, love, faithfulness, peace, comfort, and strength known throughout our days of grief. We praised God in the midst of our pain and held on to the hope we had in Jesus.
When Michael was just 4 years old, he watched the Bellevue Passion Play and at the end, he prayed with Brother Steve Gaines and asked Jesus into his heart. Because Michael understood his sinful nature, repented of his sins, and by faith received the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, Michael began his personal relationship with Jesus and had the assurance of salvation. He going to Heaven. We know we will see Michael again in Heaven one day. The Bible says, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Within the first week God began to reveal his plans for us in full time ministry and revealed this to us separately. Heather shared with me what God had shown her and I just smiled and said, God had already revealed the same thing to me.
After I returned to work and while in a meeting, God spoke to me saying “I am laying the foundation and establishing a ministry that you and Heather will lead out in. I am sorry it’s at the expense of Michael coming home to Heaven, but this is my will and it is not negotiable. The call to ministry you have been experiencing for the last 18 years, has been preparing you for this full time ministry.” I left that meeting assured I had indeed heard from the Lord and God would continue to show Heather and I the next steps.
Our ministry is called “Michael’s Hope 4 Him Ministries” (MH4HM) and has been approved by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit ministry. The #4 represents Michael’s last football jersey number and one of his favorite numbers to have throughout all his sports.
Ministry mission statement: Investing in our youth, comforting the grieving, sharing eternal hope in Him.
Ministry verse: Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope give you all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you my abound in hope”
Our purpose and desire is to glorify and obey God and honoring Michael, by loving, encouraging, comforting and serving others faithfully, leading others to know the hope we find in Jesus.
2 Cor. 1:3-7 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”
Here is a little bit about Michael:
Michael was tall and handsome with crystal blue eyes and a winsome smile. He was a typical boy and was not perfect, but he had hope in Jesus. He was strong physically, mentally and emotionally. He was funny, smart, respectful, compassionate, forgiving, and tenderhearted towards others and loved helping younger kids. He was a great big brother, always caring for Abigail. Michael’s prayers were sincere from a transparent heart that loved Jesus. Michael enjoyed drawing. He loved his friends and being social, always liked a party and enjoyed music with a good beat. Michael loved outside activities like hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling, and water sports. Duck hunting was his favorite! Michael was a competitor and welcomed new challenges with an eagerness to learn and had a teachable spirit. He was a good athlete and enjoyed football, baseball and basketball. Football was his passion! He had a good work ethic and his goal was to be his best; to be competitive. One of his dreams was to play in the NFL. Michael was a remarkable son and Heather and I were privileged to be his proud parents for just 14 years and 11 months.
One of Michael’s favorite verses is Gal. 2:20 “For I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that lives, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
In His grip and by His grace,
Sean, Heather & Abigail
Isaiah 40:28-31
If you have experienced the loss of a child, view our calendar for the dates of our Grieving Parents Support Group “While We’re Waiting”. You can make a donation, volunteer for one of our events or contact us if you have questions.