Lessons Learned from Orrin Nearhoof
By the time most of you read this article, you will have found out about the passing of Orrin Nearhoof, an elder at our congregation (and two other congregations before he and Marge came to Richmond) and a kind and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. My family left Richmond in 2012 so we didn’t get a chance to know the Nearhoofs when Orrin was in good health. However, over the past six months, I’ve came to know Orrin well, as I spent several late evenings with him when the Johnson family was out of town and I offered to check on him and Marge before they went to bed. In that time, Orrin and I had a number of discussions about the congregation, our faiths, and our Christian journeys. I’d like to use this space to share a three lessons from a Godly man that I learned from Orrin.
First, Orrin was a Godly man that never let his physical ailments get in the way of his spiritual concern for the congregation. Whenever I would visit him, I would start by asking how he was doing and he always stated that he was doing okay (in some shape, form, or fashion), then immediately turned the conversation to how my work with the congregation was doing. As I shared with him what I had done that day or week, he always listened intently. I was blessed that he had great insight to share that was always helpful about any situation I brought up. Even when his health had failed, and he could no longer attend the meetings of our congregation in person, he still did his best to fulfill his shepherdly duties of Acts 20:28 as he paid careful attention to the flock. I can’t imagine he didn’t offer insightful help to Mike and Phil as well during the several months that they helped care for him when he couldn’t be in attendance in person.
Second, Orrin was a family man. Orrin doted on Marge and was always more concerned about her health and well-being than his own. He often bragged on Mike and Phil and told me how wonderful his sons-in-law were. Whenever he talked of Greta and Rebecca, his eyes glistened and it was evident how incredibly proud he was of his daughters, their Christian families, and their efforts to live Godly lives and help lead our congregation. He spoke lovingly of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and often reminisced of the times he spent with family when everyone was younger. Orrin and Marge are exemplars of parents that took seriously Proverbs 22:6, training up their children in the ways they should go—we at Richmond are so blessed as we get to experience the latter part of that verse (when they are old, they will not depart from it). The generations of Christians in the Nearhoof family that we know and love as the Johnson and Blankenship families show all of us the faith that dwelt in Orrin as he walked his journey on this earth. As Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5, Orrin’s Christian children and grandchildren are a testimonial to his own Christ-like life.
Finally, Orrin was an exemplar for me, and likely many of you, in terms of kindness and gentleness. I’m sure Orrin might have had moments that weren’t kind or gentle (we all do), but the stories he shared with me of his successful life as a teacher, educational leader, and elder at various congregations lead me to believe that many people were blessed by Orrin’s gentle, kind presence. He spoke of friends spending nights (and weeks) with him and Marge when they needed help. He told of “elders’ meetings” in Iowa when he and another elder drove around visiting the families in the congregation to identify and assist with their needs. He recanted a number of work-related stories, none of which were bragging, but all of which suggested that the students he taught, and the people he supervised in his secular employment, were able to see Christ in Orrin in ways that never involved his reading of scripture or delivering a sermon from the pulpit. I believe that Orrin exemplified the light that we are commanded to shine to others in Matthew 5:16.
As we grieve Orrin’s passing with his family over the next few days, let’s remember that Orrin’s physical pain and suffering are over, and he has gone to meet his reward. Our memories of him should encourage us as we continue the Christian journey that has ended for this kind and gentle man.
— David May
