By Jacki Ragan
On Saturday, January 21, 2017, I had the honor and privilege of attending the Memorial Service for our beloved Dr. Jean Garton. Dr. Jean passed away on December 23 and a multi-decades-long life of service to others, especially the unborn, was commemorated. That day, that life was honored with friends and family filling the church.
The service was held at Friends in Christ Lutheran Church in Bryant, Arkansas, the church Dr. Jean called home, officiated by Reverend Emil L. Woerner. The church was full of her friends.
From the young children who recalled how they had gone to her home and sang Christmas Carols for her just days before she left this earth, to the remarks from Dr. Samuel Nafzger who served with her on the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Committee on Social Concerns some 42 years ago, her deep love and respect for all life shone brightly through every remark.
Pastor Woerner asked those in attendance what “their” Jesus looked like. He presented 3 options, from a very old photo – image of Jesus, to a new more modern image, to a gentleman who was homeless and needed help. He discussed briefly how different people saw their Jesus in different ways.
And then he said, “This is what Dr. Jean’s Jesus looked like,” and on the screen he showed a photo of an ultrasound of a beautiful unborn baby.
Pastor Emil then went on to talk about Jean’s dedication to unborn children and her generous, loving spirit to all. He explained that wherever she went, whether to a restaurant, or any public place, Jean made a point of getting to know everyone in the room. And not just their name, but something about them. And…she remembered them.
Pastor Emil looked around the audience and asked, is anyone here from the restaurant, Ruby Tuesday’s? And a group of young people stood up. They all knew Jean because Jean knew all of them.
The music was beautifully arranged, great gospel hymns that I am told Dr. Jean herself picked out for the occasion. We sang together the sweet hymns, “Lift High the Cross” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “I am Jesus’ Little Lamb.”
Her friend, Nancy Carlton sang, “I Can Only Imagine,” and there was hardly a dry eye in the room. Here are two stanzas:
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I think Dr. Jean would have been pleased.
Dr. Nafzger continued, “I know there would have been, yesterday, a smile on her face as a President who has promised to appoint a friend of life to the United States Supreme Court, was inaugurated as president of the United States of America. May God give us the grace to consider the outcome of Jean’s life.”
Dr. Nafzger explained that Dr. Jean had actually said good-bye to everyone during the last major keynote address she had given at the 2016, National Right to Life Prayer Breakfast. We were so honored, pleased, and blessed to have had her.
I remember her speaking two years before at a NRLC General Session in Louisville, Kentucky. She said, “The three days of the National Right to Life Convention represents the annual gathering of America’s pro-life ‘family’ and it is like coming home again.”
Dr. Nafzger read from Dr. Jean’s speech delivered in 2016.
“I received a question a while back — Why Do I Do What I Do? That was easy to answer — because I am pro-life. I believe abortion is against God’s Will. I know abortion hurts women, men and families, and abortion corrupts the whole culture. “NO!” the questioner interrupted with some irritation. “That’s not what I’m asking”, he said. “I’m asking why do YOU do what you do?” “And then I got it. What he was really asking was why I (soon to be 88); why I (when travel is such a nightmare); why I (after 47 years of involvement in the Pro-Life Movement) why I don’t just stay home, read a good book, watch Dancing With the Stars and relax. Let me tell you why I don’t.”
First, we teach what we ourselves most need to learn. The topics I generally address these days are Sanctity of Life issues, The Christian Walk, The Family, Ancient Cultures, The Dead Sea Scrolls, and Humor as the Moisturizer of the Soul. In preparing to share my interests with others, I must first become a student myself. So, one reason I do what I do is because I am fishing for knowledge.
Secondly, I agree with Elton Trueblood [a noted 20th Century Quaker theologian] who long ago said, “What is more rewarding is doing something that really matters with congenial colleagues who share with us the firm conviction that it needs to be done.”
In the Pro-Life Movement, I have the opportunity to meet the finest of God’s people throughout the world. A great blessing that comes from doing what I do is to see the Body of Christ — in its various and vibrant expressions — working together to defend the Sanctity of Life.
So as a speaker and as I travel, I am fishing for brothers and sisters in the faith that we might strengthen one another and share our joy in the Lord.
Finally, I do what I do because I cannot not do it. Jesus spoke a powerful reality when He said: YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. Being a Pro-Life speaker is my way of being both of those as I am fishing for men and women who live in the darkness of despair, filled with guilt, having been misled by the deceptive rhetoric of it’s my body, my right, my choice.
When Jesus came into my life, He didn’t come alone. He brought His friends — His special loved ones: the lost, the helpless, those who hurt and hunger; He brought the unwanted, non-productive, unplanned, and the inconvenient, and I learned from Jesus that Christianity is not a spectator sport.
In conclusion, I want to thank you for letting me tell you WHY I AM HOPEFUL — because the greatest friend of the Truth is mine…and WHY TIME IS ON OUR SIDE because time is in God’s Hands and WHY I DO WHAT I DO..because I cannot not do what I do, because Where There is Life…There is Hope and I’m very busy Building a Pro-Life Future.
That’s it. I’m outta here …cause I’m going fishin’! God Bless all y’all.”
Good night Dr. Jean…you sleep in the light of Jesus. Rest in Peace, dear friend.
I know you were met with the wonderful words…”Well done my good and faithful servant…now come to Me and rest.”