Dear friends, on Friday morning, Craig was very drowsy and spent most of the day asleep. He remained peaceful and quiet and deeply unconscious all afternoon. Late in the evening it became difficult for him to breathe and in a short time, about 11:35pm on Friday the 30th of September 2011 our gracious God took Craig home to Heaven.
We have all felt so completely surrounded by the Lord’s peace and love and the support and help of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, family and friends. We will miss our husband and father yet we are thankful to know his eternal state with such certainty and look forward to seeing him again in Glory. We so appreciate all your prayers and support. With love from Barbara and the children.
The funeral service will take place, Lord willing, at 1pm on Friday the 7th of October at Central Baptist Church, 190 Church Street, Palmerston North.
More details here: http://hef.org.nz/2011/funeral-arrangements-for-craig-smith/
Here are a number of YouTube videos that Craig made when he nearly died at the end of August. He shares his heart with you all here:
What is the number one issue I need to settle? Pt 1
What is the number one issue I need to settle? Pt 2
What is the number one issue I need to settle? Pt 3
What is the number one issue I need to settle? Pt 4
What is the number one issue I need to settle? Pt 5
What does it mean to be a Christian Pt 2
What does it mean to be a Christian Pt 1
Stumble It!
Dear Barbara and family,
We send you our love and prayers at this time. We know you will be rejoicing in the knowledge of Craig standing healed and full of joy before the Lord he loved, but we also know your hearts will be full of sadness and grief at your own loss. May God comfort and bless you with the nearness of his presence. All my love, Rosie
To Barbara and the Smith family. Although I don’t know you personally I appreciate that many of the freedoms I enjoy as a homeschooler are, in part, due to your tireless work for our community. I have been inspired and encouraged by watching DVDs of conference presentations that you have spoken at. As a fellow Christian (whose Christian mother recently went to the Lord after a short time with cancer) my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time and over the weeks and months ahead. God bless you all. Maree D’Souza, Hamilton
Barb,Just got back from the weekend away and heard the news of Craig !
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all, especially this week ahead.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” , we have enjoyed having Craig with us for all these years but now our heavenly Father has call ed Craig home and that is very special to Him.
So glad to have had some time with you & Craig a few weeks ago – I’m sad & glad, all mixed up together!
love & prayers, John
Dear Barbara and family,
I always remember my time in your home 5 years ago as witnessing one of the most functional Christian families I have ever known.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. You have blessed so many and been so gracious and kind to so many. Thank you for your Godly example and I pray that the God who has led you into such a life of example will also walk very closely with you at this time and meet your every need.
Blessings,
Annie Barnes.
Dear Barbara and Family, We sorrow not as others who have no hope. Remembering you all in prayer. Sep 29 the oldest person in Australia went to be with the Lord at 112 years – Mrs Miriam Schmierer. PS I have FWD your news to Floyd Risser Department Head Distance Education. God bless you all. Prayers with love, Gordon
Barbara,
Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. We prayed for you at church this morning and know that the Lord is good it is He that has made us we are His people and sheep of His pasture. May He grant you strength and grace in the valley he has set before you. God Bless!
Tom
Hey Smith Family
I’m not sure if you remember me, but i just wanted to pass on my condolences to the family. I remember and appreciate the impact that Craig had on our family in the home education scene back when we started in the early 90s in Palmy. It is a great loss to the wider home education family in New Zealand, but we know that he is now enjoying fellowship with the even wider family of saints in Heaven with our Lord and Saviour.
God Bless!
Karl Duxfield
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” Deut 33:27. “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken from the evil to come” Isa 57:1. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” Rev 14:13.
May the Lord keep us faithful until Reunion Day!