For many years, the late Roy Snyder produced a regular newsletter for retired missionaries. Aptly titled, Missionary Veterans of Foreign Wars, he kept those who had served with Encompass World Partners (formerly Grace Brethren International Missions) connected with timely thoughts and news, prayer requests, and his wry sense of humor. Just days before his home-going earlier this month, he completed what would be his final newsletter with the assistance of Gordon Austin. A portion of it appears below, since often the requests he provided were confidential or from missionaries in sensitive areas. If you’d like to read the complete newsletter, please email Gordon at glci.austin@gmail.com.
Missionary Veterans of Foreign Wars by Roy Snyder – THE FINAL ISSUE
Aug 2015
Rev. Roy B. Snyder of Grace Village Retirement Community of Winona Lake, Indiana was “loosed away upward” at Grace Village Health Care at 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at the age of 93. Although struggling physically the last several weeks, he had been working to prepare his latest edition of Missionary Veterans of Foreign Wars. We felt it fitting to pass along this final edition. He has been producing this letter since 1991.
THE RAPTURE The dictionary defines Rapture as a state or experience of being carried away by an overwhelming emotion, a mystical experience in which a spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things, an expression of manifestation of ecstasy or passion. Even though the word does not appear in the Bible, we know that it’s an event which will take place when JESUS comes to take to Heaven all those who have accepted Him into their lives. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) The apostle PAUL describes the event in 2 Timothy 4:6, “THE Time of my departure is at hand.” The Greek word for departure is “analuo” and it means to be loosed away upwards. Later in this passage, Paul says that there’s a crown of righteousness laid up in Heaven for those who love the appearing of Jesus. Enoch experienced the Rapture as he was a man who walked with GOD but was not because God took him. Another person who experienced Rapture was ELIJAH who was raptured in a chariot of fire. After Jesus had given His disciples and us the Great Commission in Acts 1:8, He was raptured to Heaven. Two men in white apparel stood nearby and then tell us that this same Jesus who went to Heaven will come in like manner as you’ve seen Him go.
Faithful to Him will He find us watching with our lamps all trimmed and bright?
Some of the Veteran missionaries from whom I have heard are Eddie and Linda MENSINGER. They have a ministry of encouragement as they visit the elderly in the church they attend. They also have been speaking at GBCs in the northwest. Lois WILSON and Margaret HULL have written about the ministries they have been doing. Tom JULIEN has been coming with visits on a regular basis. I’m thankful always for the continual help received from Gordon AUSTIN.