This week, our church will honor another one of our spiritual giants, Cliff Schiefer. I only knew Cliff for 5 years or so, but his impact on my life has been significant. One of the great honors of pastoring Randall Church is interacting on a weekly basis with the five generations present each Sunday. The longer I’ve been doing this, the more I realize that I am experiencing something very unique.
I have the wonderful opportunity to shape young hearts and minds while being simultaneously shaped and discipled in the process myself. While there is tremendous pressure on our leadership here to continue to carry on a influential heritage of faith, there are also gracious mentors like Mr. Cliff here who walk beside me throughout the journey as I go. Today I reviewed the legacy of Joshua’s dear friend Caleb, and I believe it speaks well to what many of us experienced from global missionary and friend, Cliff Schiefer. Those who knew him better than I will see the similarities!
10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day! Joshua 14:10-12
He remembered the right things.
His confidence never ceased.
His God never forgot him.
Mr. Cliff experienced plenty of life’s hurts that he would have loved to forget. But he never forgot his love for his family, and his call to reach the Japanese, or anyone else he would journey with carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While many may knew him for 50 years or more, I only knew him as an old man who refused to give up the fight. It was an honor to know you sir!
Now Give Me This Mountain!
Pastor Milo
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