A Single Seed

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. - John 12:23-26

Meshcack translating for Rich while teaching youth in Kericho, Kenya.

On January 28, 2010 a brother in Christ, fellow co-worker in the ministry, and close friend passed away while serving in Kenya. Richard Key was a single seed which feel into the ground, and died. However, there is a story between the branch and the ground. It may seem brief in our eyes, but is by no means in vain. There is immense worth in such a voluntary choice as this.

Richard Wayne Key chose to devote his life to something besides a life in America where comfort and plenty would be closer than arms reach. So just a little over a year earlier, Rich said, "Here am I Lord. Send me." And that's just what the Lord did. He sent him to Kenya.

Few people could understand a past like Rich's. That's because few people have a comparison. Rich has told me much about his past and how a pursuant loving Jesus came and found him where he was. He picked him up time and time again. But finally Rich saw in Jesus a love that was worth him giving the rest of his life to serve. And that's just what Rich did.

Rich was not afraid to open his mouth and tell others about his Jesus. Whether we walked through the waste-filled slum pathways or taught teenagers in villages, Rich told the same message: "Jesus is enough." When Meshack and I were teaching on relationships, directions for life, or conflict resolution issues, Rich held onto the only message he thought was worth his time; his Jesus. Rich wanted others to know him. He was after God's heart. Even when he and his fiance were married, they wanted their every action to be after God's heart. So that's just what they named their personal ministry.

Rich is a seed that carried a message which brought life, and died doing so. I've no doubt whatsoever that Richard Wayne Key hated his life in this world.... And he has helped produce many many seeds.

Jesus said, "Whoever serves me, must follow me,"; that's just what Rich did. And I praise God for such.

My request to you reading this is now is this:

1. Thank God for the countless unnamed servants who die daily for Jesus to be known where He is not.

2. Pray for strength for those who will die even today for Jesus to be known where He is not.

3. Pray for Shauna, Rich's wife, who carries on glorifying a God and a Savior who sustain her. Be the body we are told to be: lift her up.

4. If you want to be a further source of encouragement and support for Shauna and the work they passionately labored in, then email us and we can tell you how to do so.