While my husband and I met both Larry and Rachael as they came to IN to be part of Valley Springs Fellowship in recent years, we would not expect them to remember us. Our connection through them is really to their longtime mentorship of Kent and Karla Denlinger. The “ripple effect” of their good words and long time ministry to Kent and Karla have re-shaped Jim and me in ways that are profound. Our faith is more solidly grounded on knowing Jesus’ love for us stripped of any outpouring of good from our corrupt souls toward Him. It came about through the work of the Holy Spirit in the purifying truth of Kent and Karla’s vulnerability with our congregation in their own stories and sharing of God’s truth. The light of God’s surgical torch on the depths of our souls helped us see how deep our sin problem is and how nothing short of falling at Jesus’ feet can raise us to keep taking next steps in our earthly journey. How freeing to remove “try harder” from our understanding of the Good News and begin shedding the armor of self protection and practicing honest vulnerable accountability with those God has given us! We are forever indebted to the Denlingers and therefore to the Crabbs for their sacrificial journeys to know God and allow Him to do His “Inside Out” work in their individual souls. You leave a powerful legacy for us, and we are excited to see God’s continuing work in generations to come through Larger Story. God knows they need the power of the Trinity residing in their hearts as they navigate this broken world.
Thank you, thank you for the paths you have walked, the crosses you have carried, the suffering you have borne to make this message real to us. It matters deeply. Carry on, Crabb family, as you seek to continue to live life in the wake of your very deep loss. We are praying for you to grieve well over your loss of husband, father, grandpa, mentor, true friend and brother in Christ and to rejoice over the victory Larry has in being home at last.
With deep respect for you and your ministry to this world that goes FAR beyond what you are aware,
Jim and Mary Jeane Kraft