Andrew

We had a lake trip planned for our students this past Saturday. This was would have been our 3rd annual lake trip with them. They love this trip. We go and spend a day at a near by lake and have several parents bring their boats so everyone can swim, tube, ski, wake board , etc.

Early Saturday morning, we got a phone call... thinking it was an excited student with some silly question. The student left a voice mail. Daniel grabs his phone, listens to the message, sits up, and says, "I hope this is a joke." That got my attention so I sat up in bed. He immediately called our student, Hunter, back. I hear, through tears Hunter say, "Andrew was hit by a car early this morning and he didn't make it." WHAT???!!! We had just seen Andrew Wednesday night, Daniel had just spoken to him a few hours earlier.... this can't be right. But it was. Andrew was gone. Our Andrew, who Hunter had brought randomly about a year and a half early with him one Wednesday night. Never really been in church before, they decided they wanted to go to an African American church close to their house so they came to ours. :) To their surprise... we were not. Hunter comes to some of our events and trips, but Andrew was hooked.... except for Sunday School... being there at 9:00 was hard for him... or so he said. So he would always be waiting for us in the sanctuary with a smile and a wave and begin his excuse before we could even get to him of why he wasn't there an hour earlier.

After meeting with his family and friends Saturday morning, we heard the whole story. Andrew had friends over at his house Friday night. It was 2:00-3:00 in the morning and everyone was leaving. His friend Charlie was walking home and Andrew was teasing the car of girls in his driveway. Apparently he didn't want them to leave so he was laying in front of the car or something like that (this detail is still vague to us) and they thought he had moved so the car lurched forward and one of the tires ran over him. A complete freak accident, but so very life changing.... for his family, friends, and now those precious girls.

Needless to say once we got off the phone with Hunter Saturday morning, we cancelled the lake trip. Daniel sent a text to our students saying that we'd be at the church if they wanted to just come be with us, each other, or to talk. We pulled in the parking lot at the specified time to find a parking lot full of cars. What was originally meant for our student ministry became an outreach event to over 100 family, friends, and classmates. We had a time for celebrating Andrew's life with stories, D sharing about dealing with grief and mourning which led to Jesus being our only hope. It was a sweet time.

Because Andrew was such an active part of our student ministry and loved our trips, his parents are asking in lieu of flowers that people give to our Andrew Tate Student Scholarship Fund. Money that is given will go towards letting those students who can't afford camp be able to go and experience Christ. What a wonderful way for his legacy and love of life to live on.

Please be praying for us the next couple of days. The visitation is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow at his school, Fayette Academy. D will be doing the funeral. Him and D were very close so as honored as Daniel is, this will be tough. Please continue to pray for his family, for the girls involved, our students... who are really having a hard time, and for us... for those that will be a the funeral... we're expecting hundreds and the gospel will be presented... pray for us for wisdom as we love on these students. This won't be an easy road, but God is faithful. He is good regardless of our circumstances.

Riverkings game



2011 Drew Barham Night





Corey and Andrew would stop by D's office frequently after school and play.


Lake trip last year.




2010 fall camping trip


2010 Winter Camp




2010 Summer Camp


2011 VBS