EPILOG

As I sit writing this it's been almost seven years to the day since Keith and the children went to be with the Lord. I started to write this book a few times through those years, but something--or Someone perhaps--always intervened.

Maybe I needed time to heal before I could intentionally reopen the wounds. There was no way around it, my season of grieving was long and painful. But the grace of God carried me through. For me, gratitude helped keep bitterness from my door. The time I had with Keith, Josiah, and Bethany was a precious gift from God and I'm grateful. I'm also grateful to know the Lord. I can't imagine walking through such a valley without Him.

God looks at death differently than we do. Especially the death of the righteous. The Lord sees it from the other side of the veil. Those who get left behind have one experience. But for those who enter into the presence of the Lord it's a new beginning. It took awhile to see, but God had a new beginning for me too.

Today Rachel is six and Rebekah is almost eight. They're happy, bright, and joyful. And they keep me on my toes! Having a family to raise and being part of a busy ministry helped me look to the future. When I focused on what "could have been" I got stuck. But the Lord kept telling me He still had a call on my life, even though Keith was gone. And so, my children have done some of their growing up on "the road." Rachel had her first birthday in Canada during our two years of Memorial Concerts. And Rebekah lost her first tooth in New Jersey while we were at a conference. But recently we've spent the majority of our time in Texas, where we still live in the same hundred year old house, and serve the same wonderful Lord.

Now for my "regrets." This book just wasn't big enough to tell all the stories I wanted to tell, or talk about all the great people I wanted to talk about. I was told, "Melody, no one will read a book that thick!" So hard choices were made. It was also hard to pick entries from Keith's volumes of journals. Keith told me I could "do something" with them if anything ever happened to him. "Edited of course," Keith said. Some editing was needed either for length of entry, clarity, or privacy. However, no meanings or intents were altered. I believe Keith would have been comfortable with what was printed since he shared his testimony freely. Keith's family asked to remain unnamed for privacy sake, and I changed some names to protect the privacy of others when "their stories" crossed paths with "ours."

Keith's story is really a reflection of the ongoing message and ministry of Last Days. A lot has happened at LDM since Keith went to be with the Lord. And I'm excited about where the Lord is taking us from here. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me fill in the gap between July of 1982 to July of 1989. During the Keith Green Memorial Concerts we traveled to 110 cities and spoke to over 300,000 people. Loren Cunningham said, "I don't know of a time in history when more youth were presented a missionary challenge." Operation Mobilization said, "scores of people" came to serve with them as a result. The YWAM training schools were jammed with students (up to 50% per class) from 1982 to 1984 and they're still coming. Don Stephens just told me of a girl who was thirteen when she heard Keith's missions challenge. At twenty she's now serving on the M/V Anastasis. Only eternity will show the fruit that is still being yielded for the kingdom.

On the home front we have more people who've come to Texas to serve at Last Days (about 180 currently) more buildings for them to serve in, and a bigger more colorful printing press. Americans Against Abortion continues to educate the public, save babies lives, and spare women the trauma of abortion. But our growth has not just been physical. More importantly we've continued to grow spiritually. In 1987, I told Rebekah LDM was going to have a big party to celebrate our tenth birthday. I made a big deal out of it (the way mom's do) because I wanted her to get excited. She simply said, "Mom...ten years old isn't that old." She was only six. She was also right. We're twelve now, but that's hardly all grown up either. I'm grateful for how far we've come--and I'm excited as we head forward to some new beginnings!

In order for there to be a "new" beginning, something has to be completed. Completing this book in the seventh year after Keith's death is significant for me and Last Days--and hopefully for you! In the Bible, the number "seven" symbolizes completion. There are seven notes in a musical scale, seven days in a week, and seven colors in the spectrum. In fact, my actual deadline for this book is July 7th--which is the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year. I didn't plan it that way. It just "happened" and I believe it's a confirmation of God's perfect timing. My hunch is that the Lord has something He wants this generation to gain from Keith's story at this particular time. I hope it will encourage many, not to look to Keith, but to see the call God has on their life.

One of the larger messages of this book is this: What God did in Keith’s life, He can do in yours! Keith had been a Christian for seven years when he went home. Because of his high profile as a new believer, he did a lot of his growing in the public eye. He didn't have the luxury of years of obscure service so he could emerge in a more "tidy" way. Keith hit like a bombshell. Then left just as suddenly. Perhaps there's something precious to glean from closely observing the strengths and weaknesses of a fellow struggler in the faith. Maybe it's the simple fact that we all have areas of weakness, but God is faithful to use us to the fullest when we give our all to Him. God takes us right where we're at and keeps working with us!

The Lord has already given you gifts to use for Him. Keith's pattern of gifting was easy to see even as a tiny child. That's because some of his gifts were so public. Your giftings may be different than Keith's, but they're just as important. Whether they're "up front" or "behind the scenes" gifts, God wants you to use them for Him! You have an important part to play in this generation. That's why you're living in this time of history.

You have a call on your life and a destiny to fulfill! But to find your purpose for living you first need to be sure you're plugged into the Source of all life. That's the most important thing. If you don't already have a relationship with Jesus I encourage you to open your heart as Keith did. God is knowable. And He is real. God will be faithful to reveal Himself to all who sincerely seek Him. There's not a life that can't be transformed. A heart that cannot be mended. A wound that cannot be healed. I know from personal experience. When we give ourselves to the Lord, He is faithful in all things. And if you already know the Lord, then do what He is calling you to do with all your heart!

My prayer is that this book will be a part of a new beginning for you in some way. It is for me in several ways. "Seven" is the number of completion but biblically, "eight" symbolizes the first in a series, or new beginnings. Most immediately, as I enter the eighth year after Keith's death I'll be taking a two-month journey to gain a fresh perspective on the world around us. I'll be going into Asia, Africa, Europe, and the USSR. I hope to return with fresh missions vision and new ways for LDM to work with others to carry the message of God's love around the world. Please pray that we'll fulfill our destiny as we approach the year 2000 and beyond. I'll pray that you fulfill yours too!

May the Lord bless you as you press on to know Him. My address is in the following "We'd Like To Hear From You" section. I would love to hear any comments you may have or any ways the Lord touched you through this book. I love you!

Melody Green
July 1989