Today, beloved More Light pastor and board member Rev. Dr. Jeff Krehbiel died surrounded by his family. Jeff has served as a board member at More Light since 2014, and as a pastor of More Light churches for many years. He shepherded the organization through our marriage ratification effort and into our vision for what’s next. His energy, passion, dedication, and organizing gifts will continue to influence our ministry at More Light for years to come. At our evening worship service at the More Light national conference in 2015 he used his gifts for Biblical Storytelling to share the Word in this video.

The message that night was from Romans 8: 18-25, and stands as a testament of Jeff’s spirit and a poignant reminder of the vision of hope beyond what we can see.

“I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice–it was the choice of the one who subjected it–but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. We were saved in hope. If we see what  we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.”

Jeff’s body has been set free, but his spirit will dwell with all of those who are committed to organizing justice and inclusion. A celebration of his life will take place in Washington DC on May 6. More Light’s board and staff continue to hold Jeff’s wife Cheryl, his daughters and his family in our prayers.