'We Lost a Holy Hero, a Prophet': 6 Christian Pastors, Authors React to Eugene Peterson's Death
4. Daniel Grothe
Daniel Grothe, associate senior pastor of New Life Colorado and lead pastor of New Life Friday Night, wrote about Peterson's passing on his website.
"For my whole life, I have been told that Heaven rejoices in moments like this. I believe that with all my heart. But today I'm sad."
"Sad for Jan, who has now said goodbye to her best friend and lover of over 60 years; sad for their three kids, who mourn the passing of the father they have spent their lives loving," he continued, referring to the late author's wife.
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"On a personal level, I'm sad because I can't pick up the phone anymore and call him for advice and prayer, because I can't share another meal with him on their back deck, or take another dip with him in Flathead Lake."
Grothe added that the church in America has lost a "holy hero, a living witness, someone worth emulating, who can say with authority, 'Follow me as I follow Christ.'"
"Eugene is one of the last of a generation of saints who had the courage to go slowly, who had the faith to live in obscurity. We have forgotten that it takes great faith to be small. Moses lived in wilderness-obscurity for 40 years before leading the people out of Egypt. David lived in wilderness-anonymity before becoming king. Jesus Himself lived the first 30 years of his earthly sojourn in quietude. As for Eugene, he spent 29 years tending a flock of saints in Bel Air, Maryland, before the world knew about him," he continued.
"It wasn't until the publishing of The Message that he became known, which means that it only took Eugene Peterson 65 years to become an 'overnight success.'"
Grothe wrote that "Eugene has entered his rest and though I'm sad, I'm not just sad."
"I'm also hopeful because I see pastors — in small churches and large churches alike — taking Eugene's work seriously," he said, going on to describe how pastors are taking heed of his lessons.
