Pope John Paul becoming a fast tracked saint. The Wedding of William and Kate. The death of Osama Bin Laden. These stories have flooded channels from this side of the pond to the other. Yet all of them seem to have become a backdrop for many of us from Kentucky to China as a real Saint went marching home. Chip Stam. Even now words fail to express the impact this man’s faith has been to many of us. I’ve only had the honor of knowing Chip and his loving family for a few years but these years have been more full and complete for knowing them. Chip found his joy in not only teaching people how to worship the Lord in truth, but in showing it as he lead choirs from Notre Dame to Louisville Kentucky. His love of the gospel was evident in all he did. His easy grin, bouncy knees, and expressive strums from his guitar radiated his joy in Christ. He had a purposefulness in leading worship that I have never encountered before and doubt I will see again until heaven.
My first introduction to the body of believers at Clifton Baptist Church began in the choir room with this vivacious man who led this ragamuffin group with more potential energy than a jack in the box ready to spring Then Barrett and I had the privilege of having he and his amazing wife Doris direct our wedding. I never knew how much detail could go into a bulletin and order of service! What I thought was silly at first became something I cherish now as I see how the gospel was seen in the wedding. I remember our hours at Java pouring over grammar, fonts, and margins with fondness. Every time someone mentions our wedding I remember Chip.
Upon our return from our honeymoon we found out that Chip’s back pain was due to lymphoma. The next few years were full of stem cell research and donations to help our friend. People came from everywhere to “Be the Match” for Chip. His brother had the final honor of this donation. His church family stayed close to Chip and his family during this time of excitement of lymphoma disappearing to the agony of seeing it come roaring back. Clara came back from China to support her dad and Michael and Marty also visited when they could which made Chip’s face lighten even more. Doris was the picture of a Godly wife who sacrificed career to be by Chip’s side at all times and then finding time to host Seder’s, visiting college friends, and even Barrett’s mystery birthday party where Chip was our narrator and guide through the who done it. I have never seen such joy in suffering as this family exemplified. All who know them have been humbled at their joy despite daily clinic trips, lost hair, delayed mission careers, swollen feet, flaking skin, and bad news. The gospel reigned in their lives and their smiles never faded. Chip prayed for missionaries and other hurting people in his church family. They even were supposed to host a prayer time for China this week…his final week. I never saw any evidence of self pity, never once.
My dear friends to think how Bin Laden was killed hiding out and on the run for years only to face an eternity of pain with death being greeted with shouts of joy from his enemies and relief from most, to Chip leaving all his pain and death behind to enter eternity of unspeakable joy and healing to the heavenly choirs chiming in his first view of Christ! To think how the glory of Kate (and her dress) meeting her groom pales pathetically in contrast to Chip meeting his bridegroom Savior with all the faithful saints from Adam to Paul and beyond as his applauding viewing audience. To know that Chip is now a Saint forever and will be there to march us in when our final tune is heard and we march into the glory of Christ too!
Sweet Stam family, we love you and feel the pangs of sadness of losing a loved one so dear yet rejoicing at his forever joy of heaven. Barrett and I love you all.