On Wednesday 7th August 2013, Marshall Meek went home to be with Jesus. He was 88 years old and had been ill for some months but had still found the strength to speak at our monthly Men’s Breakfast last May and, indeed, had attended what turned out to be his last Breakfast meeting just a few days before he died.
Marshall was passionate about reaching out to men who did not know Jesus. He wanted them to have an opportunity to consider who Jesus is and to be able to discuss the Christian faith freely without any pressure. To that end he founded the Mid Northumberland CVM Group and for the last five years he was its driving force. At the North East meetings in Northallerton he met up with other men from his area and encouraged them to set up breakfast meetings as well. To date, four new groups have started as a direct result of his gentle urgings with another new group in the pipe-line.
He was always so thrilled – and I suspect a little surprised! – at the success of the Group – but he always put it down to God blessing the simple obedience of Christian men seeking to put into practice what was on God’s heart.
Billy Graham, in what will likely be his last book, “Nearing Home”, speaks of those men who “walk the last mile of the way triumphantly”! He could well have been speaking of Marshall Meek.
Those of us who knew him have lost a true Christian friend but we cannot be sad for heaven is all the richer for his presence there – for Marshall has finally made it home.
