By Hannah Edwards
One man who has had a great impact on my life the last few years has been Steve Ruoff. Well-known throughout the Restoration community, he has touched many lives.
Those that knew Steve knew that he struggled with cancer. It ravaged his body shortly before his death and was ultimately the thing that sent him Home to his Redeemer.
But, those that really knew Steve knew that he didn't let it get in the way of serving God, even towards the end of his life. Some of Steve's most painful days were spent witnessing on the back pew of the sanctuary as Church members came to worship, noticing Steve's presence. He always smiled and always knew everyone by name, no matter how sick he became.
One Sunday in October 2016, I remembered an experience I had had the previous August. I wanted to share it with Steve, so when he, accompanied by his wife Dee, came into the sanctuary and settled into the farthest back pew, I went to speak to him. The first thing he did was ask for a hug, and then, as if he already knew the comfort I needed, he spoke these words:
"Whatever happens, His glory will be revealed."
He said many other things to me that day about Christ; that He wanted me to follow Him, that He had a work for me to do, that He had given me the gift of music and intended for me to use it. Steve told me that eternal life was worth striving for and that God wanted me there with Him. All of these things were things I had been praying about for about a year, which Steve didn't know. But the simple sentence he said at first had me in awe.
"His glory will be revealed."
This man, full of humbleness and love for Christ, wanted only to do the will of God, even a mere five weeks before his death. And he wanted only to bring glory to God.
I thought a lot about that through the next weeks, especially when I found out on the evening of November 20th, 2016, that Steve had died earlier that day. Through my tears for this man's life which had seemingly ended much too early, I heard his voice echoing in my heart, "Whatever happens, His glory will be revealed."
I didn't think much of it until the memorial service, which took place today, December 3rd. I don't think there ever was a more fitting memorial service for a more wonderful soldier of Christ. I remembered over and over his words, and I remember whispering, "You're right, Steve. His glory is revealed, even in your earthly death." I guess I didn't think that anything more was going to happen, but I was proved wrong. Steve was more right than I could have imagined at that point.
At the end of the service, after the benediction, the presider arose and said, "Will you turn in your hymnals to hymn number 77?" (God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again). Tears streamed down my face as I began to sing the words. And then I heard the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.
My choir, YAC, had sung for the service, and I was in the second row, just in front of the basses. Only the men were behind me, but it was from behind them that I heard a chorus of perfect high tenor voices rising above the melody. It was the purest, most heavenly sound I have ever encountered in my life.
The fact that I heard them singing the words, "God be with you till we meet again" had an impact on me and made me smile and weep for joy (that we would meet again) and for sorrow (that there would have to be a time between). And then I heard Steve's voice again in my heart:
"His glory will be revealed."