Alan Medinger Goes Home to Heaven – Leaves An Amazing Legacy

Alan & Willa Medinger

This morning many of the Exodus staff came home from the Freedom Conference to the difficult news that one of our beloved leaders and pioneers in the Exodus movement, Alan Medinger, has passed away.  From Josh Glaser, Executive Director of Regeneration:

Alan Medinger, Founder – Home Rejoicing, June 28th, 2010

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness we share with you that Regeneration’s founder, Alan Medinger, passed away this morning, Monday, June 28th. Alan started Regeneration over three decades ago, and in the years that followed, he and his dear wife, Willa, were like a father and mother to literally thousands of men and women seeking help and hope.

We do not yet have all the details of Alan’s death, but we wanted to invite all of you to pray with us for Alan’s family — his children, his grandchildren, and especially Willa — today and in the days to come.

Our staff and board know today that Alan is Home with his beloved Jesus, and knowing Alan, we can’t help but rejoice with him at that. But today, we are also grieving. We have lost a mentor, a model of faith, a father figure, and our dear, dear friend. We are grateful for the trail he blazed, and honored to carry it forward as we together follow the Lord.

The following hymn was one of Alan’s favorites in life. It seems only all the more fitting to share now.

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Sincerely yours,

Josh Glaser
Executive Director
Regeneration

Alan Medinger has been a fixture within the Exodus movement writing many newsletters and resources that have brought encouragement, wisdom and reflections of God’s grace to tens of thousands of people (or more) around the world.

Alan was also a voice within the movement that carried a lot of weight and I, along with many, listened intently when he spoke.  He was a leader among leaders, a compassionate man reaching out with love and hope to anyone and everyone he met.

Exodus sends love and support to all of Alan’s family, loved ones and Regeneration.  Our hearts go out to Willa and the Medinger family … we love you Willa.

We will be sending out pertinent information to the leadership via our in house communication streams as appropriate and blogging follow up posts if more details or remembrances are made public.

UPDATE June 29, 2010: Alan Chambers writes on his personal blog:

This morning I received a call from my long time friend and former Chairman of the Exodus International Board of Directors, Bob Ragan.  He relayed the very sad news that Alan Medinger, Founder of Regeneration Ministries, had passed away early this morning.  Alan was a dear friend and mentor.  He is survived by his wife, Willa and their 4 children who all have families.  He is also survived by thousands of men and women who were deeply impacted by his life and service.

…

I will miss Alan greatly but rejoice with his family that he is in a place of great joy–a place that all of us have the opportunity to go if we have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you don’t know Jesus, you can.

Please read the whole post.

I also share some personal reflections on my blog.