A Life Well Lived -- A Tribute to Barbara Heather Olford

Heather Olford and me at the recording of her
radio interview at WCRV in August 2013.

It seems fitting that my last blog post of 2013 be dedicated to the memory of a woman who has had a profound impact on my life, Mrs. Heather Olford.  I have had the privilege of working with Mrs. Olford and Olford Ministries International since March of 2007, serving for the past several months as her personal assistant, which afforded me the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with her.

Although I have known Mrs. Olford for the past six and a half years, it wasn't until she wrote her recently published book, Together with God, that I really gained an insight into her heart and developed a deep love and friendship with this woman of God.  From the opening pages of the book I was captivated by the story of her life, her passionate love for her Lord and her husband, the late Dr. Stephen Olford, and their ministry together.  My only regret is that I didn't have the chance to meet Dr. Olford as well.

Mrs. Olford was a woman dedicated to a life of love, single-hearted devotion, and service to the Lord in whose presence she now stands.  Up until the day of her passing at eighty-nine years of age, she worked tirelessly and faithfully serving her Lord by supporting and corresponding with missionaries around the world and overseeing the Stephen Olford Ministry Legacy, a ministry dedicated to training pastors and preachers across the globe in the expository preaching of God's Word.  She did so with a sense of humor, a grace that could only come from God, and a deep, deep commitment to furthering His Gospel around the world.

Although Mrs. Olford was occupied with many ministry endeavors, she was first and foremost a mother and grandmother to her family and a friend and counselor to me and to others who sought her guidance and godly wisdom in dealing with our own issues.  Many days she spontaneously prayed with me about my own concerns as a mother, decisions facing our family, and for God's provision during a season of my husband's unemployment.  She was always busy, but she always made time for the important things and people in her life.

To her sons, David and Jonathan, and their wives and children -- may God bless and comfort you in the days ahead.  To all her family and friends -- I wish you God's peace as you cherish the memory of this amazing woman of God.  And to our dear heavenly Father -- thank You so much for the privilege and honor of knowing, loving, and serving your precious servant, Heather.  Hers was a life well lived, a testimony of Your grace and faithfulness, and a model by which we should all strive to live our lives.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Enjoy your well-deserved rest and the sweet, sweet presence of your Lord.

Barbara Heather Olford
(March 2, 1924 - December 21, 2013)

Copyright © 2013 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved. www.deedeewike.com

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