Love the Serafino's and Remember Ryan Fund

If any of you know a Serafino, you know someone from a great family.  They are loved by their church, their community, their friends and their family.  The Serafino family is going through an unimaginable time of grief right now, and we have the opportunity to come alongside them and help repay just a little of how they have impacted each of us.  Greg and Cari's third son Ryan went home to be with his Lord on Friday, August 21 at the age of 28.  This came so suddenly for the family, that they are still in a complete state of shock and disbelief.  
Ryan will be remembered for his sense of humor, his contagious smile, and his love of all things fun.  Whether it was singing show tunes with his sister Jenna, or hanging out with his brothers Clint and Timothy; Ryan brought joy and enthusiasm to everything he did. 

Ryan's passing comes at such an unexpected time. His oldest brother Clint and his wife Tara have just relocated to Germany. His brother, Tim and wife, Hannah have just welcomed their second child into the world, and his sister, Jenna and her husband Alex are still in their newlywed phase of life. Greg and Cari are in the process of preparing to sell their house and downsize after a lifetime of raising a family. 

We know that God is Sovereign, and that He has a plan through all of this heartache, but there are still many financial needs that are now placed on the Serafino family.  Funeral expenses can become very burdensome during such a hard time.  

 If you know any of the family members, you know that they are a family that loves God and serves Him with their lives.  They are constantly giving and helping in their church, in their community, and in each others lives.  We want to encourage and lift them up during this time of incredible need. 

The main goal of this fundraiser is to cover funeral expenses for Ryan.   Though this is such a horribly sad time, Greg's words from a Facebook post about Ryan and the way God can use this time say it best:

I hoped fiercely that God would draw Him back in. His story of reconciliation and restoration would have been amazing.
We would have rejoiced in our lost son who returned.

But that is not to be.
Instead, my heart is shattered. Crushed.
Instead, my hope is in recalling the moments where he was soft and kind and wanted to do the right thing and wanted to follow Christ.
My hope is in eternity.That he is present with the Lord God of the universe who knows each man’s heart intimately more than we ever could. That he has found the peace he couldn’t find on this earth.

I hope, as well, that my heart, my wife’s heart, and the hearts of Ryan’s friends and family will experience peace that only God can bring.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

‭”I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:1, 13-14‬ 

Please join us in loving this family that has loved each of us and impacted our lives in such mighty ways for God's glory.  Lets help them to be able to focus on remembering all of the great times God gave them with their son and brother, Ryan.