Anne LeGare

I’ve been supporting Crisis Pregnancy Centers for about 20 years. It took me 15 years to work up the courage to actually volunteer at one. That’s what I’ve heard from fellow volunteers – they were drawn to the work, but it took them a long time to actually do anything about it. And those volunteers were women! If that’s how they feel about the work, can you imagine how much courage it would take for a man to volunteer?

So you can understand my surprise when a gentleman from my church, Carlos Rodriguez, started working at our Crisis Pregnancy Center! I knew him as an usher and deacon, who was forever escorting guests at our church to their various Sunday School classrooms and to the nursery. He and his wife Cathy were also participating in “Experiencing God Together” retreats at churches all over the country. Carlos was also a bereavement specialist at a local funeral home. He really didn’t need any more jewels in his crown, but that wasn’t what Carlos was about. He was about his Father’s work, sharing the gospel in as many venues and with as many people as he could.

He marched to the beat of the drums, and saw God working powerfully at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Clearly, Carlos wanted to join God where He was at work. He started by teaching our “Dad U” parenting classes at night. Eventually we saw him during the day too, answering phones, and doing any task required. He had a servant’s heart.

Poor Carlos! We used him to do the “honey do” list that most girls hate. For example, he worked up in the attic, tirelessly moving boxes, and sorting donated items. One day, a passerby came in to tell us there was a dead rattle snake on our sidewalk. “CARLOS!”

The really neat thing about working with Carlos at the center was his interaction with the husbands and boyfriends who came in. While I would be counseling with a woman, Carlos would be in the waiting room talking to her boyfriend/husband. “Hello young man!” was the greeting. Then he’d sit down with them and just strike up a conversation. By the end of the meeting, many of the young men had given their lives to Christ even before the woman was done with her session! Amazing. But that’s what Carlos’ life, driven by the Holy Spirit accomplished on a weekly basis.

Did I mention that Carlos had leukemia? He struggled with it for years, but quietly and with dignity. He never complained or felt sorry for himself. He was more concerned with other peoples’ problems. For example, when I had to move my mom to assisted care, he was the one person who always asked me “How’s your mom?” Or when I was sick, Carlos would grab my shoulders and pray for me – without prompting. I started to look at him as my spiritual father at church. I felt I was his special friend. But I found out that many people felt that way. Carlos had a way of making everyone he knew feel like they were the center of his universe.

Carlos was faithful to attend our church’s Wednesday night prayer sessions. When it was time to pray, he was almost always first to pray for everyone. I felt my prayer requests being taken straight to the throne of grace when Carlos prayed.

Last summer I found out that Carlos was struggling with another bout of leukemia, but this time he couldn’t shake it. When I went to visit him in late July, he was already in a coma. When he heard the voices of his loved ones, I could tell he really wanted to come out and talk and pray, but he was too weak. It broke my heart.

A few days later, we drove to Colorado for a family vacation. After visiting Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs, I put in a prayer request there for Carlos. As we walked out of the building, I got the telephone call that Carlos had passed away. I cannot tell you the sense of loss and grief that came with that call. My friend had died and I would not even be at his funeral.

No one can replace Carlos. But I do have the comfort knowing that he’s not riddled with pain anymore, and that we will all meet again on that glorious day. In the meantime, he joins the ranks of the saints who make up the “great cloud of witnesses,” cheering us on to the work God has given us. Until we meet again, sweet Carlos.