Comments on: Dr. Joe Aldrich, You Will Be Missed

By: NJ Carrman

NJ Carrman — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:24:06 +0000

Joe was a man that spoke and lived the truth, He was allways thinking about other people, I loved his humor,his humility and man that knew how to teach in such a relevant but handled scripture like no other pastor I have been taught under, I remember how he would give up his leadership to let other people lead, Joe was a man that gave me opportunities in leadership I will never forget, This was when he was pastor at Mariners Chuch, Joe we will miss you and I know God will be3 happy to have you with him.

By: Jon Harmon

Jon Harmon — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:48:39 +0000

Memories of Dr. Joe’s Spiritual Life class and chapel are still with me 17 years later. Wonderful conversations over lunch in the cafeteria and running into him on campus while I was working over school breaks are also good memories. My condolences to Dr. Tim and the rest of the family. Thanks so much for sharing Dr. Joe with us!

By: ridwanzero

ridwanzero — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:07:28 +0000

only knew Dr. Joe as the active fellow his mother wrote about in Musings of a Mother. I read the book so many times, I’ve felt like a family member. I only hope God has video recorders so that someday we can see Joe and his mom clutching one another as he stepped into Heaven.

Bless you, Aldrich family…

onlineuniversal

By: Timothy Maxwell

Timothy Maxwell — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:07:44 +0000

Months have passed since Joe’s going home celebration, but it’s taken till now to bring myself to write. The loss I feel has been too great. Yet my joy at Joe’s heavenly reception is even greater. Joe entered my life at a critical point during studies at Multnomah Seminary. My knowledge, experience, and ability to paint a portrait of a godly man was limited. Joe agreed to help nurture that….me… through a discipling relationship. Over the next 10 years, we met as much as once a week or as little as once a year. The thing with godliness though, I learned from Joe, is that time and space have no bearing on the impact felt from the life of one who’s heart is ablaze with the glory of the Lord. It inspired me to observe Joe as Joe no matter where, when, or with whom. Spreading grace like fertilizer, through a word of encouragement or compliment wherever he went was his signature. Joe said, “Humility is always a return to reality.” He evidenced this in later years when people, being moved by his tears during speaking or prayers, would comment, “Oh Joe, you’re so spiritual!” Joe would respond with a smile, “No…it’s just Parkinson’s.” I think the measure of a truly great man is the depth and stretch of canyon he leaves in the hearts of those who held him. Like the Grand Canyon, nothing can fill the heart-space that remains from the impact of a great man – no stone big enough, nor piece of earth conceivable. Jesus comforts and steadies the heart who’s experienced such loss, yet not even He fills it in. Jesus reveals the canyon for what it is… Grand and Beautiful. Not a hollow of loss, but an Ebenezer of Joy, Remembrance, and Thanksgiving. With delightful satisfaction the heart sighs, “Ahhh Yes… Joe was here.”

-Timothy Maxwell
Crossline Church
Orange County, CA

By: Jane Bateman

Jane Bateman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:06:04 +0000

I only knew Dr. Joe as the active fellow his mother wrote about in Musings of a Mother. I read the book so many times, I’ve felt like a family member. I only hope God has video recorders so that someday we can see Joe and his mom clutching one another as he stepped into Heaven.

Bless you, Aldrich family.

Jane Bateman

By: Kristen Aldrich Hoevet

Kristen Aldrich Hoevet — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:23:09 +0000

I want to thank all of you for your kind and thoughtful words about my dad. It has been amazing to read through all of these incredible stories and to hear how he touched all of your lives. It has helped me out tremendously during this difficult time.
Thanks again,
Kristen Aldrich Hoevet

By: Akira Mori

Akira Mori — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:53:23 +0000

I know Dr. Joe is now in the place he longed to be and is at his absolutely best, but I miss him. It was not very long that I have known him – distance between us did not make it easy to be together often. I firmly believe, however, that human relationship is not only about amount of time spent together but, more so, how much one could open up his/her heart to each other. I feel Dr. Joe opened his being to me for those few times. His humble heart, sharp mind, great skill of communication and child-like simplicity impacted me deeply. His impact on my life and personality is now being shared in Japan among many pastors and missionaries through Prayer Summits. I thank the Lord our God for Dr. Joe.

By: Wendy Emrich

Wendy Emrich — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:25:48 +0000

My husband and I attended the Rural Pastors conference when it first began. I remember listening to Dr. Joe telling stories about his family when he was a kid…..and how he used to be quite a handful in his growing up years. (As a matter of fact he told us some of the things he did in his college years also!) As the mother of a son who was quite a handful, I took great comfort in seeing a man who was also a handful, turn into a wonderful Godly man! I asked him if he had any wisdom he could give me in raising a boy who was so much like him. He told me to never give up and to be diligent in channeling him in the right direction and then he will do alright and will probably be a leader one day. Well, today is my son’s 27th birthday……there were alot of really hard times, but he has done alright and just began his own business. He also has a wife and 2 kids. I never forgot what Dr. Joe told me, and I always thought about what he said in the hard times and it encouraged me to hang in there.
Also, I know that you as his wife and family had to sacrifice alot of time away from him so that he could minister to others…..like me and many many others. Thank you for your sacrifice…..I know there were many times it was not easy for any of you. I pray that our Lord adn these many tributes comfort you in your times of sadness and that HE will be your strength. May God bless you.

By: Kandis Martin

Kandis Martin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:29:45 +0000

I attended Multnomah for one year in 1986. As a petrified and impressionable incoming freshman, I will never forget my first night at MSB. There was a mixer held for all incoming freshman at the A-frame. Dr. Joe came and spoke briefly to welcome us to MSB. He truly lived his faith and showed what a man of God can really do! I also had the opportunity to take Dr. Joe’s Spiritual Life class. It was a life changing experience and formed who I am today.
The world will be a different place without him but it is better for having known him. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Aldrich family during this difficult time and the years ahead.
Blessings,
Kandis

By: Jennifer L. Stafford ("Cox" while at MSB)

Jennifer L. Stafford ("Cox" while at MSB) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:46:04 +0000

Dear Ms. Aldrich, Children and extended Aldrich & Multnomah Family.
I began MSB fall of ’78 and lived in Sutcliffe dorm all three years. One year my window was immediately above Joe’s office and I used to have fun sending down encouragements to him via a basket with belts linked together, swinging the basket against his window until he retrieved the cookies, apple or note. I never signed my name to anything, but at the end of the year, I remember that he had something sweet delivered to my room in return. I have such fond memories of his approachable leadership style and knew in my core that God was using him well. His book lifestyle evangelism has meant a lot in my life and perhaps some day we will see how his efforts multiplied the harvest. I have even seen it referenced in Lutheran evangelism materials! Dear Aldrich Family, I know your hearts ache and I will add my prayers for your comfort and peace knowing that God will answer them. Thank you for sharing your husband, father, brother and friend with us all. It was my honor to know him. Peace be with you all. Jennifer