Samuel Patton Beachy, 4, son of Rev. and Mrs. Grant Beachy, died on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2013.  Samuel’s father is the  pastor of Harvest Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jacksonville, N.C.  He died of CHARGE Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that effects one in every 9,000-10,000 births worldwide. Samuel would have been five next week.

Funeral services were held on Thursday at Jones Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Robertson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga., officiating. Interment will be held later in Carlisle, Pa.

Survivors include his parents, Grant and Sara Beachy; sister, Anna Catherine Beachy; brother, Colin Beachy; grandparents, Jim and Ann Davidson of Rockville, Md.; and Stan and Joyce Beachy of Carlisle, Pa.

The following was written by Grant and Sara Beachy and printed in the bulletin for Samuel’s funeral service.

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A Word About Samuel and Our Journey

In the fall of 2007, at the twenty week ultrasound, we learned that the baby that was growing inside Sara had numerous and significant abnormalities. The doctors involved were preparing us for the reality that this baby would likely not make it to term. Having already experienced a miscarriage, we were bracing ourselves for a difficult and painful season.

We also learned at the ultrasound that the baby was a boy. The name ‘Samuel’ was not a name we had previously considered. However, when we re-read the story of Samuel in the Bible (especially in 1 Samuel 1), we knew that that needed to be this baby’s name. ‘Samuel’ means ‘heard of God’ or ‘the LORD answers.’ There were so many people praying for this baby and we needed the reminder of God’s grace, that ‘Samuel’ was his name.

Those were difficult and dark days, not knowing what would come of this pregnancy, what God would do with this little boy, how God would sustain us through those days. One line from a hymn came to mind and was a near constant reminder to us of how we would ‘make it’ – strength for today.

Samuel did make it to term, was born, was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome, had a G-tube placed, had open heart surgery at three weeks old, spent his first 30 days in hospital and another 20 days that first year in hospital dealing with pneumonia and various surgeries. But he continued to grow and we continued to learn a constantly changing ‘new normal.’

Our hope has always been in God’s character – he who loves his children, who shepherds his little lambs, who sustains in trial, who forgives sin, who provides daily mercies and unending compassions. Our confidence has not been constant or always perfectly strong. We are terribly weak, insufficient, fickle people. But our God is strong, abundantly sufficient and eternally the same. We rest in the shelter of his wings.

God’s promises to us are also to our children (Acts 2:28). Our comfort is that God has rescued Samuel from his broken body, delivered him from his suffering, freed him from his pain. He is with our Savior, perfectly at peace, with no more suffering, pain or brokenness. We look forward to the day of redemption when Christ Jesus will return and finally make all things new.

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In light of the fact that the Beachys have accumulated significant expenses associated with medical treatments for Samuel, as well as funeral expenses, the Session and the Diaconate of Harvest Presbyterian Church have set up a designated fund to assist the family with these expenses. Contributions are encouraged. Make checks payable to Harvest PCA and send them to the church designated for the Beachy family:

Harvest Presbyterian Church (PCA)

P.O. Box 12243

Jacksonville, NC 28546

[email protected]

Continue praying for the Beachy family during this time of sorrow.