Passing the Torch - A Tribute to Molly Mizerak

Molly Mizerak
8.18.1962 - 6.1.2011

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith..." -Heb 12:1-2

In just a few minutes, hundreds of people in the Loudoun County, VA area will gather at our former church to celebrate the life of Molly Mizerak, who entered her eternal home in Heaven this past Wednesday after a 3.5-month battle with an aggressive brain tumor. Since I cannot be there in person, I have decided to take a few minutes to remember what she meant in my life and how she has influenced me both in her life and her death.

1. Molly knew Jesus and His Spirit radiated through her. You couldn't be around her for very long without feeling like you were in God's presence. It was evident that she spent time with God and that she was filled with His Spirit. She was like a light in a dark room, and you just wanted to be around and soak in that light.

2. Molly studied the Bible and used the Word to minister to others. She taught me about the power of the Scriptures to overcome spiritual warfare and defeat the Enemy's attacks in my life. She encouraged me to participate in Bible studies when I was struggling with discouragement and depression in my life due to chronic illness, and she even went out and purchased the study books and brought them to me! She knew the power that the Bible had in people's lives.

3. Molly got involved in people's lives and didn't consider their moments of crisis to be an interruption, but an opportunity to share the love of Christ. I can remember calling Molly in the middle of the night to pray with me, share Scripture with me, and encourage me. She was the first one to show up at the hospital when I was admitted and the one bringing me to a prayer service for healing, like the men who carried the paralytic to Jesus. She didn't just talk about spiritual things - she lived them.

4. Molly worshiped with abandon and was sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading at all times. I can remember a clear change in the power of our worship services shortly after the Mizeraks came to our church. Molly always entered into worship with her whole heart, and it led others to a more open heart as well. She never hesitated to share a word about how God was working in her own life and had a very humble and loving way of admonishing others when it was needed.

5. Molly was real and authentic about her walk with God. She was very willing to share her own struggles with anxiety, unforgiveness, and spiritual warfare. She explained how God delivered her and how the Enemy continued to attack her in these areas. It was refreshing and encouraging to know that I was not alone and that someone who clearly loved God as much as Molly experienced her own spiritual battles too.

A few years ago when I was asked in a Bible study to name the 3 most influential people in my Christian walk; in addition to my parents and my youth pastor, I immediately thought of Molly. She influenced people wherever she went and used every day circumstances as moments to teach others. And her faith in the midst of these past few months as she struggled with her health was an example to me and countless others. We will only know in eternity how many people came to Christ or grew in the faith because of her story.

Since her death, reading and hearing the things that were said of her life is a true challenge to me to live my life in such a way that I would be able to leave a testimony of faithfulness for others to follow. Considering Molly's legacy, I am reminded of an old Steve Green song:

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Molly has passed the torch of her testimony to so many of us left behind. As she cheers us on from heaven, I hope we will accept the challenge and live a life of faith that we learned from her remarkable journey.