Remembering Lisa

Rev. Dr. Lisa Tabor, our dear friend, associate pastor, and Alexander's godmother, has gone to be with the Lord after an extended battle with cancer and a month in the hospital. In the final weeks of her life, Lisa completed her doctoral dissertation and on Monday, May 3, was awarded her Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech. We were privileged to witness her accomplishment in a special early-graduation ceremony at Montgomery Regional Hospital.

I vividly remember the day I first met Lisa - June 19, 2005. I had just moved to Blacksburg to serve as a campus minister among international students, and on my first Sunday in town, I visited St. Paul AME Church. In the previous months, I had sensed a call from God to join an African-American church, but I was a bit apprehensive as to how I would be received by the congregation. That first day, Lisa helped put my fears to rest. Immediately after the service, she came up and handed me a flyer with directions to a cookout at her house that afternoon. When I arrived, I started to meet Lisa's community - church members, departmental colleagues, and friends from around town. It was an eclectic group, with a number of international students present. The gathering revealed Lisa's love for God's people, in all our ethnic and cultural diversity. By the time I left the party, I knew I would find a welcoming church family at St. Paul.


Over the past five years, Lisa was present during the big moments of our lives. When Karen and I began dating and she first visited Blacksburg, Lisa came over to meet her. When we got married the following May, Lisa sang in our wedding ceremony. When Alexander was born, Lisa visited us in the hospital more than once. When Alexander was baptized, Lisa stood beside us. At his first birthday party, she played his new toy drum.


But even more significantly, Lisa was present in life's everyday moments. Karen attended Lisa's weekly "Food for the Soul" dinner and Bible study. Lisa and I sang in the church choir together and co-led musical worship together at a conference for int'l students, two years in a row. She often taught Alexander Bible stories at church during "moments with the children". And Lisa would regularly show up at our home, often just to drop off some food, and end up staying an hour to talk. She was never too busy for us, in spite of the fact that she seemed to be involved in a dozen endeavors at once.



One more story: Several years ago I rode with Lisa to hear her preach at a church in Radford, 30 minutes away. I was very discouraged at the time, in particular about my ministry budget deficit of several thousand dollars, but Lisa didn't know about my situation. After delivering a great message, the church presented her with a cash-filled envelope as an expression of their appreciation and a blessing toward her ministry. I don't remember what Lisa said, but I'll never forget what she did. With gratitude, she walked over and placed the whole envelope in the main offering plate as a gift back to the Lord. I know she probably needed the money, at least to keep her PT Cruiser zipping around town. But Lisa lived with confident trust in God's constant provision. No matter what her financial circumstances were, she was thankful, content, and generous. Her example of faith helped carry me through my own financial difficulties, and has continued to inspire me.


We are truly saddened for the Tabor family, and that Lisa will not be present when our second son arrives in a few days. But we rejoice in knowing that Lisa has attained her long-awaited goal. As so many others can testify, Lisa's life has multiplied blessings and ended in victory. Thank you, God, for the gift of knowing this incredible child of yours!