OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL

JIONATIHIAN ANID) TERI HAVMKILTON

Do not begnevecJ, for

thejoy of the Lord is

your strength.
jNlehemi'aK 5:1 O

Jonathan Hamilton
February 19, 1962
May 21, 2008

June 2008

This is one verse that Jonathan chose to use at his funeral. The joy of the
Lord was definitely Jonathan's strength. He was so strong and courageous
and f am so proud of him. As many of you often heard him say, "It's winwin." He always said he wins if he stays here on earth to serve the Lord
and he wins if he is taken home to heaven. God chose to take him home to

JomUfium cC Jeu

heaven on May 21. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

Following is Jonathan's obituary, which I thought I'd share with you.

Outreach internano^n^ Jonathan was born in Kimberley, South Africa on February 19, 1962, to
Bedford, TX76095 nnlssionary parents, Al and Annette Hamilton. Jonathan graduated
817-355-9598

from Trinity High School in Texas in 1980 and studied at the Lucas

jonham@fiash.netj Memory School in Fremont, California. He was ordained to the

ministry of the gospel of Christ at First Christian Church in Evansville,

Indiana on January 8, 1984.

Despite the health condition Cystic Fibrosis, he served in Uganda and

Kenya (East Africa), South Africa and Hungary as an evangelist,
church planter, youth minister and missionary. He also made survey
trips and led mission internships.

On April 17,1997 he received a double lung transplant and continued in missionary recruiting
through the missionary motivation ministry. Outreach International. He has acted as President

of Outreach International since 2000. His passion and heartfelt desire was to "see that every
one has an opportunity to hear about Jesus -at least once!" Jonathan actively served with
DeSoto Christian Church for many years.

On August 9, 2003 he married Teri Lyn Layman, the love of his life, who survives him. Jonathan's
contagious laugh, joy and love for the Lord was evident by all who knew and loved him.
Jonathan now rests from his labors in the arms of his Savior.

He is also survived by his parents, Al and Annette Hamilton of Hurst, Texas; his sisters, Fran

Laughren and husband, Pete, and their son, Denzil, of George, South Africa, Sonja Hawkins
and husband Dale, of Bethel, Missouri, and Karen Nguyen, husband, Toai, and their children
Jonathan, David, Tiffany, Caleb and Joshua of Southeast Asia; as well as several aunts, uncles,
cousins and in-laws.

The family thanks you for all your prayers, support and encouragement. We rejoice over
Jonathan's life and the 46 years God allowed him to be with us here serving the Lord together
on this earth and the joy of knowing he walks with his Lord now.

Memorials will go to Roland Joseph who ministers in Kimberley, South Africa. Checks should be
made payable to Outreach International with "South Africa Memorial" in the memo.

A slide show of pictures throughout Jonathan's life can be viewed at www.bluebonnethni$.com

You'll find it under Archived Memorials.

Back in April we were told that the chemotherapy that Jonathan was taking was not working and there
were few options for treatment. At this time Jonathan decided he would like for us to take a trip to
South Africa to encourage the brothers and sisters there and to show me the place he loved so much.
We were not able to go. To fulfill his desire, I am planning to go to South Africa with my mom at the end
of July. Pete and Fran will show me where Jonathan was born and where he worked. Iwill get to meet
the people there that knew him and love him. Iwill also personallydeliverthe monetary memorial gift to
Roland Joseph. Roland Joseph has been a minister of the Gospel in Kimberley, South Africa since the
1960's when he became a Christian. He was taught and mentored by Jonathan's dad, Al. for many
years. In the late 1980's Jonathan had the opportunity to work along side Roland and developed a
growing love and appreciation for him, his desire to serve the Lord and his faithfulness to the call of God

on his life. Since his time with Roland those many years ago, Jonathan has supported the workof
Roland and encouraged him in the Lord. Jonathan has had a long history with South Africa and the
work of Roland Joseph, so it seems most appropriate to encourage him in his ministry.

Thank you all for your love and support. Please pray for me as I make this trip to South Africa and also
as I seek God's will for my future. I will continue to work with Outreach International as the TESOL

director and an international advisor. I will also continue to teach English in a high school, at least for
the coming school year. Thank you and God bless you as you serve the Lord.

10

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From: JONATHAN HAMILTON <jonham@flash,net>
Subject: Jonathan Hamilton
To: Dale and Sonja Hawkins <dashhome@marktwain,net>
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Jonathan Hamilton wentto be with his Lord Wednesday. May 21st at 12:15am. HeViow rests from his laborsinthe arms of hisSavior. The family thanksyouforallyour

prayers, support and encouargement. We rejoice over Jonathan's life and the 4^^ars God allowed him to be with us here serving the Lord on this earth and the joy of

knowing he walks with his Lord now.

Thanking God for every breath.

Visitation will be at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Friday, May 23rd,6:00-8:00 pm withthe funeralservices Saturday,May 24that Highland Meadows Christian
Church, Colleyville, Texas at 10:00 am.

Memorials will go to"Roland Joseph" who ministers in Kimberley, South Africa. Checks should bemade payable toOutreach International with 'South Africa Memorial" in thememo and
sent to Outreach International, P.O. Box 272, Shelbyville, MO 63469

Thanking God for every breath.

Jonathan and Teri Hamilton

Jonh8m@flash.net

file://C:\DOCUME~l\CHERYL~l\LOCALS~l\Teinp\eud34.htm

6/17/2008

December, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas! This holiday season Is difficult for me, but I can rejoice
that Jesus came to earth to make it possible for Jonathan, and me, and you to be
with God for eternity. I was recently given a poem entitled "My First Christmas In
Heaven" and the final line reads, "So, have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that
tear. Remember, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year." It does give
me an unexplainable joy to think about Jonathan being with Jesus. Thank you so
much for your love and prayers during this painful year.
Since my last letter to you, I have taken a trip to South Africa to see where

Jonathan lived and worked and to meet the people he loved. Through memorial
donations in honor of Jonathan, I was able to give a local minister, Roland Joseph,
almost $5,000 for his ministry in Kimberley, South Africa. Roland is the minister
that Jonathan worked with when he lived in South Africa 20 years ago, and Jona
than has been supporting him since that time. It was a hard trip in many ways,
but it was a joy to meet the people who loved Jonathan, and to see the country
that Jonathan loved so much. By hearing stories about Jonathan, both as a child
and as an adult working in Africa, I got to know him better, even after he was gone
from this world. That was a true blessing from God and I thank Him for the oppor
tunity to make that trip.
I am continuing to teach English in a high school here in Texas. I also teach
an adult ESL class two nights a week and have had opportunities to share my faith
with those students. I am also continuing to serve with Outreach International as
an advisor and TESOL specialist. I recently represented Outreach International at
the National Missionary Convention of the Christian Churches and Churches of
Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were able to talk to a lot of people about opportuni
ties with Outreach International around the world. We also had our annual board

meeting during the convention. Things are going well and God is continuing to
bring workers to us for the white fields around the world.
As I mentioned, I am teaching English in a high school, so that keeps me
busy during the school year. But I do plan to spend this summer in Southeast Asia.

I will teach English in a university and be able to share my faith in Christ while I'm
there. The country I will go to is resistant to the gospel, so I have to be careful
what I print about it. I would be happy to talk more about it in person or on the
phone sometime before I go if anyone would like more information.
Thank you again for your love and support. I am doing well; although I
miss Jonathan terribly. He had a vision to reach the lost and I will continue to keep
that vision alive in my life. Thank you for being a part of his life and mine.

O Gartner StudKK

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January at the Creation

Museum in Kentucky

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March at Christ's 40 Acres
in Oklahoma

Xrtvv\^w^tr tj0U

July in Kimberley, South Africa

delivering the memorial gifts to
Jonathan's co-worker in Christ

Do not begrieved,

fortbejo^
of tbe Lord

April celebrating 11-year

anniversary of lung transplant
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is your strength

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