God is Love

Over the weekend we heard the tragic news that Tauernhof’s director, Hans Peter Royer, died in a paragliding accident.

We’ve only known Hans Peter for a few months, but Tauernhof has become our home during this time- one that we are away from for the summer, but returning to in just a few weeks.  We were touched by him in many ways, even in the short time that we knew him and we are sad for his family and for the incredible loss this is to the staff at Tauernhof and the ministry of Torchbearers as a whole.

Hans Peter was a generous man. He cared for his staff well, he lead our staff meetings with a heart that shared and listened, and he was truly full of joy. I’ll never forget the way he made the kitchen staff blush by kissing them on the cheek on their birthdays, his laughter when he danced, and the way he demystified the book of Revelation for our students. He was well known and well thought of in his own community, and his good reputation went out to much of the Christian, German-speaking world, as well as the many English-speaking students that heard him teach at one of the Torchbearer centers in Europe. I could never count the amount of people that have told me what a profound impact his teaching and example has had on their lives. He shared about his personal relationship with Jesus openly, causing others to long for and find a deeper intimacy with Jesus. He talked about the importance of inviting Jesus into every moment of our days, being ever aware of his presence.  I will also never forget the stories upon stories I have heard about Hans Peter in the mountains. The mountains around Tauernhof were really his playground, having grown up in the area- he was an incredible climber and skier, and took many people on adventures that they love to retell. I have to admit I was looking forward to this winter- when the snow would fall, and we as a staff would go out onto the slopes, and I could experience what so many have- skiing lessons with Hans Peter-knowing  that I would have a few of my own stories to tell.

But we have a few treasured memories of Hans Peter- and for these I am grateful- the way he advised me on the color I should choose for my Tauernhof jacket, and the way that he supported Chris as a filmmaker, and our work with Torchbearers, by buying him new equipment this summer. Most importantly I will remember the devotion he shared with us as staff, and then in the Tauernhof news letter about God’s character. He asked Chris to make the simple illustrations to express how we can understand God’s character. I remember using his illustration as I talked to a student- because the way we view God is so crucial. It is SO important that we know that everything that God does is out of love. He is love.

This I will treasure forever, the truth that God is Love. That whatever God does or says, it comes out of his love. And whatever happens, when tragedy strikes, when the unexpected happens, and life doesn’t go according to plan, I can always trust in God’s love for me.

You can read his thoughts in the Tauernhof newsletter by clicking here. And please keep his family in your prayers, as he had a wife and three adult children, and also for the staff at Tauernhof as they grieve the loss of an incredible father, husband, teacher, friend and director. This is quite a loss to Torchbearers as well, having been one of the major leaders within the ministry under the general director, he was highly respected and held great influence.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21