Celebration of Tami Fisk’s Life by Dr. James Hudson Taylor III

We have gathered here in HK tonight to celebrate God’s grace in the life and service of our colleague, Dr. Tamara Fisk. May I share with you a glimpse of the Tami I knew?

Tami was a Christian professional who served with integrity.

• She had trained long and well – Summa Cum Laude
• She strove for excellence in profession & service – always improving herself. I.e. going back to Emory
• She gave all she had to medical research of AIDS and SARS and their cure;   even going to TH & CN, TW, while battling melanoma herself. Cf. #1

Tami was a great team player

I watched her work with an international team made up of herself, Sharon Liu (TW) and Tomoko (JP), not to speak of all those S-T teams from SG!   Cf. Tami’s Tribune #2 re Shiu-Chu

Tami served with a humble servant spirit 

• She was always caring of others and their needs – Ke Li’s letter
• She lived a simple life-style in the rugged mountains of Western China.
• She identified with people she lived among and served – Cf. #3 Shi-Chu letter

Tami had a great sense of humor

• She was a strong competitor in sports or games at home
• She loved the outdoors, mountain climbing and skiing

Tami had a heart for China and the Chinese people

• Like Hudson Taylor, she committed her life to their service
• She learned the language to understand, to identify and to serve
• She longed to share with Chinese friends the wonder of new life in Christ

Tami had a supreme commitment to Jesus Christ

• As a scientist, she believed in the God of creation and obeyed His will
• She loved God’s Word and trusted His promises
• Prayer was a vital part of Tami’s everyday life
• Her passion was to share with others the joy of new life in Jesus
• She held firmly to our glorious hope – knowing “it is not death to die”
• Not death, not “goodbye”, but “zai jian”, “auf Wiedersehen”
• Her faith in Jesus was the secret of Tami’s courage, strength, joy & peace.

Finally, a word about Tami’s poem that has moved us all so deeply.

It was written in the midst of discomfort and pain, shortly before her home call. She wrote: “Today, I have been healed.”

• I see here a 2-fold aspects of time – present and future
• In the present she had been healed from questioning & complaint, anger, self pity, distraction & despair
• In anticipation of her home call – 2 Cor. 4:16 – 5:5; 1 Cor. 15:51, 53
• I see here Tami’s secret
• Victory - through our Lord, Jesus Christ  1 Cor. 15:57; Jer. 29:11
• Hope – she saw beyond. Tami loved 1 Cor. 13 (long before
  MSI!)

Think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand!
Of breathing in new air and finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unknown calm!
Of waking up and finding it home!

Today we celebrate God’s grace in Tami’s life. To God be the glory

March 31, 2005