Bethel Fellowship International

Bethel Fellowship Int’l  has just been notified by Mark Benton of the Memorial Service planned for his wife, Kathleen Frazier Benton. We encourage all who are able to please attend what Mark refers to here as “this special event.”

Dear Friends,

We will hold a memorial service to celebrate Kathleen’s life on Saturday, February 9th, beginning at 2:00PM. The location will be Shorewood Foursquare Church in the West Seattle area (former Southwest Seattle Christian Center). Pastor Floyd Earlywine, who performed our wedding, will be conducting the service. (For directions please refer to website listed below.)

http://www.shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org/367584.ihtml

Although we greatly miss Kathleen, our sadness is not overwhelming and our grief is not devastating. Indeed, we have great hope and faith in Jesus Christ, and know that she is in the presence of God at this moment. This memorial will be an opportunity for us to gather together to remember her remarkable life and the people whom she touched, and give praise to our Lord for the time she had with us.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations to Reach Japan would be sincerely appreciated to help cover medical and travel expenses for the Benton family. Please contact Lisa Landry <lisalandrycm@comcast.net> in that regard, or see her at the memorial.

I am looking forward to seeing our long time friends at this special event.

Sincerely,
Mark

BFI has received the following a few hours ago from Mark Benton in Japan.

Greetings friends and family,

My dear wife Kathleen passed away Thursday morning Japan time and is now in the presence of our Lord. She fought valiantly for many years and blessed many people even as she was suffering herself. You have been with us every step of this journey and I can’t express my thanks deeply enough to you. The end was actually surprising in its suddenness. There was no deep pain or intense struggle. Apparently her heart just stopped and she departed peacefully just as she wanted, at home surrounded by friends and family.

We will have family services tonight and tomorrow here in Japan, and then a larger more public celebration of Kathleen’s life next week. In addition, our children and I are intending to return to the States in the next couple of weeks or so to be with our family and friends there, though those plans are not finalized yet.

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

The kids and I are doing well, and are surrounded by wonderful friends. Thank you, as always, for your love and prayers.

Since this e-mail mailing list is a bit old and addresses change, please feel free to pass this information along to anyone who you feel hasn’t heard.

God bless,

Mark

Editor note: –Photo of Mark and Kathleen was taken from a FaceBook photo dated March 25, 2012.

“Today’s Magnificent Sunset” –photo by Andrew Benton

BFI has received the following from missionary Mark Benton in Kobe, JAPAN:

This morning my loving Kathleen Marie Benton passed away and went to be with our Lord. She’s been a courageous fighter for over 5 years. Today is not a day of defeat, but actually a day of victory. There was no struggle and no pain. I was able to give her a kiss and say goodbye.

We will have a family service for the wake and funeral, and then hold a more public celebration of her life soon. She loved life and all of you, her friends. Thank you for your love and support.

Bethel Fellowship International has just received word from Mark Benton’s older brother, Gary, who posted this a little while ago:

Our beautiful, hilarious and precious sister-in-law, Kathleen, passed away today (January 10) in Kobe, Japan.

She added light and energy to everything she touched and she will be missed. Mark and the kids are doing okay, knowing that she is now resting in the arms of her loving Heavenly Father and is healthy once again. She will be missed in a thousand different ways by her family, our family and the myriad of friends that she gathered during her life. She was a gift to all of us who knew her. 

Prayers of comfort for her family are appreciated.

BFI will keep you posted as more information becomes available.