Grace and peace to you in the name of our risen and victorious Lord Jesus Christ.
I write these words with a very heavy heart, with tears, and with deep sorrow. The news of our very dear brother Dr. Patrick’s going home to the Lord has touched me profoundly. This is truly a day of great sadness. I feel the weight of this loss deeply because Patrick was not only a respected servant of God but also a dear brother, a faithful friend, and a man whose life and ministry meant so much to me personally.
Words feel inadequate in such a moment. Some losses cannot be easily expressed, and some bonds of brotherhood leave a mark upon the soul. Our dear brother Patrick was such a man. His faith, courage, clarity, love for the Lord, and deep commitment to the Body of Christ will remain with us. His voice, his witness, and his example will not be forgotten.
Patrick fought the good fight. He stood his ground. He remained faithful even when faithfulness was costly. He carried the truth of the Gospel with courage and humility. He loved Jesus, the Word of God, and the people of God. In a very special way, I will always remember his love and concern for believers from Muslim backgrounds. He stood with us, encouraged us, strengthened us, and gave dignity and attention to many of us whom many others overlooked. For this, I will remain forever grateful to our dear brother Dr. Patrick.
“When the days of his priestly ministry were completed, he went back home.” (Luke 1:23). These words speak with quiet beauty and deep meaning. They remind us that a servant of God is entrusted with a ministry for a season. He stands before the Lord, serves faithfully, carries the burdens entrusted to him, and when the appointed days of his service are completed, he goes home. Patrick’s life was a priestly life in the deepest sense. He served before God. He carried the concerns of the Church and MBBs. He stood with the suffering. He spoke the truth. He strengthened the weak. He loved the Lord’s people. And now, when the days of his earthly ministry have been completed, he has gone home, not into emptiness, but into the presence of the Lord he loved and served.
Yet even as our hearts are broken, we do not stand in darkness. We stand in the light of the risen Christ. We grieve, but not as those without hope. Our beloved brother Patrick has now entered the presence of the One whom he preached, loved, served, and longed for. He now sees what he proclaimed. He now beholds what he believed. He now rests in the presence of Jesus, where there is no more pain, no more weakness, no more struggle, and no more tears.
The words of the Apostle Paul also come to my heart: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7). How fitting these words are for Patrick. He finished his race. He kept the faith. He bore witness to Christ through his life, his words, and his steadfastness. His life was not merely a spoken testimony, but a lived testimony.
It is also deeply significant to me that the Lord called him home during this holy season between Easter and Pentecost. Between the resurrection of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church remembers both the victory of Jesus over death and the calling of His people to continue His witness in the power of the Spirit. Patrick lived in that resurrection hope. He served in the strength of that Spirit. And now he has passed through death into the victory of the risen Lord.
Dear Caroline, my heart is especially with you, with Rosemary, and with the whole beloved family. I was looking forward to hosting you, Rosemary, and Patrick in Korntal sometime this year. I had hoped for fellowship, conversation, prayer, and time together in the presence of the Lord. It grieves me deeply that this will no longer be possible as we had hoped. But I trust that the Lord, in His mercy, holds all our unfinished hopes in His hands. And I believe that one day, in the presence of Christ, we will rejoice together again.
Please know that you, Rosemary, and the whole family are very much in my prayers. I pray that the risen Lord Jesus will come near to you in these days of sorrow. May He comfort you in the places where no human words can reach. May He surround you with His peace. May He strengthen you when the pain feels heavy. May He remind you that death has been defeated, that the grave is not the end, and that Patrick is safe in the hands of the Savior he loved so dearly.
I also want you to know that I will remain committed to you, just as I was committed to my dear brother Patrick. You can count on this. I would consider it an honor to continue standing with, supporting, and walking with you in any way the Lord allows. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, Rosemary, or the family.
Our dear brother Patrick will remain forever in our hearts and thoughts. His legacy will endure. His witness will endure. His love for Christ and His Church will continue to bear fruit. By God’s grace, we will keep walking in the footsteps of this faithful servant, standing for Jesus, His Word, and His people, especially those who are often unseen, misunderstood, or forgotten.
May the God of all comfort hold you close.
May the risen Christ fill your sorrow with hope.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen your hearts.
And may the memory of our dear brother Patrick remain a blessing until we meet again in the presence of the Lord.
With deep sorrow, heartfelt love, and unshakable hope in the risen Christ,
Bishop Yassir
Yassir Eric is a presiding bishop over the Anglican Church’s Ekkios diocese and a professor of intercultural and Islamic studies at Columbia International University’s Academy of World Mission in Germany.
- Bishop Eric Yassir