Singing On Glory’s Side

Lon Allison always had a song.  Whatever the topic, Lon had a song!

And so it was no surprise that after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver cancer, Lon chose to address the Evangelical Covenant Convention with a song . . . “Untitled Hymn” by Chris Rice.

Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die
O, raise your head for Love is passing by
Come to Jesus, come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden’s lifted and carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live

And like a newborn baby, don’t be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall
So fall on Jesus, fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely and steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rainThen cry to Jesus, cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live

O, and when the love spills over and music fills the night
And when you can’t contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus, dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory’s side

And fly to Jesus (Fly to Jesus)
Fly to Jesus (Fly to Jesus)
Fly to Jesus and live

Lon Allison was the longtime Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, the Teaching Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church, and Chair of the Leighton Ford Ministries board.

But more than his impressive titles, Lon lived for Jesus.  He lived to tell others about Jesus. And he lived to encourage his friends and associates and flock to grow deeply in their faith and love for Jesus through personal discipleship.

Kevin first met Lon in the late 1980s.  Kevin was having breakfast at a diner in San Ramon, CA and saw a guy reading his Bible.  They struck up a conversation, and soon after, Kevin introduced Lon to Leighton. A strong friendship quickly developed, and Lon became a charter member of the “Point Group,” Leighton’s personal mentoring group for young ministry leaders.

Lon’s wife Marie announced his death Sunday evening with these words:  

Lon’s struggle with cancer ended this morning at 9:30 am. (It appears he wanted to get to heaven in time for the great Sunday Worship Service!)  He is now in heaven enjoying the perfect presence of the Lord, the people who went before him and the activities that he was not able to do the last couple of years. 

Lon was a dear friend and colleague.  We miss him so much. But we also know that he has never been so alive!

To paraphrase Chris Rice, on Sunday our friend Lon kissed the world goodbye, went in peace, and now sings on Glory’s side.

Fly to Jesus . . . and live!