Happy Anniversary Chad and Courtney (May 11)

Of all the greatest gifts Jesus gave us, love is perhaps the greatest. Couples who commit to one another, and honor that commitment as one ordained by God, should be celebrated.

This Monday, May 11th is my brother Chad and his wife Courtney’s anniversary. Chad and Courtney shared a beautiful love story and although the days of their marriage were short, the impact of their union continues to this day. I’ll never get over the honor it was to be Chad’s best man on their wedding day. Chad was not only my brother he was my best friend and my role model. I’ll never forget standing next to him as his new bride came down the aisle to the song “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness.” I watched as Chad wept silently; his gaze focused on Courtney.

A few months ago I was driving in the car with they love of my life and my brand new fiancé, Rachel. We were discussing what songs we should play at the wedding. I still have the song Courtney came down the aisle to on my phone so I played it for her. Almost as soon as the song started a flood of emotions came over me. This time it was I, not Chad, who was crying as the faint lines of music filled the air. The lyrics of the song paint an appropriate picture of the kind of marriage that Chad and Courtney had.

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
’Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,
Which, at the mercy seat of God,
Forever doth for sinners plead,
For me, e’en for my soul, was shed.

As the music swells one stanza stands out above the rest. It was to this specific stanza that Courtney came walking down the aisle. 

Lord, I believe were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.

On August 28, 2015 it will be my turn to play the role of the groom. This time I won’t have Chad standing next to me. Playing the role of the best man will be my younger brother Daniel.  No doubt Daniel will stand next to me and watch as I act just like Chad did on his wedding day – eyes filled with tears as I watch my love walk down the aisle.  As I reflect on Chad’s love for Courtney I know I have a godly example to follow.

Since the first time I fell in love with Rachel I knew I not only wanted to spend the rest of my life with her in marriage I wanted to spend the rest of my life serving God with her in full time ministry. Starting in September Rachel and I will transition to a ministry where I will serve as youth Pastor. Having watched Chad and Courtney serve in that same role I realize that pastoral ministry is a team effort. That is why I want to be on the same team as Rachel. My greatest desire is to be the same kind of husband to Rachel that Chad was to Courtney.

Happy Anniversary Chad and Courtney! We love and miss you both. 


WRITTEN BY CALEB PHELPS, brother of Chad Phelps