We get responses, emails, and letters, some thanking us for the Langstaff Letters we send out weekly, such as this one from Ohio. “We read your letter every time it is published. What a blessing you have been in our lives.” Some responses agree with our writing, and others sometimes challenge us. We enjoy every response, so please keep writing.

In this Langstaff Letter, I want to share some of the letters and responses we received, together with a few personal comments to set the context. Then, I want to finish with a portion of our daughter Joy’s message at the memorial service for her mother, Dorothy.

RESPONSE TO ‘REMINDER TO REMEMBER’

About twenty years ago, I was invited to go with two ministers to visit inmates in a maximum security prison in Ohio. It was there that I met ‘Irish Johnny,’ as he interviewed me for a video program they had in the prison. We hit it off, instantly feeling a bond together. I found out he had already been in jail for over twenty years after being found guilty of murder. I continued to connect with him over the years, and when he eventually came up for parole, I wrote to the parole board on his behalf. He was denied at first but eventually was paroled. He recently wrote to me in response to a Langstaff Letter written by my granddaughter Hayley.

“What a Beautiful Story of Gratitude! Hayley blessed my heart when I read this. And the Holy Spirit called to my remembrance when He taught me the power in counting our blessings! 

I was in a dark solitary confinement cell, and the guard came by and slid a letter under my cell door. I opened it and began reading. It was from my Aunt Barbara, who is a Catholic Sister of Humility. In the letter, she stated she knew I was in a “rough place” in my life, both literally and figuratively, but she encouraged me to count my blessings and not my curses.

I must confess, at first, I was very angry and defiant! I was thinking, “What blessings! I’m doing life for murder, stacked on top of 10 years for armed robbery! And I’m in the hole for fighting! “I paced up and down that cell, angry at first, but then I started thinking about some of the “good” things in my life – I had eyes to see, ears to hear, a strong body, a voice, a mind to think with, a family that still loved me in spite of my waywardness! And the list went on! 

I began feeling my spirit lift within me! I was still in that dark solitary confinement cell. I was still doing all that time, but I felt better! I had an inner peace and joy that encouraged me to keep going and gave me confidence and hope that I could do this! 

That was several years before I surrendered my life to our Lord Jesus Christ, but I never forgot how powerful counting our blessings is! And as a Christian, I have used it throughout my walk and taught others to do it as well. 

Love to all my Langstaff Family. Irish Johnny”

RESPONSE TO ‘MARRIAGE AND VIRGINITY’

‘Irish Johnny’ wrote again in response to a recent Langstaff Letter, giving a glimpse of how God has worked in his life after getting released from prison and marrying a wonderful woman named Suzanne Dee in 2021.

“Amen to married people being happier! Especially Christian married people. I say this because many of our friends who aren’t married comment all the time to Dee and me that they wish they had what we have, or they wish they had someone to share their love and their life with.”

RESPONSES TO ‘REMEMBERING DOROTHY’

After the news of Pastor Dorothy’s passing into heaven, we received more responses than we could respond to. We were blessed reading each and every letter. Here are a few of them.

Jessica Bartholomew is the founder and leader of ACT United, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking through awareness, prayer, and prevention. This ministry actually began in a church foyer with a conversation that Jessica had with Pastor Dorothy. Here is what Jessica wrote, “Pastor Alan, My deepest thoughts and prayers are lifted up for you every day. I can’t wait to celebrate Dorothy but grieve her loss here, as I am sure you do all the more. What a legacy. ACT United was born from the spiritual womb in the hallway at Church on the Hill between Dorothy, me, and the Holy Spirit. The ministry would not be here, and my children and I have received so much and continue in the Langstaff legacy of truth, love, perseverance, faith, holding on to Jesus no matter what, and pioneering ministry in obedience to God Almighty. I am humbled and honored to have the name and ministry of Alan and Dorothy Langstaff in my story. Well, I am crying tears now of knowing how blessed I am by her love, care, ministry, and being a spiritual Mama to me, which I had never had before nor since. I am blessed. God bless you and love you.”

I am sure that Dorothy would have loved to have met ‘Irish Johnny’ and one day will in heaven above. He wrote this, “I wish I would have met Dorothy in person here on earth, but in a great way I met her through the book ‘Called Together,’ and through the wonderful articles and photos in the Langstaff Letter! And no doubt, I will met here in perfection in heaven. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” 

Mike Smith, a local pastor, wrote, “If there was anyone in our day that personified grace and truth infused together, it was Dorothy Langstaff! Her life was an expression of the beauty of God’s presence, and she radiated His glory. Sandi and I have been blessed to have known her, prayed with her, and been spiritually strengthened… when with her. What great joy there must be in heaven as she hears those wonderful words… ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest!’ Alan, your lives together have been an influence of the Kingdom of God on countless many throughout the nations. You are in our hearts and in our prayers. We have a promise of reunion one day… and healing for our broken hearts… today.”

Lastly, a precious note from Polly Schmeidel, a close friend, “My deepest sympathies Pastor Alan. Praying God would hold you extra tight. What an amazing woman of God she was and still is. I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for her. Eternally grateful. Heaven’s Hope.” 

A DAUGHTER’S TRIBUTE

Our daughter Joy has not had an easy time. Her husband David unexpectedly died twelve years ago, and she had the task of raising four children, all of whom she homeschooled. Last year, she lost her best friend and sister, Beth, and now her mother passed away. Here is a portion of what was shared at Dorothy’s memorial service, in which Joy mentions a time when she and the grandchildren gave Dorothy a blessing jar.

” . . . . This last month, I reread the messages that I wrote for her blessing jar, and I would like to share a few of them as they beautifully capture who she was and how she impacted my life, not so much as a pastor or women’s ministry director, not even as we worked together in ministry. I want to give you a small glimpse into how she impacted my life as my mom.

My childhood was unique. The first few years of my life were some of the hardest for my parents as my mom was dealing with physical struggles, and they were soon to step out in faith, beginning a new ministry. My dad traveled for much of my childhood; during this time, my mom held down the fort at home. She chose to include both Beth and me in their faith adventures and struggles. She taught us to see God’s beauty around us, to talk with God, to trust Him to have the answer and to choose to pursue all that He had for us.

Mother, My love for backyard birds came from you. Wherever we lived, I watched you hang bird feeders, fill them faithfully with seed, and then find so much enjoyment from seeing so many different birds come and help themselves to food. I, too, have bird feeders (although they are not always filled). I love seeing all the different birds come and help themselves – the cardinals, blue jays, juncos, nuthatches, even the occasional woodpecker, to name a few, and, of course, the chickadee, my favorite, as to me, they look like they sat down in a pail of paint. Thank you for teaching me to enjoy the wonder of God’s creation that can be found in my backyard. 

Mother, Thank you for not discouraging me from praying for a dog, even if you didn’t really want one. And then, when Cindy, a scruffy stray toy poodle, arrived on our doorstep, thank you for realizing that God had answered my prayer by welcoming her into our family, even if it meant less sleep. I still remember the first few nights when you kept Cindy in your room in a washing basket – she kept you and father awake, and then when morning came, she would jump up on your bed and fall fast asleep. That experience taught me that God answers prayers. 

My late husband David had a completely different upbringing than I did. With divorced parents, a dad who was not actively part of his life, and a single mom who was on a winding journey to find God, David did not know how to be a part of a ‘family.’

Mother, Thank you for welcoming David into your home nearly every night when we were dating. He so needed to be immersed in what a ‘family’ was, and you didn’t resist this. Instead, you welcomed him, setting an extra place each evening at our supper table, listening to him read a loud a crazy children’s book on Christmas Eve, including him in every family event and holiday . . . all before we were even engaged. It means more than you know, as it impacted our marriage and family forever. 

‘You need a Grandma Chat,’ was a common phrase in our home. A Grandma Chat, as we came to call them after the grandchildren were born, was when we shared our heart, whatever challenges we were facing, our hurts or confusion, our questions . . . . and then sat and listened as you allowed God to use you to speak life, wisdom, and truth into our lives.

Mother, Parenting is so hard. I am not done parenting yet, not sure I ever will be. But I do not know how I would have raised my children all these years without your wisdom and advice . . . what to do when Mitchel bit the baby spoon, how to handle David leaving for work so early, what to feed them, and when or how to deal with dropping a nap. You always listened, encouraged me, and then gave me advice . . . . practical, spiritual, emotional, discipline issues . . . you name it! You were and still are such a blessing!

Mother, I am not sure how I would have waded through my initial grief of losing David without you. Thank you for the countless chats, the practical help, and your overwhelming love and support. Thank you for listening and for crying with me. . . . sometimes each day. You and father were there for me and the children! You were a solid rock amid the swirling emotions, questions, and chaos. Thank you for loving us so much!

. . . . . Lastly, in the blessing jar, I shared a journal entry from years ago with my mom, where I was asked to describe her using only simple words or phrases. Here is what I wrote: Unconditional love, Follows God, Prophetic Insight, Black and white, Family Meals, Traditions, Listener, Prayer Warrior, Wisdom, Faithful, Adventurer, Pioneer, Faith, Trust, Commitment, Partner, Creative, Artist, Passion, Garden, Friend, Counsel, Independent, Godly, Stays the course, Runs the race. 

Mother, you were all this and so much more! Thank you for the wonderful example you have been to both me and my children. I will never forget how God used you to love, support, encourage, comfort, discipline, mentor, and teach me . . . how you were a beautiful example of His love. I will never forget our times of joy and laughter, nor our times of grief and tears. I will always love you and will forever miss you, and I will always remember!