Her Smile Lives On!
If you’ve spent much time around the Passion Movement the past two years you’ve most likely had a chance to meet Ashley, a vibrant and smart student at the University of Florida who experienced the most unlikely collision of friendship and grace, and as a result, has been a light to people around the globe.
Wednesday [April 29] is the two year anniversary of the accident that took Ashley home to be with God, a painful and difficult ending to a life that in many ways was just beginning to bloom. But as time has so powerfully shown, April 29 was not the end of Ashley’s journey here on earth. Each day God continues to unfold her story and amplify her influence beyond anything she probably ever imagined.
That doesn’t mean the pain of her death is any less crushing for those who knew and loved her most, only that countless others [me included] have now been fortunate enough to have been touched by her smile.
All this week the 268Blog will be dedicated to the memory of this remarkable young woman as we champion the grace that caused real life to begin. Below, we begin with my original post after I received news of her death from Ashley’s mom.
More to come throughout the week…
LG
________________________
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Ashley’s Home
You guys remember Ashley, the Florida senior who sent what might be the coolest e-mail of all time. Just after Passion 07 we received this from her:
Hi, I feel kinda weird writing this email. And i doubt if it ever gets to Mr Louie Giglio. I am a Senior at The University of Florida. I got a new roommate this semester and she is a Christian and I have never really been into the whole Christian thing because every pastor or speaker that I have ever listened to didn’t speak in a language I could understand. I have believed in God and Jesus, but never really understood it because the preachers at the church that I have always been forced to go to every Sunday of my life. They speak all high and mighty and I never really felt connected, and I felt like God was only for the perfect people.
Well my roommate went to this Passion Conference over winter break. And she came back and moved into my apt and she was real and genuine about all her Christian stuff, like I have never seen before in a person. She said that God changed her at this conference, so i was like what are you talking about. And she told me. She told me about how God was cool, and how God really wanted a deeper relationship with her, and she wanted to really love God the way he loved her, so of course I was like well huh? She then said you need to listen to Louie talk about God, so I asked who Louie was, and she put on the Indescribable talk, and then we watched the Passport talk. And in the Passport talk you said that Christians do not have to just hope for the best at the end, that they do not have to do enough good stuff. You explained how to get to heaven in a simple way, in a way that I have never heard before. I actually got it, I got it that it is not about being so good, cause I am not a good person. I have screwed up a lot. But then you said grace, and talked about how is was different than other religions. Because God is a loving and a kind God who wants to forgive me. My roommate then explained that he wants to forgive me.
Now for one of the reasons I am thanking you. One, I am now a Christian. And two, my roommate said that she had never really cared about telling others about how much God loved her before she went to this conference. So though I am not sure who will ever read this. Please tell Louie thanks from me, for talking about Christ in a way that a college kid can understand. I know that Jesus has changed my life and as I get ready to graduate college in May, I am gonna be a different person. I am sorry this is kinda rambling but I just had to tell you that I now know about the Grace of God, and I have life for the first time in my 22 years
Ashley
I will never forget the day her message came. And I’m not going to forget last Friday. Waking early for the last day of Thirsty, I happened to see this on my Blackberry and opened it.
Dear Mr. Giglio,
It is with a heavy heart that I send you this email. My daughter is Ashley, she wrote you an email that went on your blog and podcast Well, today May 3rd at 4pm we buried Ashley. She was killed in a car accident late on Sunday night. She lost control of her car and hit a light pole. She was the only car involved and had serious internal bleeding. She died in the arms of my husband at the hospital from unstoppable internal bleeding. But I have hope of seeing my daughter again. I have this hope because after years of praying for her, and watching her live a lifestyle in college that is known as the typical college experience. The last semester of her college career I saw a woman, not a college girl that I have never been more proud to call my daughter. I can point the thanks to you and Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman, and everyone else involved in your Passion Conferences. Ashley fell in love with our Savior over the last 5 months of her life. She was so excited about graduation this week and moving to California to work her first real job. She had a life ahead of her. I miss my beautiful princess more than anything in this world.
But I just felt like you should know that she listened to as many of your talks as she could get her hands on and read your book I am not but I know I am and she was so excited about God and her new found faith. Words alone can not thank you enough. I may never meet you here on earth, but I know that someday I will be able to meet you and give you a hug in heaven, but only after Ash does. Thank you so much for praying for my girl, and your support of her as she was starting her new life. Also thanks for being a man of God who has a passion, and love for college students.
Your vision to share the gospel and getting college students to do the same made all the difference at a funeral today. Instead of being sad and scared for her. We were able to sing praise and worship songs today. Though there will be tears and I am so very heartbroken and crying as I type this, it is only because I will not hold her for so many years. And I will miss her for the rest of my life. I know I have said thank you a lot in this email, but because of you and Christa (Ashley’s roommate) and people at the Bible Study that she was going to she was happier than I have seen her in a very long time. In the email she originally sent you, it said she had life for the first time in her 22 years, and please know she meant every word of that. She lived the last few months serving and loving and learning more about Christ. She will now spend eternity in heaven with Him so one more time thanks. I know this was long and I debated for the last 4 days as to whether or not to write you. I know you are a very busy man, but I also figured you would want to know.
Ashley’s Mom
Anna
By the third line tears were streaming down my face, blurring the words, but not the sudden reality of it all. I had just received an e-mail from Ashley a few days before saying how excited she was to finally be through with college and headed to a “real job” in the Bay Area of California. And now she was gone.
I was crushed, but I found myself pumping my fist in the air, confident that Jesus Christ overwhelmed death and the grave. And just in the nick of time, He reached through the confusion and hopelessness and brought Ashley back to life again. Her mom was kind enough to allow me to share her e-mail and sent a photo of Ashley so we could all put a face with the name that has brought much rejoicing throughout the Passion world in recent months. Anna, please know that you and your family will be in our hearts and prayers as you begin the process of living without the daughter you so deeply love. You will see her again. And with our prayers we are praising God for matchless mercy…mercy that saved the day and carried Ashley safely home.
Louie
April 20th, 2009 at 1:43 PM
wow.. just amazed. As i read this and I heard this message. I was like this was totally me. I was trying to get my life out of the pit that I got myself in for the last two yrs. Then hearing this at Passion Chicago i couldnt stop crying. I had a girlfriend that was cheating on me that for some reason i kept on going back to her. it happened number of times. you think that you would learn the first time. but when i found out with the last time she was cheating on me. i knew that i had to end things and make it offical. it was right when i heard this message and i was like i got to put a stop to what i am doing. i got the 20 phone calls at once the crying voicemails and text saying that this girl was going to kill herself just to find out that she wanted me to respond. FYI. i respond when she told me that she was going to kill herself. but this message was amazing and the song mighty to save. man our God that we worship everyday. is mighty to save.
i am praying for ashley’s family. her dad for salvation. and just for her brother and stuff that he was going through.
thanks louie
April 20th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
My wife and I were at Thirsty with a friend when you read these emails. What can one says?….It reminds us of how amazing God truly is in his workings and how uncertain the next few moments can be. This is not our home.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I was at Thirsty that year as well when you shared the second email. Even reading it again, my eyes tear up hearing the power of the gospel. Amen :)
April 20th, 2009 at 2:46 PM
this is just incredible story of how God is sovereign and in control. It is hard, but God has done some incredible things through this story–many of which are seeds that have not yet grown. This story of her life will continue to inspire and be used by God just as it has been around the globe.
Much like Jesus on the cross, God took a sad, terrible thing, and once again by his grace and in his sovereignty made something incredible to redeem others. He is ALWAYS in control.
Thank you Louie and to Ashley’s family for allowing this story of encouragement, hope, and redemption to be shared.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Thank you for the reminder, Louie… may we all be like Ashley…
April 20th, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Wow–what a terrible and beautiful story.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Ashley was my best friend and I knew her better than anyone. Ashkins your smile will live forever. I dont know about any of the other stuff but I see your smile everyday
April 20th, 2009 at 10:27 PM
ashley, we never met, but your story has changed my life forever!
April 21st, 2009 at 1:17 AM
thnx you,Ashley…
your story truly changed my life!!!
April 21st, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Although I don’t know anyone mentioned here my thanks go to Christa (Ashley’s roommate) who had the courage to share what authentic Christianity is all about. May we all be so bold!
April 21st, 2009 at 8:52 AM
This story has touched so many lives, recently our community lost a dear son, brother and friend tragically and this story came to mind and we showed the hope dvd at our church. What a wonderful reminder that in the midst of lifes’ biggest tragedy’s we can cling to the cross because it’s proof that Jesus knows, He understands and He loves us!! I can’t wait to meet Ashley in heaven! Thank you for sharing her story, she has touched so many lives
April 21st, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Every time I hear Ashley’s story and the power in just one life and the ripple effect that her life (and death) caused, it not only gives me goosebumps, but just makes me feel strangely peaceful……reminding me that even when I feel like there’s no way my life being used, God is still using it! He uses the simplest of things to capture our hearts in ways that we never knew were possible. Just as he used ice cream and a “kooky” roommate to capture Ashley’s.
My heart still aches at the thought of her family and friends living on without her. I pray that they just continue to see the blessing that her life provides for all those others. I know it cannot and will not make up for her not being here, but maybe in some way it will make them feel strangely peaceful too.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Thanks for reminding us that Ashley’s homegoing anniversary is next week. While her life is now totally complete, the void left for those who love her is real and painful. Anniversaries can heighten that pain and I would ask that God’s people hold her family and friends in prayer even more so this next week.
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Amazing! I cry again like the first time when I listened this in Passion São Paulo…
April 24th, 2009 at 1:22 AM
WOW *tears*
April 27th, 2009 at 5:36 PM
wow thanks for the reminder, i want to cry again, hehe God bless!!
P.s please pray for my city (Mexico city), we are in a in dificult situation. because of the Flu epidemic and pray that all the church in mexico, can stand!! and preach the gospel
my english is not really Good sorry thanks!
May 16th, 2009 at 3:09 PM
wow, how can one read that and not be changed? thank-you for sharing and reminding me how amazingly powerfull and smart God is.
May 24th, 2009 at 12:56 AM
This feels weird, I don’t have any idea who might read this. All I know is I need help and Ashley’s story came to me when I have had my world shaken to it’s core. My husband and I lost our own Ashley 16 days ago in an auto accident. She was 16 yrs old and our princess. 9 days ago we lost our 21 yr old son, Andrew, also in an auto accident. Life as we have known it, which was truly wonderful, is over. This is all I can say for now. Please pray. Amy Ford
June 5th, 2009 at 1:00 PM
My cousin, Josue died last week he was just 5 years old, we, all our family were sure that he was going to be a big boy he used to play the drums and also the guitar and he was just 5!! he loved Jesus and all the he was singing to him, the promise was that Josue was going to be a great servant and we were pretty sure about his ministry, people had told us that throw Josue many people gas going to know about Jesus, now he is in heavens and we are just wondering why so soon.
Thanks for all your love and effort to go around the world and show Jesus power and love . God Bless you!!!
June 7th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
hey just saw the Fruitcake DVD this morning and it was such a powerful message. It just shows how much God changes people and how amazing he is and how he changed ashleys life in the three months he was with her. Im sure she is looking down from heaven smilling on us all and how her story is changing the lives of thousands of people world wide. God Bless
June 18th, 2009 at 4:22 AM
Its God who give,and God who takes away.Lets leave it to God.Although my heart is saddened but what should i do,I am leaving everything to God.May Almighty God accept her to His Kingdom.
Amen.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:16 AM
I am a youth minister and just showed the fruitcake & ice cream dvd to our youth group (it was also the first time for me seeing it). WOW!!!! This story has changed my life and the lives of the teens in my group. Her story proves how awesome and soverign God is. And also, you so incredibly communicated the all encompassing love & grace of God in your message and how God is reconcilling the entire world to himself. He is not willing that any will perish…it is comforting to know that God’s grace is truly sufficient. Your message reminds me of the story in the Bible of the shepherd & and the 100 sheep and 99 are accounted for but he won’t quit or give up until that 1 lost sheep is found…How true this is of Christ our Saviour. He is indeed Mighty to Save!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
hi.
just amazed. as i read ashley’s letter and her mom’s i felt crying. The LORD is so great and ever sufficient.
i am also touched with what her mom wrote. i feel better every time i remember my tatay (father). he died five days after my 13th birthday. i am glad that i have the assurance of seeing him again, to hug him tight.
i am eager to share the things i read.
from the Philippines. . .
i want to see you here again.
PRAISE BE TO THE LORD
p.s.
where can i read copy of ashley’s journal? is it available in this site?
thank you Pastor Louie
GOD BLESS.!!
:)
September 14th, 2009 at 6:11 AM
My friend, Olivia, and I go to Passion concert in Jakarta, Indonesia and heard this story. This story was really change my life and my friend’s life too. I realized that life is short and we have to share about Gods love to as many people as we can. For Olivia, she change her focus of life to Jesus. Now, we want to go to a mission school to learn about God more. Thanks for sharing this story
God bless