The SIL Cameroon Branch has lost a colleague, but even more, a friend. It is true, For two years Steve worked tirelessly in the East province, a place where very long trips on crowded bush taxis and long walks are the norm. He taught many courses there, helped set up classes, consulted and encouraged many Cameroonians. He has left a legacy that is going to last for a long time. But all of these work-results are not what we will remember most. We will remember above all the ease with which he built relationships. And that is why so many of us, both Cameroonians and expatriate missionaries, are hurting. His good friend and Cameroonian colleague, Gideon Noussi, who would have picked him up at the Nigerian border, wrote the following: « Steve believed in my mission. Right now I wear a pair of shoes he gave me two months ago, the battery in my computer comes from him, my voice recorder was brought to me by Steve. He believed in our mission, invested his own money in it and it is when he came to visit us that he died… ». Gideon is only one among many in Cameroon who have lost a friend. We will miss him! Please know that many of us are praying for Nicki, whom we know well, and his family.
Nelis van den Berg Director SIL Cameroon
Email from an African student - representative of the many they ones from his Literacy Course sent:
Dear all, Our brother Steve completed the race in Christ and we have his testimony. As we mourn his departure and pray for his family let us be encouraged that we shall one day meet him when we also go to be with our creator. Blessings to all,
John Magundo, Kenya
Dear Rick and Linn and Nicki,
We (Steve, Nancy, and sons Bryce and Joel) wanted to write you a brief note to express our great shock and sorrow over Steve's death. We have fresh memories of our visit with him here in Goure. The Kusserow family communicated to us that you would appreciate word of his final days, and the time that we had together. We are honored to provide a few words describing our time with your remarkable son and husband. We were eating dinner just after the close of the day on Monday September 22 when our little black-and-tan dachshund began to bark with great passion in the backyard outside the kitchen. Night had just fallen, so it was unusual for someone to come to see us at that time, except perhaps for a medical emergency. That was my thought as I stepped outside to see what the fuss was about. I spoke to my dog, asking if it was Issa, but there in the light from the kitchen windows was Steve. He said, "No, it's me," and introduced himself as someone associated with SIL. He mentioned that he had gotten our names from Tonio Kasper when passing through on the way to Niamey. We invited him to come in to eat with us, as we were just finishing, and had something still on the table to offer him. He was thankful for the meal, and liked the cookies that Nancy had made a couple days before, but only had a couple. He struck me as a contented fellow more interested in people and experiences than in pleasures. In his place, I would have accepted the offer of the last cookie, but he declined and one of my teenage sons was happy to take it.
Steve explained that he did not usually stop so late, but that he had come all the way from Zinder that day, and the ride was unusually long (175 km). (So we were the first people he visited after the last web log entry from the visit to Zinder.) We later learned that he could have stopped in a village, his usual habit, but that he made a long day of it because of the possibility of visiting us. We enjoyed our dinner with him and our conversation. Despite his fatigue, he was very upbeat about the day's travels and his journey. He sat in the living room quite a while talking with us. We still remember him sitting in the seat underneath the painting.
It was clear that he was a person of great energy and optimism; also a person who meets people easily and quickly develops a comfortable rapport. We made him feel at home by offering him a shower and our best map of West Africa. He accepted the offer of a shower politely and thankfully, but declined the offer of the map. We did take some time to spread it out and look at the roads crossing into Nigeria from Diffa, east of Maine-Soroa. He was pleased to see that the road access into Nigeria seemed reasonable. We gave him the name of the Kusserows in Maine-Soroa, a two-days journey to the East, but he already knew of them from the visit with the Kaspers. Just a few days before, someone had visited us and we had put him up in the mud-brick office a few feet from our house. The bed was still there made up, so quite easily we were able to offer him a place to sleep.
The next morning, Nancy and I got up to take a walk in the town. Steve had risen early to get a good start on the day's journey. One of his recycled drink bottles had cracked the day before, so we gave him a Gatorade bottle to replace it. It fit well into the custom-welded bottle rack that he had had made for the space behind his bicycle seat. We prayed for him before going down to the front gate to let him out. As we went though our front gate, he rode out to begin the day of riding. We wished him well, he waved amiably and was away.
In thinking about him and his tragic death, I am struck first of all that he was a believer, and that his future is as secure as the good promises of our Lord. Our faith is not one of platitudes but of an abiding hope based on what Christ has done as Savior, and on what has been prepared for those who love Him. I am struck secondly by the fact that he was in the midst of doing something that he truly loved, and that he did not do it in fear of the risks, but in the thrill of experiencing every day something fresh and new. No doubt the friends in Cameroon promised a worthy conclusion to the trip, but he was enjoying the journey at every stage.
We were glad to be a little part of that lifelong journey.
May the Lord bless you all with comfort and somehow fill the hole that cannot be filled.
With our sincere sympathies, Steve and Nancy, Bryce and Joel
When our son was three weeks old we met Steve in Penticton to watch Nicki compete in the Ironman. Steve was impressed that we had named our baby Sam. He said if he had kids he would name them "Sam, Bob and George... in that order, regardless of sex." He figured we got the idea from him.
A year later Steve came and lived with us for a few months while he finished up his Masters at Trinity. Sam loved him and they got along famously. Once when we were needing a babysitter Steve volunteered. When we got home he assured us that everything went well and that they had a great time together. The next morning as I went to get Sam dressed I discovered that his diaper was on backwards! When I mentioned it to Steve he laughed his head off... I'm still not sure if he did it on purpose as a joke or he really had no idea what he was doing.
This last spring when we phoned to tell him about our new baby girl, Maartina, he was thrilled for us but insisted on calling her "Bob".
Steve was a great friend to us and to our kids as well. This grieving process has been a strange experience... although we are deeply saddened about Steve's passing we have also found ourselves doing a lot of laughing as we have so many hilarious memories of him. I think Steve would be glad to hear that.
Today was the graduation for Steve's Master of Linguistics degree. (Steve, we missed you!) It was said that Steve's go-for-it joy makes us realize that eternity doesn't start when a person goes to Heaven. Heaven has been with us all along. Thanks for that lesson, Steve.
This was a tribute given for a memorial in Perth last week with a note "If there was an opportunity at the memorial in Canada tomorrow, I would love for it to be read out." I think the word "VALE" is used in Australia for farewell, as in "vale of tears"
I first met Steve on our Canada Bike ride with Bike For Bibles. Some of the things that impressed me & attracted me to Steve was his genuine eye contact & smile. I prided myself on being able to eat a lot (I was school champion) but Steve won hands down at every meal. He rode the whole way across canada in sandals & shorts, even on a frost or in the rain. He had a real empathy for peoples well being, going out of his way to help others. He did such a good job of it I remember feeling down one day, a little jealous of his abilities & amazing personality - I'd been superseeded by a better model! We became good mates, and I knew we would meet again because I could see he had his eye on Nicki. Sure enough, before long I was invited to the wedding and it was an absolute privelege to be his best man.
My wife Anne & I visited Nicki & Steve in Ivory Coast a couple of years later and it was a real eye opener to the challenges of Africa, the beauty of the people, and Steve's driving passion to reach them with scriptures they could read for themselves.
We stayed in touch occasionally by phone and email but with the busyness of life & family I slowly lost touch. The same morning I emailed a friend to track down Steve's email address, I got news of Steve's tragic accident. Nicki my heart goes out to you, also to Steve's family. I've been reading the articles on his blog site the last couple of days and moved to tears by situations like on the 8th sep when he rode off singing "Jehovah Jireh, my provider" after getting help with a flat tyre, knowing that just days later God chose to take him home early. I just don't get it, but know that God does and can only take comfort in the knowledge I will one day take another foot photo with him in Heaven.
The prayers of Anne & myself are with you all today as you gather to remember Steve.
With love
Paul Mock
It has been at least 14 years since I last saw Steve. In a sense, it was a lifetime ago. But that part of my life that has been so clearly labeled "The Past" came crashing into the present 2 weeks ago when I learned of Steve's tragic passing. Now, a person I hadn't given much thought to in many years has been on my mind almost constantly.
I met Steve when his family started attending Rosscarrock Church of Christ in the late 80's. I have to admit, when he first joined our Youth Group, I gave him about as much notice and attention as you'd expect a 17-year old to give a 14-year old. Almost none. To me, he was just another one of the "little kids" that wanted to hang around with the "big guys". The great thing about that old Youth Group, though, was how much of a family we really were. And it didn't take long for Steve to become like a little brother to the rest of us.
As with most little brothers, Steve took his share of friendly abuse from the older guys in the group. I remember one Friday night after Youth Group when all us guys decided we'd rent some movies and have a sleepover. Well, right or wrong (and certainly without mentioning it to our parents) we settled on a couple of horror movies. While most of us laughed and made jokes about the terrible special effects, Steve sat quietly off to the side, averting his gaze whenever a scene was too much for him. At one point, the music became more ominous and we just KNEW something REALLY bad was going to happen to the guy on-screen. Steve knew it to. He didn't make a big deal about it, though. He simply put his hand over his eyes and said, "Tell me when it's over." Well...
After a few "Whoas!", "Ooos!", and "I can't believe its!", one of us turned to Steve and said, "Okay man, it's over." He took his hand away from his eyes just in time to see the most gory, gruesome part of the scene. We all laughed, and Steve just put his hand back over his eyes. Looking back, it was a pretty mean thing to do to the poor kid, but he took it all in stride, never once complaining or trying to get us back.
I got to know Steve a little better when the two of us took on the task of putting out a newsletter, the Rosscarrock Proclaimer, for our church. I don't remember if we ever did more than just the one issue, but I do remember sitting in the Rehn's dining room, putting together stories and clip art, and just being amazed at how easy it all was to be doing it on a computer. After all, before that, I'd only ever used a typewriter and "Cut and Paste" literally had meant cutting and pasting! It didn't hurt that Steve had a cool computer game on that machine, either... Sopwith. Anybody who'd remember the game I'm talking about would probably roll their eyes at the recollection of it, it being so simplistic and antiquated now, but I'm sure the two of us flew that little plane around the screen for HOURS. I'm also sure we wouldn't have been late getting the newsletter out if it wasn't for our need to complete just one more level. It's such a simple thing, but this is a fond memory for me because it was the first time I realized how likable Steve was and how much I enjoyed hanging out with him.
In the summer of 1990, I had the privilege to be Steve's counselor at Pine Lake during High School Camp. Seeing him in a cabin of his peers really made me realize what a mature and down to earth individual he was. It's not easy being a teenager, and more difficult still to walk your own path. But Steve handled it with grace. There were no "bad kids" in my cabin but, let's face it, they were BOYS. There was a natural amount of mischief built into all of them. They flirted with the boundaries of appropriateness. They carefully tested the waters where and when they could. But not Steve. Somehow, he found a way to walk that most treacherous of tightropes between fitting in and doing what's right. Somehow, he managed to stay true to his beliefs, stand firm in his convictions, and still be one of the guys. No one ever looked down on him or tried to pressure him into anything. They all respected who he was. I think that in itself is as much a definition of Steve Rehn as I ever found.
I have another funny memory of Steve from that same summer. In fact, it is from the week after High School Camp when I was counseling at Jr. Boys Camp and Steve was my Jr. Counselor. We were taking a nature walk around the old slough (which is funny enough in itself) when we happened across a pile of deer droppings. A couple of the little kids were laughing, as little kids do about those sorts of things, when Steve stepped up and took on the air of a teacher. "Those," he said, "Are Smart Pills." The kids looked at him like he was crazy. Without breaking character at all, he explained, "If you eat one, you'll be so smart you'll never do it again." I have never forgotten that, and the proof lies in the fact that I simply HAD to take a picture of deer droppings on a hike as recently as this past summer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuppojoe_trips/2508804091/).
Steve began attending Alberta Bible College not long before I left the school. It is clear to me now, reading everyone else's memories of Steve, that I am poorer for not having witnessed first-hand the transformation of a good guy into a great man.
Thank you, Lord,
For Steve's embodiment of christian manhood.
I first met Steve in 2004 when he joined the staff of the M.A.-level Literacy Course held in Kenya for literacy leaders from five African nations. It was a pioneer venture to take place over the space of three years, and, as the Director, the risks inherent in so many educational and cross-cultural challenges lay heavy on my shoulders. I had worked with the other staff members before, but Steve was an unknown who had volunteered to accompany the Cameroonian delegation and help mentor them in view of possible language barriers.
As it happened, visas were delayed, and the Cameroonians were unable to arrive in time. From Cameroon Steve e-mailed an SOS--if I could provide him the course material, he would teach the first week's lessons. And he did, with excellence. The Cameroonians arrived a week late but on par with their peers.
That was "our" Steve. From the moment he arrived, he was in the middle of the action--whether setting up the classroom, teaching through a skit, modeling a strategy, or guiding group discussions. Time after time, when I was overwhelmed, he noticed and came alongside picking up an extra task--another class to teach, an errand to run, checks on sick students, helping compile grades… Nothing was too much trouble, and whatever he promised, he delivered.
He accomplished it all with an inimitable zest, glorying in the new experiences, delighting in companionship with participants, excitedly planning fun nights, ripping off to town on his bicycle to pick up supplies, a treat or aspirin… howling with laughter at dining table tales… winning a place in all our hearts.
Steve was also a consummate athlete. He would run three to seven miles before breakfast and return exhilarated. He hiked, back packed, and cycled at every opportunity. He played soccer and volley ball with might and main, and-- win or lose--emerged smiling through thick layers of dust and sweat. In the process he had set a sterling example of good sportsmanship.
Steve demonstrated fidelity. He always spoke of his wife with love and admiration, and, though so friendly to all, guarded careful boundaries.
And Steve was unusually tender. He whole-heartedly loved those around him and found ways to encourage, like the single sun flower for each staff member painstakingly brought by bicycle over the rocky road, and the hand-written notes of thanks penned at the end of courses. He was passionate about his Saviour, delving deeply into God's Word, leading us in chapels and Sunday services, worshipping with exuberant singing in African style, serving communion with flatbread and kool-aid, exhorting us to surrender all to Jesus and to affirm each other.
No measure can quantify the depth of Steve's impact on our mostly-male course participants. The genuine faith of this masculine man lived out in practical, joy-filled ways set an example that will affect lives forever. Though we feel deeply bereft and the field of Literacy has suffered a devastating loss, we are profoundly grateful for the gift of his presence among us. Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Rehn, for rearing such a son. Thank you, Nicki, for loaning him to us. We pray for your consolation in these hard days. Most of all, thank you, Lord, for demonstrating through Steve how a real Christian lives. May we all follow his lead and leave as much good behind.
Pat Davis, Ph.D.
Literacy and Education Consultant
SIL International
October 2008
Dear Nicki and Mr. and Mrs. Rehn,
Once again, my sympathies to you in the passing of Steve. I know you are in the midst of making arrangements for Steve's memorial service on Saturday and so I don't won't to complicate your lives any more than is necessary. But I thought it would be helpful if I were to send you this as soon as possible so that you could take it into consideration as you meet together with your family.
Just in case you weren't aware, Steve's MA in Linguistics graduation ceremony is slated to take place on Sat., Nov. 1 in Abbotsford. I know that Steve wasn't planning to attend, but I wanted you to be aware of this.
I have an additional reason for mentioning it. Normally, we don't give out the names of award recipients before a ceremony, but in this case I'm happy to make an exception. At this year's ceremony, Steve was to have been awarded our "MA in Linguistics Outstanding Student Award", which is "presented annually to the student who best exemplifies both academic excellence and fulfillment of the MA in Linguistics program objectives." Regretfully, we will be awarding this to Steve posthumously.
I'm not sure if you, Nicki, or anyone from your family would be able to attend the ceremony, but we would be honoured if someone from Steve's family were able to be present to accept the award (not to mention his diploma) on his behalf.
Sincerely, Keith
Dr. Keith L. Snider Director, MA in Linguistics Program Trinity Western University
I just knew Steve a brief time here in Cameroon. I was a short-term Literacy Worker from 2002-2004 and Steve was too for some of that time. We worked itinerantly in different areas of Cameroon. I lived in the same appartment block as Nicki and Steve for a while and saw how they drew addicts of "Settlers of Catan" from far and wide. I thought they were crazy to jog to work, 15 minutes along a narrow road jammed with Cameroonian traffic - human and vehicular. Among other less tangible things, one of Steve's very practical literacy ideas will remain with me. He'd brought what seemed like millions of old wall calendars with him from Canada. Since Cameroonians love a picture to hang on the wall, what Steve would do is have sessions with them out in villages where they chose a calendar picture, took a blank piece of paper and wrote in their own language a Bible verse that they liked or the picture inspired (mostly these were SNOW-covered mountains, of course!). They'd then tape the verse page under the calendar picture page and have their own edifying wall decoration. I thought it was great and in true literacy-colleague style, copied it. I wonder how many verses in people's languages are hanging in Africans' living rooms because of Steve's simple, wonderful, recycling idea. Secretly, I hoped Steve and Nicki would come back to Cameroon. I got married when I left and Bruce and I have come back to Cameroon together (we're Aussies and still very much in a minority here in the SIL Cameroon Branch, Nicki!). We're starting in a different language project at the moment and it's in a remote place where you go to the end of the road then trek for 20 hours. A perfect assignment for the Rehns, I thought. But God had other plans and His ways are higher than mine. But thanks, mate, you were an inspiring comrade in this tough calling of mother-tongue literacy work and you ran the race and kept the faith so well.
You are hearing only about the Kenya courses from me, as I do not speak French and was not part of the francophone course in Burkina Faso. Cathy Davison has been directing that course, along with Steve, Elke, and three African French speakers who trained with us in Kenya.
The Kenya class trained literacy leaders from Wycliffe organizations in five African countries. The French course is training about 25 students from nine more countries. Thus Steve's influence is reaching to fourteen African countries in significant proportion. For example, these are statistics represented by our students:
When I realized the size of the programs these men and women were directing, I added a much larger proportion of management training to our course!
Two participants in the Kenya courses have been tapped by ministries of education to hold important administrative posts. One has become a Regional Director in Kenya. The other was appointed Deputy Minister for National Languages in Southern Sudan and is charged with promoting mother tongue education for millions of school children. Steve had important input into preparing all of these leaders. I do not know how his nickname "Kwajo" came about.
I am praying for you today,
Pat Davis
(A modification of an email we sent to Nicki after our Perth Steve memorial)
Dearest Nicki. We don't have the right words really to say how we feel about losing Steve. We can't even begin to imagine how it is for you, but we are standing along side you now and into the future. We think of you all the time and pray that God would be your rock.
Steve was the best of men and we consider it a privilege to have counted him as a friend. It has been an incredibly sad week and a bit since hearing the news.
We are thinking of you & all of Steve's family & friends today as you gather in Canada to remember and celebrate Steve's life. Many of us here from all over Western Australia are remembering Steve too (Narrogin, Perth, Kununurra, Moora, Kulin, etc). We have been in touch with lots of people in the last 2 weeks and we decided that we wanted to honour Steve too. So we held our own little 'Steve Celebration' at our place last Saturday. We think we did some very appropriate Steve things together and it was very sad and it was fun all at once. It was really lovely to gather with some of the old crew (with many small additions now!) to remember him...
The bike able fellas - Chip, Corey, Ben D, Kent, Matt A (Dave B & 4 year olds Noah & Morgan did the short version!!) all went on a 'Steve Rehn Ride' though they realised afterwards that they should have worn socks and reefs/sandals rather than their lycra to really honour Steve!! We think we might do it every year to remember him :)
We had a wall where people stuck up photos and memories. There was a pile of photos from our albums (Ivory Coast, your wedding and trips to Perth), from Bec & Chip's Canada trip and some that Paul Mock & Trace emailed us from Kununurra (Bike for Bibles trip). There was also a big page where people wrote up Steve quotes and sayings and crazy memories—like the practical joke he would play at Youth Group (“did someone fart in your car too?” and the midnight lasagne feast at Youth Group Study Camp.
We all paused at one point and had a more 'formal time' (in a Steve kind of formal way) where we all shared stories and memories and qualities of Steve. My words are not as good as what people said on the night but it went something like this—his heart for sharing God's love & his passion for the people and various ministries he was involved with throughout Africa, his crazy sense of fun, his amazing ability to draw along side people and to build relationship in a way that you felt you had known him like a brother for years, his non-attachment to materialistic things, the way he thought the world of you his beautiful wife :), his involvement in ministry here (some of his old youth groupers came), his thoughtful way of approaching things and listening to others, his smile. There were some fun stories from people’s travels with you both, trips to Kalbarri and down south, crazy youth group stories and loads more.
We also prayed together, particularly for you & Steve's family and also thanking God for his life - so fully lived and so focussed on bringing God's kingdom to earth. We reflected that he was an inspiration for us all on many different levels. It was a special night and helped us all to come to terms with the shock and loss that we feel.
We personally have many fun and precious and special memories with the two of you...from down south—the $100 wine we tasted and Steve’s subsequent grin, mountain biking one Easter, Injidup beach… and then of course the amazing time we spent with you in the Ivory Coast—that has had such a big impact on us over the years. Then there was Steve’s star turn in our church Aussie Rules football game. Charging out of the back pocket he was fearless and strong—even if he did only half understand the game!!
Steve is one of the few people that I have found who I have connected with like a ‘soul mate’. The time we shared while you lived here was precious and life giving and I will never forget the late night chats about marriage, church, ministry and mission. His passion for God and serving that others have mentioned and the openness and honesty he gave me was a real gift. From Steve I learnt more about the value of people and that program comes second—and investing in all people (even the marginalised) was a worthwhile and important thing. Since that couple of years we haven’t seen you as regularly, but whenever we saw Steve, I valued the time so dearly and we always pick up where we left off last time! I am still unable to get my head around the fact that we won’t be seeing Steve again. We’re gonna miss him and our lives are significantly poorer for not having the opportunity to spend time with Steve again.
So we are thinking of you today and every day and look forward to seeing you when you get to Perth soon.
Take care and all our love.
Walter Steven Rehn was born on December 23, 1974 in Mayo, Yukon. Steve’s parents Rick and Linn were living in Dawson City at the time, but, because there was no doctor in the town they had to travel 200 km. in – 40 degree weather to get to a small hospital in Mayo. And so even from the beginning, Steve was on an adventure!
As a young boy his mom recalls how Steve always loved her to read to him and how he was so excited to go to Grade 1 because he’d been told that in school he would learn to read. After his first day at school he was utterly disappointed because he hadn’t yet learned to read, a feeling that mounted over the next few months until it was discovered that Steve needed glasses. His mom writes: “I remember the day they arrived in the mail. He put them on and could read instantly! He'd been absorbing everything the teacher had been saying even though he couldn't see the blackboard”
At a young age Steve learned the great gift of literacy and passing on that gift would become an important part of his life and work. Steve believed that learning to read could change a person’s life.
In 1981 the family moved to Calgary and a year later in 1982 Steve went public with his faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. His faith convictions deeply shaped all dimensions of his life and Steve never lost sight of his need for grace and where to find it.
After graduating from high school in 1992, Steve attended Alberta Bible College. His heart for missions was stirred there while on a trip to Thailand during the summer of 1993.
It was in 1995, however, that he first went to Africa and began what would become a continual back-and- forth trek that would last for the rest of his life. His first summer was to Benin where, in one village he visited, there were boxes of New Testaments in the people’s language collecting dust in the corner – simply because the people couldn’t read. It was at that moment he received the vision that steered his passion for literacy, setting the course for his entire life in his beloved Africa.
Another lifelong passion of Steve was cycling and it was at a Bike for Bibles event across Canada on Aug 27, 1996 where he met his third passion, his bride-to-be Nicki.
In the Spring of ’97 Steve wrote Nicki’s father asking for permission to date his daughter but he received no answer. Another month passed, then 3 with still no answer. Later they discovered that the mailbox had been set on fire and the police had been keeping his letter for evidence!
But during that 3 months Steve didn’t sit around, waiting. He went to the Ivory Coast for a one year internship from 1997 to 1998 and in 1998 graduated from Alberta Bible College with a Bachelor of Religious Education: International Studies. But because he was mostly planning to graduate from the bachelor state, he worked fast to raise enough money to buy a plane ticket to Australia and be with Nicki. They were married on November 28, 1998, on the beach at Bunbury, West Australia.
During the next year in Australia, Steve worked for FedEx delivering parcels. It was full of new experiences. He had never driven in country whose people drove on the opposite side of the road, had never driven stick shift and had never seen Perth, a city of1 million people.
Upon their return to Canada, Steve went to Langley, BC where he began specific training for Literacy and then on to Quebec City in 1999-2000 to study French.
Feb 2001 Steve and Nicki moved to Abengourou, Ivory Coast, West Africa where they were part of a small team of church planters doing literacy work along with a team of Anyi men that Steve trained and mentored. These were memorable and challenging times; Steve and Nicki were was actually robed 3 times in 3 months. Then, in the Fall of 2002 they were forced to evacuate because of civil war and Steve- ever diligent - used the time to upgrade his French.
From 2003 to 2005 they went to Yaounde, Cameroon, West Africa where Nicki taught in the Rainforest International School and Steve was in charge of literacy projects in the Eastern provinces traveling by bus, pickup truck, foot, and even canoe. Each summer from 2004 onward, Steve taught the Mega Literacy course to African men and women who were leaders of national literacy projects, 3 years in Kenya and the last 2 years in Burkina Faso.
In 2005 they returned to Calgary so that Nicki could get her Canadian citizenship. Steve continued his missions focus by leading the Global Impact Team at Oak Park Church of Christ while he worked delivering dry-wall and cycling as much as possible.
In early July, 2008, Steve left Calgary to teach year two of the Mega Literacy course for Wycliffe Bible Translators held in Burkina Faso, West Africa. This Masters level course is for national leaders of major literacy programs and was taught in French. There were 25 students from 9 countries taking the course.
When the course ended at the beginning of September, he started on his long-dreamed-of bicycle trip across 4,000 kilometers of pot-holey roads, scattered with unknown and unplanned stopping points, opportunities to try all sorts of local food, innumerable bike problems and much anticipated visits to many of his students along the way to see their projects. Steve was overjoyed, exuberant and at peace.
On September 26, 2008 Steve was riding his bike in Nigeria when a car took a corner too fast, lost control and struck Steve. Steve instantly passed from this world to the next.
On November 1, this year Steve would have received his Master of Linguistics degree from Trinity Western University. He was to have been awarded "MA in Linguistics Outstanding Student Award," which is "presented annually to the student who best exemplifies both academic excellence and fulfillment of the MA in Linguistics program objectives; instead, on September 26 he graduated from a life well lived to a reward beyond capability of description.
Steve is survived by his wife Nicki, his parents Rick and Linn, his sister Ali and her husband Redge, his brother Dave, Dave’s wife Wendy and his nephew, Cai.
Steve’s impact was truly a global one. He made friends wherever he went – and he went a lot of places. His compassionate and tender heart mixed with his adventuresome spirit, crazy sense of humor and delightful smile made him instantly likable. Steve truly accepted people and was pleased to serve them. His deep desire was to be a man of godly character, a loving husband and faithful follower of Jesus. As a result, he shone as a bright example of authenticity and love in action. Steve lived his life fully and well. He followed in the footsteps of Christ and as a result Steve’s footprints continue to be seen across the world.
I first met Steve in 1999 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the summer he took the SIL Literacy Mega Course there. He became the SIL-UND website poster-child to advertise that course for years to come. I did not have the privilege of teaching him, since that summer, due to a shortage of staff, I was teaching in the 2nd Language Acquisition course instead.
It was a great privilege to work with him as a colleague and friend five successive years for a month in Kenya and Burkina Faso (2004-2008). He had a lot to teach me: about living life joyfully, serving others, cross-cultural friendships and many other things. His presence and teaching transformed these courses and impacted lives.
Steve was extraordinary, especially in the area of brotherly love. Those familiar with the book The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman) know that the norm is to have one or two predominant ways to show appreciation and affection and to build others up. Steve had and practiced them all:
And that is why he is in the hearts of all whose lives he touched.
That is why all who knew him feel a great loss.
Steve was:
My most cherished memories:
May the Lord comfort all those who feel the loss, especially his family and closest friends.
In loving memory, E K
[ Some People asked for this letter that was shared at the Memorial Service. It was written by Cai's father Dave(Steve's brother) with help from his wife Wendy ]
Oh how I miss my Uncle Steve,
Two days old and you couldn’t wait to see me. You hugged and held me close with a big smile on your face. I was so tiny and fragile then, but you loved me so much. I remember you were on your bike that day you came to see me. You were so happy and proud holding me in your arms. I only wish that it wasn’t only time I got to see you and your great big grin. On your bike you left for heaven, leaving behind that one lone memory of our time together. Uncle Steve has cycled home.
When Grandma and Grandpa came over on that Tuesday, I could feel something wasn’t quite right. Sadness seemed to be everywhere. Later, Grandma’s house was not the normal joyful place, but a place of sorrow and pain. I could feel the heartache, but could not cry out and express in words, and so I just cried for my Uncle Steve.
Uncle Steve, you would have been the greatest: taking me cycling, mountain scrambling, on weird road trips, to CB’s Drive-In for fries, skiing …Oh the adventures we could have had!! You would of not have been afraid to be wild and crazy with me, and do it with all that joy you had. Most of all though you could have taught me passion: passion for life, passion for God, and passion for the souls of others to meet God. I wish so much that this was all possible. God’s love and your desire to serve Christ Jesus shone bright to all. But I’ll grow up only seeing your pictures and hearing stories of you. One day, may I shine as bright as my Uncle Steve.
But I am glad that you held me before you left for your last time to Africa. Your heart and soul belonged to Africa. You promised me one day you would take me there to show me all the people and places that you loved. Now when I go, I go to visit a lonely curve of road. This life isn’t fair without you here with me, but I hope you’ll see me when I visit the place of your heart Uncle Steve.
Up in Heaven, please look down on me in-between your rides on the streets of gold. Know that you are in my heart Uncle Steve. Enjoy God’s hugs and love, as I once enjoyed yours, being so fresh from God’s knitting hands. I will think of you when traveling my rocky, potholed roads and climbing the steep hills in my life. You hungered for God’s love here on earth; feast now on it, Uncle Steve.
Oh how I miss Uncle Steve. If I could grow up to be like you, my Father up in Heaven would be happy. I wish I could have grown up known you in person, Uncle Steve. You died in the midst of fulfilling your dream of riding across Africa, and have gone to your true home in heaven. Now I can only talk to you in my dreams until the day I am welcomed by Lord Jesus. The day I also get to meet my Uncle Steve again. What an incredible day that will be. Oh how I miss Uncle Steve. You have cycled home. Oh how I miss my Uncle Steve. I love you – Cai Rowan
The SIL Cameroon Branch has lost a colleague, but even more, a friend. It is true, For two years Steve worked tirelessly in the East province, a place where very long trips on crowded bush taxis and long walks are the norm. He taught many courses there, helped set up classes, consulted and encouraged many Cameroonians. He has left a legacy that is going to last for a long time. But all of these work-results are not what we will remember most. We will remember above all the ease with which he built relationships. And that is why so many of us, both Cameroonians and expatriate missionaries, are hurting. His good friend and Cameroonian colleague, Gideon Noussi, who would have picked him up at the Nigerian border, wrote the following: « Steve believed in my mission. Right now I wear a pair of shoes he gave me two months ago, the battery in my computer comes from him, my voice recorder was brought to me by Steve. He believed in our mission, invested his own money in it and it is when he came to visit us that he died… ». Gideon is only one among many in Cameroon who have lost a friend. We will miss him! Please know that many of us are praying for Nicki, whom we know well, and his family.
Nelis van den Berg Director SIL Cameroon
I always enjoyed seeing Steve as he passed through Cameroon. I enjoyed Steve's stories of the places he had been to and people he met. He had a great smile and liked to interact with missionaries and Cameroonians. Steve seemed to enjoy all kinds of food. I pray that God will encourage Nikki and Steve's family especially through the upcoming Christmas season.
Dear Nikki,
We don't really know how to get in touch with you. But one thing is for sure: All of us in Lebanon from the 1996 Bike for Bibles-team will always remember you and Steve. Both of you were such happy people and there was no doubts in our minds that the two of you would make a great pair.
During your years in Africa we as a family followed your hard and diligent work with great interest. We were amazed how fast you got used to living in a part of the world, which was so very different from the countries you were more used to. And although it made us sad to see you leaving we got happy every time we received news that you were getting back to Africa.
We've got many, many great memories from the bike-ride through beautiful Canada. It will always be a memory that will stay with us. What wonderfully hard days! Personally (Tom) I will remember Steve's personal care for me. From the very beginning we knew that he was a wonderful rider and a courageous Christian and we shared many things together when riding together. And when my heart started playing around with my strength I will never forget how Steve's steady hand would push me or pull me up one of those many hills along the way. He was always there! It was special to know that there was somebody who had such a desire to help others make it through.
It was shocking to know that Steve had left us in such an abrupt way for eternity with Jesus. Far too young, and with far too much to give to the young people of this world. Nikki, it must be so hard for you. It's hard for us!
Whenever you feel like coming to Lebanon we will be waiting for you. There's a marathon here on the 30th of November and you might enjoy taking part. The weather here is still great and it should be just right on that day. No, I cannot run anymore, but I keep on biking and doing a few other things to keep fit.
We will never forget Steve.
Loads of love,
Tom, Annie and Anthony (And we are sure that Gaby and Stefan would also be included in this greeting) We will send all the websites to them. And remember that Gabi is nowadays in Sydney.
I, along with countless people have had the honor to know and be impacted by Steve. In Bible college (where we learned to be responsible...right?) he introduced me to Veggie Tales, Chicago deep dish, and pranking. I remember coming back from the pool where I worked to find my entire room garbage baged. As a "thank you", the girls and I took all the labels off the many food cans in his kitchen. That back-fired since he just saw it as a cooking adventure with every meal being a new surprise! Every time I'd talk with Steve, I'd start with the traditional "how are you?" and the answer was without fail, "HUNGRY". There were days I (with my roomies) would go to his appartment to do his dishes before the kitchen became a bio-hazzard; and as a thank you he'd make a gourmet dinner of Shlop. He'd bike to school in the dead of winter in his shorts, wool socks and sandles, while the rest of us would bundle up and drive up the hill a whole 3 blocks. He'd seek wardrobe advice of me and the girls of our house for college weekends and I didn't find out for many months it was because he was color blind (even then, I wasn't sure if I believed him ;)
I almost drove off Deerfoot trail because while driving in rush-hour traffic he casually pulls out an engagement ring he was excited to present to the woman who stole his heart (and one who could keep up with him), Nikki. Of all the adventures in Steve's life, none made him more excited to pursue than the one with her. I loved keeping in touch with him and Nikki and hearing what God was doing in and through their hearts and lives.
The last time I actually saw him was while pregnant with my first baby right before he left for Africa with Nikki. We spoke at length of the exciting journey ahead and seeing Christ lifted up in the land that touched his heart so deeply.
While they were in Africa, I asked if there was anything that I could do, pray for, or send that would make an impact on them. They answered back with a need for a pearing knife and baking goods. He said peeling things with his belt buckle was getting hard, and Nikki had an itch to bake.
Whether the time any person had with Steve was big or small, it always left a deep footprint with Jesus' signature on our hearts. He always articulated God's love for people with such passion. The scripture that reminds me of Steve is Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garmet of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
To all the Rehn family;
Look at the huge global impact this man made! Africa will be forever changed! It is because of you. All the seeds he as sewn into the Kingdom are because of the seeds you have faithfully planted into him. Lynn, I know few devoted mothers like you. Your dedication to prayers for Steve I know was more than a full time job! You always kept a close "mother's eye" on him and his ventures. Whatever quest Steve did, you made it your own. Steve regularly told me of how blessed he felt by all the love, laughs, and friendship he shared with you. Every person, comment, or letter telling of how people felt loved by Steve is because of Christ's love raised and exemplified through you. Rick, your dedication to being a father, responsible leader, and follower of Christ has made it easy for Steve to know and feel cared for and secure by our Heavenly Father. Steve took the foundation you instilled in him and he became devoted to changing Africa one person at a time. Where people noted his dedication, honor as a man, and responsibility - it is because of the love, time, and patience you sowed into who he became. I can recall many conversations where he expressed so much admiration and thankfullness for you. To Nikki, I can't imagine your grief. Ali & Reg, Dave, Wendy & Cai - and Steve's large band of brothers and sisters: I'm so deeply sorry for what you are going through. I know the hole Steve left is deep.
As I sit here and contemplate the fun quirks left with me these years of friendship with Steve; the biggest one that stick out is: For everything, use duct tape.
I am dedicated to praying for peace & comfort for you all.
Humbly, Christy
Dear friends,
I am not Steve’s mother, although some participants thought I was at the beginning of the francophone literacy course in Ouagadougou in 2007. They saw the ways we interacted and the very similar ways in which we taught, and just assumed… For me, that was a huge compliment (despite what it reflects about my age!). I was privileged to know a sweet relationship with Steve of trust and respect. When Steve shared at a staff meeting that he always paid special attention when I was teaching, so that he could learn from the ways I presented the material, I was at first surprised—for you see, I did the same thing when he taught!
Steve also did something on the course that I could not: he interacted with the 22 male participants as “one of the guys”. He talked with them about the challenges they face and encouraged them to reflect on godly reactions in their lives and work. These interactions carried added weight because everyone could see the practical examples that Steve lived out before them.
I can’t claim to be a parent, a brother or sister or wife to Steve. I am grateful to be among a huge number of those who called him, ‘friend.’ I am changed for the better because I knew him, and I will miss him until we see each other again before the throne of God.
May we know that the God of all comfort surrounds us with his grace,
Cathy Davison Director, Mega Literacy Course Ougadougou, Burkina Faso Based out of Yaounde, Cameroon with Wycliffe / SIL
I, too, have a hard time summarizing concisely all that Steve was to me as a colleague, as an entertainer, as a snack-supplier, as a motivator, as an advice giver, as a body-guard on Kenyan matatus... but mostly, as a friend who pointed me towards the Lord. My life is so much richer because of Steve's influence, and I am so thankful for him.
I so clearly remember the first time I met Steve. I had been working in a different African country, but had gone to Nairobi to help with a literacy course there. The day I met Steve, I was in the office in Nairobi, busy preparing handouts for a two week "catch up" course that the two of us were meant to teach together. Though we're both from Calgary, we'd never crossed paths until that day in Nairobi. Steve had just arrived at the SIL center that morning and had non-nonchalantly wandered into the office where I had been huddled over a photocopier for a few hours.
I knew immediately who he was, since I'd seen his picture on all the brochures, posters and magazines from CanIL (the Canada Institute of Linguistics). His goofy grin and unassuming manner immediately assured me that we were going to get along just fine! And we did. I started teasing him about being the CanIL poster boy, and even when I went back to CanIL a few years later... there was Steve, grinning at me from from all the promotional literature! Who knows, maybe he's STILL the CanIL poster boy!
The last time I saw Steve was in July, in Ethiopia. Once again, he was on his way to do something he loved - to hang out with Africans and perhaps help them learn something new about literacy and life. It's a good thing I didn't have too many things planned for us to do in Ethiopia, because he showed up a couple of days later than planned... nothing was ever quite predictable with Steve! But he eventually showed up in Addis, all smiles and ready to experience everything Ethiopian! Most of our days revolved around eating. We ate injera. And more injera. And then more injera. It was in Ethiopia that he discovered he actually DID like coffee! Steve had hardly ever had a hot drink in his life, but he really made up for it during his week in Ethiopia! Many of those hot drinks were consumed around a table with new friends, as Steve made new friends no matter what country he was in!
It was a particularly wonderful thing for me to have met someone like Steve, with whom I had so many things in common - we knew a lot of the same people, we grew up in the same city, we liked the same food (though he ate LOADS more than me!), and we even listened to a lot of the same music!
Whether Steve was in tune or keeping time or not, he was always singing along to his own personal soundtrack, which was completely unique to him! Even when I was perched precariously on the back of his bike to get to the town near where we were teaching in Kenya, I could hear him singing something!
His soundtrack, like his life, was never predictable. But that's why we all loved him so much... and as he wrote on his blog, that's why he loved Africa so much, too.
Steve added so much more than just a few songs to the soundtrack of my life. And I have a feeling that finally, for once, he's singing his Bony M on key today :)
Dear Linn,
We were shocked and saddened today to hear the news about Steve, and can only imagine your feelings. Please know that we grieve with you. I just wanted to write and let you know the few things that we have heard.
We received your note last night (it took three days to come), the one in which you asked about our location in Niger. It occurred to us this morning that another missionary couple was about to go to Diffa, where there is a bridge into Nigeria, so we asked them to please inquire at the toll station and the bridge, to at least be sure that Steve had been through there. We received a call from them a few hours later confirming that Steve had been through, but with sketchy rumors that there had been an accident. We tried to call the embassy in Niamey, to ask them to contact the embassy in Nigeria, but it was closed at that hour. Still, I followed the recorded instructions, and found myself speaking with someone in Ottawa. I was just able to give him my contact information, and a brief description of my reason for calling, when our call got cut off. He tried a few times to call me back, but it soon became clear that this would be impossible. We then tried calling Canadian friends in Niamey, to ask for their help in contacting embassy personnel. Our colleague and good friend G.E. busied himself getting in touch with embassy security people, and within a couple of hours got back to us with the news. We cannot know even now, but it would seem that ours was the last home Steve stayed in, and it was a great privilege.
From the moment he arrived, Steve was a delight to have in our home. He fit in so easily, took such an interest in our lives, and felt just like family. Even when he cut his hand on our cactus in the dark, the clean-up and band-aid routine was an occasion for remembering the many blessings we enjoy. We talked at some length about literacy, development, our Bible translation work, and a hundred other topics.
We talked about the night he had spent in a small village the night before. A great, windy storm had blown up rather suddenly, and was threatening a major down-pour. Steve said he saw a young boy herding a few camels from the oasis back to his village, so he followed him, and, in short, had a wonderful time with the local folks, with only a half-dozen words in common. In the morning (the 24th), tired of gravel-induced flats, Steve began to push his bike along the road, and finally got a ride, just before the good road resumed, where he could have had clear sailing. He arrived mid-day at our house, and took advantage of a free afternoon to make friends and share joy.
[Barbie adds: We knew Steve was coming because he had stayed with 2 sets of friends along the road who had told him to seek us out when he got here to Maine-Soroa. We were actually surprised to see him so early in the afternoon, but then we heard his story of getting a ride over the gravel we began to understand. We offered him a drink of cool water and a shower (both much appreciated), and then he and Tim and David hung around. He helped Tim repair the wringer part of our wringer-washer. They talked a little about construction work, because Tim had once worked for a crane and concrete pump company. Our son David's bedroom was next to where Steve slept, and David discovered that his monitor lizard (about 15 inches) had escaped from the cage. Fortunately, the monitor was not in Steve's stuff, but hiding behind a plastic container in the room where Steve was to sleep. Steve was not concerned, but thought it was "cool." We went to bed not too long after supper because Steve wanted to leave early. He went into town to get bread, and came back shortly.]
[Tim again] Knowing he was to leave early in the morning, we set him up with a mattress on the floor of our office, a mosquito net, and the location of all the breakfast stuff. He encouraged us to sleep in, but we managed to be up and see him off at around 6:00 on the morning of the 25th. A few minutes later, our son David found his towel in the bathroom, so we set off in the car, towel in hand, and soon caught up to Steve several kilometers east of Maine-Soroa. We had another brief but delightful conversation, full of laughter and the connectedness that such little things afford us, and we said goodbye.
Barbie got a few photos of Steve and his bike; we trust you will not mind if we send them to you. Again, in the small way that we can, we share your grief and the inevitable questions that accompany such tragedies. For this we have Jesus, and we are encouraged to know that you have a knowledge of the Truth. We trust you have those around you who can support you in this time, and that in time, you will be comforted.
I don't know whether we will ever have the opportunity to meet, but I'm sure it would be a pleasure. Thank you for sharing Steve with us and sending a ray of light into this corner of the world.
[Barbie adds again, Steve said a couple times, "We'll never see each other again," and we believed him. Even so, we have been shocked and grieved by his death. He struck me as being one of the nicest people we have met.]
With love in Jesus, T&B Kusserow
As I sit here and try to think of how to concisely sum up my thoughts and feelings about the life of Steve Rehn, I think both my head and heart are ready to explode. He was the first man I ever loved and though God had other plans for our marriages, I still have a special place in my heart for him. He taught me what it is like to care about someone enough that you do silly crazy things for them, like a freezing treasure hunt on Valentine’s Day, the new and improved 12 days of Christmas with a cartridge in a bare tree to top it off, or just a warm embrace after a long day of exams and papers to write. He lived life to the fullest, and with a passion for serving God and others. He loved others and the Lord so much that I guess God just wanted him to skip the pains and hurts of this life to skip right into the joy of His presence. I’m sure he greeted God with a great big “AROOOOH?” When I here certain songs, I still remember his own, sometimes off key, renditions belted while driving in his big old boat of a car or on a bicycle ride – the place he most liked to be. It is because of Steve Rehn that I came to Thailand. It is because of him that I met my husband and have the great life I have. He played such an important role in my life that I can’t imagine not knowing him. He knew what it was like to care for others and love them with the love of the Lord so completely that it cemented the faith of others around him. During his and Nicki’s short visit to Thailand a few years ago, I was blessed to be able to pray with him after a long talk catching up on life and I’m convinced that his prayers of blessing on our family have been multiplied a hundred fold. I enjoyed keeping up with his adventures in Africa and I know God used him to impact lives for His glory there. With faith in Christ, hope is eternal and I pray that God will comfort all of us who are left to heal with the loss of his life here among us. His presence will be sorely missed here on earth, but I am excited to join him in heaven and find out if he’s got the angels dancing to Bony M there too.
Love, Christy Jupo (Pue)
I knew Steve and Nikki from a distance when we were in Cameroon together. The distance was primarily due to the fact that we worked in the Far North of Cameroon and he was in the south and east. Steve was always a great encouragement to everyone he met. He had an infectious smile and a positive look at just about everything. I'm thankful that he gave so much to the Mega-Literacy program. He strongly influenced one of my best friends in Cameroon, Gideon Noussi, who became the regional literacy coordinator for the Greater North Region of Cameroon. Gideon, with his family, is doing a great job living as a missionary in his own country and impacting many language groups with literacy and Scripture in Use. Praise God - Steve's work lives in on in so many lives!
I did not know Steve as well as I would have liked, but to me he was a model of what a Christian's life should look like. He loved God and loved people. I was a student at Rain Forest International School when Nicki was a teacher there, and Steve helped with our Sunday night youth group. Each week Steve brought smiles for each one of us and when he stood up to share his heart in a message we all listened. I think this is because the light of Christ shown through him so brightly. He was not at youth group every week, and we all knew why: he was busy biking between villages and Yaounde to spread the good news through his gifts of literacy. Looking back on the small part of his life that I saw I am saddened that this great man of God is gone, but I am encouraged by the impact that he made on this world. I pray that each person in their lifetime will be as lucky as I was to know a man as godly as Steve.
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