by Sharon K. Williams
A large extended family gathered at Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life (NVNNL) on Saturday, April 26, 2025, to thank God for the life and legacy of Luke Beidler, who found his release from Parkinson’s disease in the eternal presence of Jesus on April 10, 2025.
The “siblings,” “children,” and “cousins” represented Luke and his wife Dorothy’s biological families, missionary colleagues from years of ministry in Viet Nam and Indonesia, Franconia/Mosaic Conference leaders, Greater Norristown Area Ministerium leaders, and brothers and sisters from NVNNL and several local Mennonite congregations. An additional 180 viewers joined the memorial service by livestream.
Daughter and son-in-law Marta and Julio Castillo led the congregation in a bilingual reading from Philippians 4 and Romans 12. The congregation joined in one voice to sing hymns and songs in Spanish and English. Grandsons read scripture, poetry, and Beidler’s obituary. Sandy Drescher-Lehman, pastor of Methacton (PA) Mennonite, shared a meditation on Psalm 63, one of Luke’s favorites. Son Ken Beidler led the sharing time.
“Pastor Luke was open to visionary ideas for what could and should be,” reflected Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister Ertell Whigham when asked about Beidler’s legacy. “He welcomed new ministry and had cultural enthusiasm, which enabled Franconia Conference to grow beyond traditional norms.”
Whigham first got to know Beidler in 1989 when Whigham shared his vision for a merger of three Norristown congregations (First Mennonite, Bethel Mennonite, and Fuente de Salvación) that became NVNNL. At that time, Whigham was pastor of Bethel Mennonite, and Beidler was Mission Secretary of Franconia Conference (a position he held from 1985 to 1995). They later served together on NVNNL’s pastoral team (1994–2007).
Many people reflected on Luke and Dorothy’s spiritual gifts of hospitality, generosity, and the ability to cross ethnic and economic boundaries with the love of God.
“Luke is who I want to be when I grow up,” reflected Emily Ralph Servant, Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister for Strategic Priorities, when asked about the influence Beidler has had on her life.
“He had a rich history of service, often to those that others ignore or forget. He had a soft heart that was open to the movement of God’s Spirit, desiring to be a faithful follower of Jesus right up to the end. We will miss his gentle presence in Mosaic Conference and give thanks for the legacy he leaves behind at NVNNL and in his family, especially his daughter Marta (Mosaic Conference’s associate executive minister).”
Beidler’s obituary is available here. The Celebration of Life, including a photo slideshow, is available to view here.
Sharon K. Williams
Sharon K. Williams serves as the minister of worship with the Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life Mennonite congregation.
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The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.