Dear Friends,
As many of you know, our friend Dieter Zander suffered a stroke on February 4th, 2008. The next night, several hundred of us gathered to pray that God would spare Dieter’s life. God answered those prayers, and we are thankful.
But Dieter’s life is not the same. He can no longer speak with the eloquence we once took for granted, and has lost much of the dexterity in his right hand. Our friend who has led so many of us with his message and his music has, for now, been silenced.
No one can predict what the future holds for Dieter, his wife Valerie, and their sons Kyle, Conrad, and Christopher. What we do know for sure is that the Zanders’ journey is not over. As Dieter works to reclaim the abilities the stroke has taken from him, as his family adjusts to a whole new way of living, the time has come for the body of Christ to step up.
It is our turn now to support a man who has strengthened the faith of so many, not only here in Marin, but also at Newsong in southern California, at Willow Creek in Illinois, at ReImagine in San Francisco, and at conferences in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil.
During the month of May, BayMarin Community Church is spearheading a campaign, along with many individuals, churches and organizations Dieter has been involved with, to provide financial support for the Zander family as Dieter continues his road to recovery.
Our intent is to provide at least two years of full income with benefits, enabling the Zanders to focus on Dieter’s recovery and discover the possibilities God has in store for them.
Dieter and his family are known and loved all over the world, not only for Dieter’s leadership behind the pulpit and piano, but also for their friendship. Dieter is not just a member of our ministry, but a husband, father, brother, son, uncle, neighbor, and friend.
All of these relationships, these memories made throughout the years exist just as surely, just as strongly, in the good times as they do in the bad. But these connections somehow become more clear to us during the hardest times. We realize what we almost lost, and we want to reach out with all the comfort, all the hope, and all the love we can offer.
We are reaching out to all of you who have been touched by Dieter’s ministry, his music, or his friendship, and to all of you who know and love the Zander family.
The FAQ tab above will provide you with essential information on how to donate. The Concert tab above will give you information on the culminating event of the campaign, an arts event on June 8th. Give as God leads, and help us make this road to recovery as smooth and swift as we can.
Blessings,
David Cobia
Lead Pastor
BayMarin Community Church
San Rafael, CA
