Hers was a life well-lived. Joan McIntee was born in 1933, born-again in 1942, and slipped into glory March 8, 2022, aged eighty-nine. Her lifelong desire, to quote the apostle Paul, was that “Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20).

Joan was not a bestselling author or famous blogger. She was not a widely sought-after speaker at national conferences. No large organization or ministry was started by her or named after her. The church she helped start and attended for over fifty years in a small community in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Canada, never grew to a large size. It was small compared to the mega-churches that receive great fanfare on the “cutting edge” of ministry and “impacting” the world. The doors to serving as a missionary with her husband, Ross, were disappointingly closed.

The Lord obviously had something different in mind; He wanted someone who had what it would take to live in relative obscurity, live a life faithful to God, and honor the Lord Jesus Christ. That was her assignment from on high.

From teaching children in Sunday school and vacation Bible schools, to mentoring young women and feeding visiting missionaries and itinerate preachers; from assembling and sending out missionary care packages for those bringing the gospel message of Christ to poor and illiterate villages of Africa, Asia, and South America, to helping organize teen ministry groups and serving as a summer camp counselor—she was constantly busy in the cause of Christ.

She was not ordained as is required in many denominational churches. She was not commended, as is the custom for “full-time” workers in her network of churches. She was not on paid staff, yet she often put in more than forty hours a week, visiting the sick, having one-on-one Bible studies with new believers, studying for the ladies’ coffee hour, playing piano or organ on Sunday mornings, preparing refreshments for church meetings, and organizing fellowship meals.

Even in her final years at the assisted living facility, she had a reputation for being a calming influence and carried with her a persona of friendliness, pleasantness, and joy. Though her health declined and her memory began to fail, she was intentional in seizing opportunities to “speak a word for Christ.” And toward the end, her greatest desire was to leave this life and be with the Lord. She longed to see her Savior.

Joan was an influencer, but not like those on social media who make up the cacophony of voices the come and go with little lasting effect. The impact of Joan’s influence leaves a profound and enduring legacy. That is the influence of Christlikeness, which was reflected in her love for others, her faithfulness to the Lord, and the holiness of her life. Borrowing words from the apostle Paul, she fought the good fight, she finished the course, and she kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

Even at her funeral (“whether by life or by death”), God was honored by this woman. The eulogies presented the life she lived well for Christ. The preacher mentioned in his closing statements that her legacy will continue on, not only in believers but also in those who have not yet believed. He concluded with this challenge: “You don’t need to wait to become a Christian; you can trust Him now.” A nine-year-old boy, Nathan, was listening intently and left the funeral with that challenge resonating in his young heart for two days. Finally, by himself, he placed his trust in Jesus as his Savior. With his father’s help, he emailed the preacher and wrote (with editing for clarity):

I was really was encouraged at … [the] funeral that you said that you do not have to wait to become a Christian. On Monday, I asked Jesus to [come] in my heart and save me from my sin. I am very happy that God saved me from my sin. Thank you for encouraging me to follow Jesus.

That young boy is Joan’s great-grandson; her influence, her legacy carries on to the fourth generation.