Absent from the body, present with the Lord – Allan and Kari Taylor pass on their baton to those they’ve inspired

A tribute to a precious couple who lived passionately for Jesus on earth, and have now been received by Him into heaven

06/09/09 Bev Holmes-Brown | Queensland’s Sunshine Coast honoured the lives of Allan and Kari Taylor this week.  Three thousand attended their funeral in celebration of the incredible demonstration of God’s love so faithfully displayed through their lives.

Affectionately known as Mr and Mrs T, their lives, like Joseph’s of old, were fruitful boughs with branches reaching far beyond the boundaries of their own community.  Friends flew in from the USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand as well as from around Australia.

Even Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who attended Nambour High School with Kari, sent a special tribute saying:

“... Both Allan and Kari were leaders and supporters of their communities, and people of strong and active Christian faith.  I know there are hundreds of individual stories of the difference Allan and Kari made in the lives of young people of the Sunshine Coast.”

Bittersweet Tears Flow as Australia’s Prime Minister Grieves, For the Family and Friends of Allan and Kari Taylor

03/09/09 Louise Heinrich | At the funeral service for Kari and Allan Taylor a letter was read out from Australia’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd as a tribute. Mr. Rudd who shared his fond memories of Kari as they both attended Nambour High School in the 1970’s. He remembers… ‘ Kari as a talented musician, gifted singer and an inspirational dance instructor…’ who, as a student, was once pitted against his team debating, ‘about the existence of God.’ The letter expressed his condolences for the Sherwell and Taylor families and to all of Kari and Allan’s friends who knew and loved them. The Taylor’s long time friend and church pastor, Chas Gullo, read Mr. Rudd’s letter which praised Allan and Kari acknowledging that they ‘were leaders and supporters of their communities, and people of strong and active faith.’

A shockwave of grief hits the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia  and reverberates around the world.

Louise Heinrich | The hearts of many around the world have been broken by the shocking and tragic death of Allan (56yrs) and Kari (51 yrs, nee Sherwell) Taylor on August 19 2009 at approximately 4:15 pm (EST). The South East Queensland , Sunshine Coast couple were killed when they went to the aide of  their, soon to be wed, 22 year old, daughter Ashleah, who had been involved in a minor accident on the side of the busy Sunshine Coast motorway.

Thanking the Lord for this Special Couple

Queensland's Sunshine Coast is stunned by the death of Allan and Kari Taylor. They lived with passion and loved unconditionally affecting the lives of thousands.

Allan is well known for his tender heart, his crazy antics and unwavering love of God. There are, and will continue to be, countless stories of his love of people, his acts of compassion, his devotion to those in need and his abilitiy to tirelessly and selflessly give of himself.

Kari is known for her preciously insightful and tender heart of worship. She simply adored Jesus and lived to communicate His unconditional love, His beauty and His Presence through her amazingly diverse creativity. She revealed His heart through the song of her life. We saw His grace in the dances she envisioned and we knew his mercy through her commitment to His message.

We pray for their children, for their families, for their friends - that they will draw strength and peace from the Lord. And we praise God that Allan and Kari are reaping the rewards of lives well lived, having stepped into the next stage of their adventures in God.