In the cold winter
of 1975, Bill, Dusty, Lynn Ann and I loaded our few earthly belongings in
a U-Haul truck and embarked on a grand adventure. We journeyed from El Paso,
Texas to Red Bank, New Jersey with a few dollars, a good deal of faith and
the dream to found Aslan Youth Ministries. For 15 years we worked side-by-side,
sharing a house for 5 of those years and trusting each day for the Lord's
provision. The Neergaards and Bogards were an inseparable team click
for photograph. Through the good times and the hard
times I can think of no better way to describe the relationship we four had
than that in the Biblical text of Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves, and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Those of you who became involved with Aslan after 1987 (when Bill and Dusty
returned to the Southwest) would not know the vital role they played in the
founding of this work. Unquestionably, it took all four of us together to
weather the many storms which came against us and see the dream of Aslan become
a reality!
On the winter evening of December 16, 1995, Bill
Neergaard died at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico after a lengthy battle
with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). Bill was a true gentleman and a truly
gentle man. He was caring, compassionate, and the kind of person this world
needs more of. He was one of the best friends Lynn Ann and I will ever
hope to have in this life. Many of the young people Aslan points to today
as tremendous success stories were profoundly impacted by Bill's life -
young people like Sheldon, Sherwin, Melanie, Cheryl, Chris, Richard, John
and on and on and on.
During August, Lynn Ann and I spent two very special weeks with Bill
and Dusty. We all knew in our hearts this would be the last time in this
life the four of us would be together. Bill's attitude, however, continued
to be one of joy and encouragement. He smiled and said, "Guys, this life
is not the end. It's just the beginning!"
Thank you for believing in the vision of Aslan Youth Ministries that
God placed in our hearts--Bill's, Dusty's, Lynn Ann's and mine--so many
years ago. On December 16th there were no throngs of people lighting candles
in Haight-Ashbury and Central Park (as there were when an aging rock star
recently passed away). However, the legacy Bill left is so much more important--the
legacy of transformed lives. "We are each of us angels with only one wing,
and we can fly only by embracing each other," wrote the poet, Lucian de
Crescenzo. Bill, my friend, your wing and your embrace will be missed more
than these few written words can possibly express . . .
Most sincerely,