Over the years Ian has been there for me personally, but also for Urban Neighbours of Hope as a community. Despite Ian’s later health concerns and vulnerabilities he, Curly and Bec would keep stretching out their arms to embrace us. Whenever we were in Adelaide we would catch up. Whether we talked through my leadership struggles, or had long fire-side chats about changing the world, or prayer, or financial support or when he enabled ministry opportunities for us, Ian has really been there for us over the years like few others.

But not only for us. For Ian kept seeing and connecting with the people we are trying to live with and serve for Christ’s sake. Living in Klong Toey slum, Bangkok since 2002 has made it harder to see Ian, but that hasn’t stopped his compassion flowing through us. For example, a few years ago a tiny 6 year old girl named Em was being excluded from starting main-stream schooling because she had Down Syndrome. Though very bright, such is the stigma of disability-as-kharma-for-bad deeds, no schools would take her. Some school administrators even thought Em would pass Down Syndrome onto other students. After many attempts with different schools, Anji and Em’s mum finally found a school that would take Em and also her older brother ‘It’. This was a Christian school and they would provide a 2 for 1 scholarship deal, but it was still far more money than the family could afford by themselves. We had been seeking Ian and Curly’s advice all through this saga and without fuss they helped provide the needed financial support to make this opportunity happen for Em. This school term Em will finish primary school, and though she nearly died last year because of a vulnerable immunity system and living in a slum, is as a bright and gorses young woman who now speaks English well too. It’s hard not to compare Em with another young neighbourhood girl named Nong Lek who also had Down Syndrome. She died from starvation and in her own diarrhea in January because she couldn’t get the help she needed in time. Almost certainly Em would not be alive today too if it were not for the Cowlett’s love and support. This kind of compassionate difference that Ian’s life made and keeps on making in the lives of so many like Em was not done for show. I know he may not have even wanted this kind of story known, but it is a concrete demonstration of the kind of person Ian was. One who spent his life doing whatever was in his power to do to help others through Christ.  I’m sure that only when we see eternity will see the size and scope Ian’s life’s impact.

If the parable for the sheep and the goats found in Matthew 25:31 is true, then to get into heaven we need a testimony of reference from the hungry, sick, naked and the imprisoned. Did we care for Jesus disguised in these ‘least of these’ or not? Even knowing Ian in just a small way, I’m sure heaven is now full of a loud and continuing symphony from such testimonies from all walks of life. This is not about trying to ‘make enough merit’ to earn heaven, but so experiencing the love God, appreciating the sacrifice of Christ for us, that it is evidenced by the way we give our life back to God in return and connect with those vulnerable ones on God’s heart. As we sing in the old hymn  ‘Love so amazing, so Devine, it demands our soul, our life, our all’.  Like few people I know Ian deeply experienced Jesus’ love, understood what Jesus was trying to do, believed what Jesus believed and joined his life in Christ to see a more just world emerge. 

Mark Riesson had warned me of Ian’s tragic stroke on Thursday, but I was on a motor-bike taxi with my son Aiden when Kim Thoday called me with the final news. I must admit I smiled between sobbing tears, knowing of Ian’s love of motor-bikes and finding out this way. Though the 75 cc Honda postie-bike was probably not exactly what Ian would have had in mind as a real bike, a deep emotion welled up in me and continues as I try to write this note. Being here in Bangkok and away from Oz it is still impossible for me to imagine that the world lost Ian Corlett last week. To miss being with you all at this special time to say good-bye is also difficult.  I guess this might hit me when I visit Adelaide in August and our regular catch-up time doesn’t happen. Though I do feel distressed right now and will certainly miss Ian more as the years unfold until we meet again in the next life, I do have a spooky feeling like he is still cheering us all on. He is part of that ‘great crowd of witnesses’ the book of Hebrews talks about and I’m sure he’s cheering us all on like he would the Bull-dogs. [Just quietly if the week-end is anything to go by, with the Bull-dogs new heavenly cheering, you wouldn’t bet against them winning the premiership would you?] 

 Please know our hearts and prayers go out to Curly and Bec and all the kids at this time. I can’t imagine what it is like you for, but I do know that the Jesus who suffered and defeated death is close by you now.  

 Brother Ian, I and the world will miss you terribly; we love you so very much, and are so grateful for your thoughtful and compassionate life. If ‘faith, hope and love’ are the only things that truly ‘remain’ after we’re gone from this earth, know your faith, hope and love will continue to light up our lives. And know this comrade… we will continue the fight to see that the kingdom comes more fully here on earth as in heaven. Amen.