I had the honor of speaking at Nanci’s memorial service last month and sharing my heart and perspectives. During my message I read several of her journal entries. The service was long (2 hours, 40 minutes) but many have said it held their interest. However, I want to give people the opportunity to see it in smaller chunks if they want to. In this blog we are posting just my message. In other blogs we’ll hear from our family, Nanci’s friends, and our pastors and their wives.

One of the things I’ve been contemplating is that Nanci was in so many ways not like Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot, or Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, who had or have very public ministries and are widely known. Yet she lived a faithful life by being more normal and accessible in ordinary ways. She was “down to earth” while furthering the agenda of Heaven. One example is the couple she brought to Christ and our church by talking with them when she was out walking our dogs.

I’ve told people not to view Nanci or me as extraordinary or heroic. We are ordinary people of faith, and your life matters every bit much as ours. Some of us have a larger platform, and it may give the illusion that we are better and that we have access to divine blessings others don’t. But that’s a lie. We each have our own unique sphere of influence that God calls us to be faithful in. Nanci and I are normal people with sin and struggles. The point is not to put Nanci on a pedestal, but through her, to see Jesus on the throne of the universe.

The single greatest thing about Nanci Noren Alcorn is that she had an incredibly big view of her Lord and Savior, and sought to serve and know and love Him every day. And that big view of God is also yours for the taking. So reach out and take it. Hope this 41-minute message encourages you to do so: