Tragic Loss of Preston Newby
Our beloved Preston Newby was tragically killed September 15th, as Jonathan said, "responding to God's call - helping out another."
Tara and their families thank all of you for your continued prayers. They are doing remarkably well, but please don't stop praying.
Published details of the accident can be found at the Oregonian websites. KATU television broadcast a segment that includes an interview with Tara, and Steve Duin of the Oregonian published a lengthy column about Preston, his life, and Tara. You are also encouraged to visit Tara's blog to learn more about Preston and his life.
How You Can Help
Here are things you can do:
- Pray for Preston's family.
- Tara wants to have people around her, so she welcomes calls and visits, but please call first before going over to visit.
- Donations: You can make a donation to the Preston family by visiting any US Bank branch. The donation check should be made out to Lake Bible Church with a note in the reference that it is for the Newby Family.
- If you have stories or memories of Preston you would like to share with Tara and his children, you are encouraged to mail or drop them at the church.
More About Preston
Preston co-led our High School and Junior High Ministries and served on our Worship Team. Preston is survived by his wife, Tara, son, Jacob born March 2007, and his unborn child due in April, 2009.
Preston was born in Mesquite, Texas to Pam and Phil Newby. He grew up with his younger siblings, Ali and Jeremy. Preson met Tara at Briercrest Bible College in Canada in 2002.They were married in 2004 and moved to Portland for Preston to attend Multnomah Bible College. Three years later they welcomed their precious little boy Jacob.
Preston was a graduate of Multnomah Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and Greek. He assumed his Pastorate on November 1, 2006 and developed a brilliant Youth Ministry along with his co-leader, Jonathan Thompson, utilizing the experience he gained through serving as an Associate Pastor at New Journey Fellowship, Portland, Oregon and as a Pastoral Intern at Grace Bible Church, Miles City, Montana. Preston's desire was to cultivate in Lake's Youth a genuine passion for God and His word!
Sharing Stories
There are a number of places where stories about Preston can be shared, including a Facebook forum created by members of the Lake Bible youth group. God used Preston to accomplish remarkable things in his short time on Earth, but the impact continued even after his passing...
The following was shared with a member of our church staff:
Our funeral home handled the funeral segment and we also had the burial in our cemetery as well. I'm not sure how well you knew these people, or the situation, but I will tell you that this young widow is an amazing Christian woman. Anyone who could sit there and watch her husband be run over; then go and spend some time holding his lifeless body; but then quit thinking of herself and instead go seek out the woman who ran him over to see how she was doing and to offer her forgiveness and to assure her that she held no hard-feelings against her, HAS to be an incredible Christian. WOW! What she did was to impressive that even the liberal TV media, which normally refuses to ever mention Christianity in a positive way, had very good things to say about this woman who could forgive the driver. She even sent the woman an e-mail and invited her to feel free to attend the funeral, in the hope that she would experience healing from her own remorse; assuring her that she would be very welcome and would be received as part of their Christian family. Just hearing about it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. I wonder.........could I be that forgiving??
David Noble, Owner, Riverview Cemetery
How You Can Share
Although there are many other places to share how Preston impacted lives, feel free to add your own stories using the form below. Please be aware, that you must include a valid email address which will be used to confirm any stories prior to publication.
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