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AN EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN
Dear Family, Friends, and Partners of the Ellers,
Today, the world mourns. On January 7, 2023, beloved Laura Jean Eller went to be with Jesus.
Laura had been courageously battling a second round of cancer since September 2021. Though treatments in the U.S., Spain, and Germany offered promise, her health took a turn for the worse with the onset of seizures last November. By mid-December, her doctors indicated that no further treatment options were available.
Her final days were spent at home with Kory and her children at her side, aided by hospice care and surrounded by a caring community. Gratefully, Katie (daughter) and Timo (son-in-law) live nearby. Sons Ben and Josh (with their wives Lauren and Emma) flew in from the States prior to Christmas.
A local memorial service was held in Malaga on Sunday, January 8. The announcement is included above.
A memorial service will be held in Minnesota at a future date. One Challenge workers honored Laura in OC chapel on Wednesday, January 11.
Let’s offer a cascade of prayer for Kory and the family.
One can only imagine the waves of grief. Similarly, sadness ripples over their team, the larger Malaga community, OC colleagues across Europe, and OC Global Alliance members worldwide. Thousands of people have been touched by Laura’s life.
Laura’s passion for Jesus, personal authenticity, and inspirational leadership leave an imprint of the kingdom upon us all. She and Kory served with OC in Guatemala for years before moving to Malaga in support of the Latin American mission movement.
In addition to coming alongside Latino workers, Laura was moved by the plight of refugees entering Spain and pioneered a successful multi-organizational ministry initiative called Ten 42. Her servant leadership led to expanded opportunities, and she rose to lead strategic initiatives among diaspora peoples across Europe and through Vision 5:9.
When asked to lead OC’s ministries across Europe, Laura became OC’s first female Area Director. She was a magnetic, inspirational leader who drew others into Spirit-led community through her warm heart, enthusiastic vision, and epic hospitality.
It seems like yesterday that we were together with Laura at the OC Leadership Conference in October. Never complaining, she encouraged others with the depth of her life, the determination of her faith, and the distinction with which she served others.
In my final challenge at the close of the conference, I looked at Laura and shared the words I once heard her say, “God always surprises us when we are obedient." Indeed, Laura was radically obedient to her final breath, and is now being surprised by the magnificence of Jesus’ “well-done, my good and faithful servant” and the matchless reward prepared for her.
May we continue to advance the Great Commission legacy for which she lived.
Grieving together,
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