Halil, George (1903-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Sep 8 p. 11

Birth date: 1903

text of obituary:

Death of A Cheyenne Christian

INDIAN CHRISTIAN LEAVES A STRONG WITNESS OF HIS FAITH

By Alfred Wiebe Missionary of Canton, Okla.

George Halil, our Cheyenne brother, has been called Home. We had hoped that he would develop into a real leader in the church. However, the Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

George was baptized only two and one half years ago at the age of 50 years. Until then he had followed the Indian religion, and especially the peyote worship. Then he became ill. Physicians could not determine the cause of his sickness. He used Indian medicine men, but of course, that did not help. Then he decided to become a Christian. He soon recovered and in due time was baptized. His wife and three daughters had been baptized before.

They were happy in their Christian faith. George said many times, “I feel good since I am baptized, it makes me feel so happy when I am in church.” He took over the janitor work and took pride in having things look attractive, and was helpful in the services in many ways. The fact that his sons took little interest in the church gave him much concern.

This summer he became ill again and was hospitalized for a number of weeks. Then he was permitted to come for a week. He was happy to be home where the members of his family could sing and pray with him. He also invited the Christians to his house repeatedly to have prayer meetings there. The Lord somehow revealed it to him that he would not recover and he told his family not to grieve after he was gone for he was going to be with the Lord.

During the last night before his death members of the family as well as others watched by his bedside. He frequently asked them to sing and pray. At two o’clock, as he often did, he asked the time. (As it was hard for him to speak George used the sign language mostly.) Then he counted on his fingers to seven, What did he mean? He wanted to indicate that he would be called away at seven o’clock in the morning. At seven o’clock the youngest daughter came with the Bible to read and pray. Then they sang the chorus:

“I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. If none go with me, yet still I’ll follow, no turning back, no turning back.”

The sick man joined in the singing of the song. But before it was ended he gave the following signs: Stop, I am tired, this is the end. And with that the body went to sleep peacefully and the spirit returned to Him who gave it.

This peaceful death made a deep impression on all who witnessed it, and we hope it will not be without effect with all who hear of it. Is there anything in all the world that will give a person such confidence in the face of death, besides faith in Christ our Saviour?

Is missionary work worthwhile? A thousand times, yes. This may have been an extraordinary way for a person to die. However, there are many, many others in our mission field that have found forgiveness of their sins and everlasting life through faith in Him.