As new religious movements go, the Worldwide Community of the New Message from God is a little flock. It doesn’t happen very often, but from time to time a member of our community leaves this world. I offer gratitude for her life.

She gladly embraced necessity

Let her name be enrolled among the respondents. I first met Mary at the 2012 Encampment of the New Message from God. During one of our small-group sessions, she asked me “What could take you out? [of your relationship with the New Message from God and its Messenger]” Part of me was thinking about my answer, but another part of me was experiencing her dedication and determination.

I didn’t chat with Mary very much in the following years. It’s not like we were avoiding each other. She was working on something, and I was working on something. I am not aware of the details, but I know that Mary invested a lot of time, energy and devotion into the progress of the New Message from God. This investment goes back many years.

She was thoroughly used up

Let her name be enrolled among the respondents. I was informed in December of 2019 that Mary was ill. I had no idea of this, because Mary had been actively participating in our weekly online chats. She seemed to me to be the same dedicated and determined Mary I knew. She died peacefully on December 31, with many friends thinking of her and praying for her.

I believe that Mary fulfilled what George Bernard Shaw hoped for:

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

Let her name be enrolled among the respondents

In Islam, Aṣ-ṣaḥābah (Arabic: الصحابة‎, “The Companions”) were the companions of the Prophet Mohammed who had seen or met him, believed in him at the time when he was alive and also died as Muslims. I consider Mary to be one of the Sahabah of the New Message from God. There aren’t enough of them to have a name for them yet. Sometimes the word “respondents” is used to describe people who embrace the New Message from God. All I know is that somewhere, on a golden scroll in a holy place, are the names of the Sahabah of the New Message from God. Mary’s name is on that list.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.