Evaluation Station!

Christian Evan Galiardo

June 10, 1992 - October 26, 2011

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39

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Our dear son, Christian, went home to be with the Lord on October 26, 2011. While this is the most difficult walk a parent (and siblings) must face, we rejoice in our knowledge that Christian is with the Lord and we know we will be with him again one day. We praise God that Christian was steadfast in his faith, knowing Jesus as his Savior. We praise God for all our friends and family that have surrounded us with love during this time and continue to hold us up in prayer. Please continue to pray for us and the detectives as they work diligently to discover the truth behind this tragic event. We praise God for the time we had with Christian over the years of homeschooling, adding so many more memories than we would have had otherwise. Christian was very excited about attending the Passion Conference in Atlanta this January (2012). He was very excited about being able to donate the money he was making (working at our local Chik-fil-a) to the various causes supported by the Passion Conference: Wells in Africa, Sex-Trafficking, Help for the Homeless, Hunger, etc. He loved his girlfriend, Anna, whom we have now claimed as our daughter. He went on four mission's trips, he loved playing keyboard in the worship band at Calvary Chapel, St. Pete, and he loved the Lord. What more could a parent ask for, but to have such a wonderful son.

If you would like to add to the sum which will be donated in Christian's name at the Passion Conference in Atlanta this January, please mark your contributions, "For Christian" and donate through this link to PayPal. And on behalf of everyone who loved Christian,

"Thank you."

(Follow-up: Over $3 million was raised by the 44,000 kids that attended the Passion Conference. $1,700 of that was from Christian.)

IF you feel led by the Lord, we will now be accepting donations on behalf of Christian's girlfriend, Anna, and his brothers, Stephen, and Robert, as they gather funds to prepare for a Mission's Trips to Guatemala/ Columbia.

You may mark donations, "Mission's Trip."

Please pray for them as they prepare to walk in Christian's footsteps.

Youth Guatemala/Columbia
Purpose: Youth Camps, Feeding Center and Orphanage
Proposed Dates: July 12-19, 2012
Team Leaders: Ryan Marr, Niles Parker, Ernesto Diaz and Art Dykstra
Cost: $900 per person

Here is a video clip of Christian on keyboard with the youth band playing, "Glory of it All" at Calvary Chapel, St. Pete.

This is just one of the worship nights we conducted at our house after Christian's death, celebrating the God who gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair. We have great sadness, but this is not the end of the story. satan does not win. We have the victory in Christ.

Don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?

Still burdened by the sin which separates us from God?

Jesus gave His life to pay the cost of OUR sin.

ALL that is needed is to simply repent (turn away from your sin) and accept this free gift

from an awesome God who loves you, just as you are!

We invite you to pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.

Forgive me. Come into my life.

I receive you as my Lord and Savior.

Now send your Holy Spirit to help me to live for you,

the rest of this life.

Amen

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Christian was thrilled to have served Matt Joyce of the Tampa Bay Rays when he stopped in at the St. Pete Beach Chick-fil-a!

In response to the death of our son and brother, Christian, the Galiardo family would like to make an official statement. We would first like to thank all of the many caring people who have held us, and Christian’s girlfriend, Anna, and her family, in prayer over these past four months. Thank you for all the ways in which you gave of yourselves, your time, and your tears on our behalf. You will never know, this side of Heaven, how much your caring thoughtfulness has meant to all of us. We thank God for each of you.

We recently met with the detectives who have been working these past four months to try to determine exactly what happened to Christian. While they were able to determine that Christian did not take his own life, the conclusion that was reached by their department contains many unanswered questions, inconsistencies, and no concrete evidence. Therefore, as the ones who knew Christian best, we have come to the painful conclusion that the Lord has not ordained for us to know for certain exactly what happened the night Christian passed. Out of respect for our son, we would rather refrain from assigning a cause of death if there is not enough certainty, than to allow him to be labeled with a falsehood. At this point, we must give our son the very last thing we can give him, the benefit of the doubt.

It comforts us to know that God was there, and He knows exactly what happened to Christian. He bids us to trust Him as He gently holds this truth for us. He promises us, “The guilty will not go unpunished.” (Nahum 1:3) if there was anyone else involved with this. We ask that you stand with us now and encourage you to focus with us on the future and on what we DO know to be true… Christian is with Christ, his Glorious Redeemer, and we shall ALL be together again one day soon in the glory of His presence where He will wipe away every tear from our eyes! It is our hope, that you would remember THIS as the final chapter in Christian’s life, and not the circumstances of his death, because our son is so much more than that. May the God of all comfort bless each of you with fond and precious memories of Christian and fill you with the hope we have as believers in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.