CHANDLER "JIMMY" BRAZELL – …Psalms 16:11

Eight years is a short time. In a sense it’s just an instant; it still feels like maybe it never happened, that it was all just a bad dream.

But eight years is a long time; it’s a third of my life that I’ve lived in the legacy that Jimmy left behind. And a lot has changed in the last eight years. People have grown, there have been weddings and graduations, funerals and births. The country feels more tense than it used to. For me things feel more dichotomized and polarized, more uncertain and unclear than ever. But the changes testify even more powerfully to Jimmy’s legacy that still holds as true as ever.

I knew Jimmy oh so briefly, but he exuded love. On the morning of Sunday, July 31st, 2011, I remember how we sat down – me at the piano, him on the guitar – and sang “How He Loves” with all we had. I was normally too shy to sing in any context where I could be heard, but that week Jimmy had specifically told me that he enjoyed singing with me, that he thought my harmonies were great. The kindness of those unprompted words rang deep in me, and we sang of the love of God.

I remember walking behind him on the trail we hiked, listening and asking questions about the students he had just left in China. He so clearly adored them – it was more than a western infatuation with short-term missions; it was a depth of love that was matched by a committed desire to return. He called them family, and he made everyone feel that way.

I remember getting to the top of Steamboat mountain and staring in awe at the magnificence of the view. Jimmy started singing and we all joined: “I could sing of your love forever.”

Jimmy leading worship overlooking Steamboat mountain- His Last night and time to lead

And I remember that night as we sat in the shock of what had just happened, I held his Bible and read verse after verse that he had highlighted, and over and over again I read what I expected to find: love, love, love.

A lot of us are striving for different ways to be known or remembered. We want to be right, or popular, or praised, or qualified, or educated. We want to be high-achievers, great performers, intellectually adept, spiritually advanced, and anything else. All of these are good in their own ways. But now more than ever, I am reminded that there is nothing, actually nothing, more valuable than to love.

I might not get a lot right in my life; I might believe wrongly, think poorly, or fail repeatedly. But if I’ve learned anything in the past eight years, it’s that I don’t need to be known for being perfect or right or super. I don’t need to have all the answers. I want to leave a legacy that means something, and that legacy is love.

He is special, unique, and different from anyone else we have known. But his life also invites us to simply open our hearts and bring every person we meet inside.

Thank you Jimmy for being the kind of person who can meet a 16-year-old for a week and change the trajectory of her life with encouragement, kindness, and a lot of love. I will always be grateful, and I will always want to grow up to be like you.

-post written and shared by Shelby Bennett

Each year since Jimmy’s death the Texas State Classes of TeenPact Leadership Training School have honored a student in each class with a special award – The Jimmy Brazell Servant Leadership Award.

Jimmy Brazell

Jesus said that the greatest among you will be the servant of all.  Those who knew Jimmy would consider him to be a leader, and a leader by serving others.  Whether he was in China, leading worship, serving as staff or traveling staff with TeenPact, with friends, at home or on the soccer field, etc., Jimmy was a servant – and a servant leader.  That’s actually how he spent his last days – serving by leading worship at Survival camp.

TeenPact now has three State classes in Texas each year around February and March and the staff at the end of each class will choose one of the students who throughout that week has demonstrated being a Servant Leader.

This year’s (2018) students who received the Jimmy Brazell Servant Leadership award were:

Class 1:           Noah Platt

Class 2:           Avery Sawyer

Class 3:           Katelyn Boothe

Congratulations to all three for being chosen by their leaders to receive this special award!  Although this award bears Jimmy’s name, it is also an honor to give and receive because it exemplifies Jesus, the greatest Servant of all.

Congratulations Noah, Avery, and Katelyn!

A very special Thank You to the Texas State Class for remembering and honoring Jimmy through this award and to those who make it possible each year!

This Month (January 2018) the Jimmy Brazell Foundation was blessed to again be part of the 6th Annual ‘Go Light Your World’ STOAA National Speech and Debate Tournament held in Tyler, Texas.  This year saw 170 competitors and involved hundreds more including families, volunteers, and judges.

The GLYW tournament provides an arena for students to learn, develop, and practice skills in speech and debate.  Its mission is to encourage them to speak Truth and Love with Christ-like character in their communities and beyond. By honoring the life and testimony of Jimmy Brazell, the students are encouraged to find their own voice and are equipped to GO and light THEIR world!

Throughout the event during a daily worship time, Chuck Brazell shares a message,  challenging the audience of students and families to use their skills and talents to make a difference and to change their world for and with Christ.  This year’s message was  “Making 2018 a Year that counts for Eternity!”

Our family and the Jimmy Brazell Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you to Rebeka Hall who directed the event and to the multitude of volunteers and judges who make this event possible.  We are also proud and grateful for all of the student competitors, who both encourage and inspire us to keep the GLYW Tournament going!

The Jimmy Brazell Foundation was blessed and is extremely grateful and humbled to receive a generous donation provided from the proceeds of the GLYW Tournament.

2017 Go Light Your World

This month we were blessed to again be part of the 6th annual ‘Go Light Your World’ STOAA National Speech and Debate Tournament held in Tyler, Texas.

The GLYW tournament provides an arena for students to learn, develop and practice their skills in speech and debate.  The mission is to encourage them to speak Truth and Love with Christ-like character in their communities and beyond.  By honoring the life and testimony of Jimmy Brazell, the students are taught to find their own voice and be equipped to go light their world!

Throughout the event during a daily worship time, I am honored to be able to share a message, challenging the audience of students and families to use their skills and talents to make a difference and to change their world for Christ.  This year’s message centered on the importance of ‘Setting Your Mind on Things Above’,  and by “by recognizing that we have died to ourselves we allow God, Who is Love, to love and reconcile the world through us.”

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Wendy Baker and Rebeka Hall who directed this amazing event and also to the multitude of volunteers and judges who made it all possible.  The Jimmy Brazell Foundation was blessed and is very grateful for a very generous donation provided from the proceeds of the GLYW tournament.

Today, July 31, 2015 is the fourth anniversary of Chandler’s (Jimmy’s) early earthly death and the beginning of his life in heaven.

Christian and Chuck at the Falls

Typically, our family would be in Montana at the waterfall off of the Dearborn River where Chandler took his last breath, or beside his grave on this date. “Why in the world would you want to be there?” You’re probably thinking…”what a sad place to be!” This year, my family is scattered in different places, and we (Chuck and Rhonda) are in Colorado. We want to spend this day hiking around Quandary Peak and near the Snake River because it is crystal clear and bluish and reminds us of the Dearborn River. We want to spend this day reflecting and thinking about our son.  We will go back through the memories of his life- his birth, his childhood and teenage years and even his death.  We are proud of all parts of Chandler’s life and, even as strange as it may sound, we are proud even of his death. You see, Chandler died a good death (as every man desires), and as painful as it is to us we are proud of him for it.

Jimmy leading worship overlooking Steamboat mountain- His Last night and time to lead

Chandler was at a youth leadership camp at the time of his death, serving as a worship leader and a counselor. Before that camp, he was enjoying the mountains with his family, and before that he was attending Summit, an intensive Bible and worldview camp. Before Summit, he was serving as a youth counselor at “Jesus Camp” (a free camp for underprivileged kids and refugees in Dallas). And before that, he had just spent 6 months in China serving and teaching migrant Chinese kids. Now, we’ve been accused of “putting Chandler on a pedestal”, but truly our boast is in what the Lord did in Chandler’s heart and life and for Chandler’s faithfulness. Let me assure you, as his father and mother, we are very aware of his weaknesses and imperfections. But his weaknesses are for another post. This is about his death…his legacy.

Chandler loved the mountains, he loved the water and he loved the outdoor beauty. He loved worship, he loved God with all his heart and he was passionate about helping people. All of these things led up to and surrounded his death. It is a big part of what he is known for and will be known for. It is Chandler’s story, and according to the Bible, it is his story that will ring throughout eternity. After four years, Chandler’s ministry and influence continue to impact lives around the world.

Jimmy on Steamboat Mountain- within hours of death

That last hour they say he fought hard. For more than three minutes he fought that current, before he went under. And for over an hour he maintained a heartbeat. Our son is a fighter. But when the fight was over, we can only imagine the amazing scene of the angels carrying him out of that beautiful canyon and the joy on his face as he entered his peace and met his Savior whom he loves.

This is why we can say…  It was a good death.

Chuck and Rhonda

Today, Valentine’s Day, is the perfect opportunity to express our love for our family and for that special person in our life. Tons of Facebook messages express that exact thing, and I enjoy reading them. I especially like the posts that acknowledge God’s love for us.

I’m not sure exactly when or what was going on in Jimmy’s life when he sketched this saying on the bed slat above him. But we can conclude that, that night, as he lay in bed he was thinking and expressing his love towards his Lord. Maybe he was imagining telling God he loved Him, face to face.

TODAY, BE SURE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND TELL GOD YOU LOVE HIM! For who He is, for what He did for you and for His never ending, unconditional love for you. Maybe write Him a love note. Maybe a song. Purpose to Love Him with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength!

Happy V-Day!

Chuck

“It takes a lot of Love to live!” -Jimmy

We are excited and honored to be part the Third Annual “GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD 2014” – STOA National Speech and Debate Tournament in honor of Chandler ‘Jimmy’ Brazell!

The date is February 26-28, 2014 and takes place in Tyler, Texas. Rachel Brazell will be sharing about her teaching position in China this past year!

Volunteer Judges are needed! If you are in the area, please consider judging one or more debates. No experience is necessary and training is provided. By serving in this way you will be a tremendous help and we promise you will be blessed and encouraged. Sign up or get more details at:

www.golightyourworld2014.homeschooldebate.net