Rev. Leonard Nathan Stewart

Our Sincere Condolences to Julie, the children, and the beloved Stewart family,

1 Corinthians 15:20-26- But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all made alive.……….

In Remembrance of Our Dear Brother and Leader Len,

This was a great Loss for the Iranian Community in the Philadelphia area and around the world.  We lost a great brother, a religious leader, and a supporter.  We are mourning and sorrowful for our loss while he is with our creator and heavenly father enjoying his departure from his earthly body with all the boundaries and limitations. He is free in Christ.   Dear brother Len, you were a blessing who taught us how to be patient while enduring pain, stay faithful during difficulties and earthly life turbulences.  You glorified his name and set an example of faithfulness by not complaining and by asking us to pray for your dear wife and family instead of you.  Dear brother Len, you were God’s servant who preached his words with dignity and love while being seriously ill.  We love you dear brother and eagerly looking forward to meet our heavenly father and you one day.  We are grateful and praise the Lord almighty who placed us on earth in this country at the right time to meet you in order to stay focus on Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We promise our heavenly father and as promised to you we will focus on the Lord and glorify his name among the Persian speaking nations and beyond.  May the Holy Spirit be with us and watch over your dear wife and family.

In His Great Holy Name,

Molly R and Ali M

Dear Julie and Family,

  We are grateful for Len's love of the Lord and his faithful service throughout his life.  We pray for God's comfort and grace for the family in the days to come. "We do not grieve as those who have no hope..."

Love in Christ,

Paul & Patti

Thanks to a fellow missionary in France, we got the opportunity to meet pastor Len couple of years ago after he was diagnosed with the cancer. Then, we had no idea how this godly man would affect our spiritual growth. We were very blessed  to know him. His patience and smiling face, amidst the turmoil and suffering, testified to his inner peace and comfort stemmed from the Holy Spirit. The Iranian diaspora has lost a devoted missioner and a very compassionate one. He was out there  ready to help and minister to  anybody in need.

We sincerely give our deepest condolences to Julie, a great wife, and the beloved Stewart family especially pastor Tet who lost a colleague as well.

Tooka & Nader

I am so sorry to hear of hte death of my friend and brother in Christ Len Stewart. Len and I were classmate at Westminster Theological Seminary. We were also in the pastoral training program at Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church in Orleans PA during seminary. Len was a good and faithful man who had the advantage and persective of someone who grew up in christian home that believed in and practiced Covenant Theology. That is, his parents undstood that Len belonged to Christ and raised him and trained him for Christ. He also had a clam and thoughtful spirit, which I understood to be in part due ot his growing up in the home of Christian missionaries in a Muslim country. 

I am glad that he has entered into the rest that awaits the true and faithful servants of God. I am surprised by this because I have almost died so many time, including almost dying of diabetes melletus my senior year at WTS. May the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as we morn the loss of a man we loved. 

Fond Memories of Len

We first met Len in 1988 when both our families moved to a new neighborhood in Plaisir, France. Immediately we struck up a huge friendship with all the Stewart family who lived next door but one to us. We became pioneers together, installing our gardens, borrowing tools and generally coping with the joys of mutually starting up a new home. Relaxation from these endeavors came from Philippe and Len playing tennis together. Our children went to school  and played together. We were therefore very sad when the Stewart family left to return to the US. 

Our friendship however was too strong to let frontiers or boundaries come between us and we visited with the family in both Silver Spring and Hockessin. Then we made our second home in Pennsylvania. This had the added bonus that has enabled us to see Len at least twice a year both at our home and in West Chester where we spent many more memorable Stewart / Cassard reunions . These included Stephane's wedding and Elise's graduation. We were delighted when Len stayed with us for a few days just a year ago in our home in France. We spent a relaxing few days just talking about the old days, world affairs, our respective work experiences and best of all sharing laughter together. Last June we were extremely touched to be included in what was to be Len's last Father's Day celebration with all the family present.  Len was such an example of goodness and so incredibly courageous in his battle against cancer. May he find the rest and peace he so deserves and may God be with him. He will be truly missed.

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other, 
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight? 

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.
All is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ. 
Canon Henry Scott Holland

Vincent and Suzanne will always be grateful for Len's friendship, his marvelous sermons and studies, his great intelligence and wisdom, his counsel, his soft heart, his big laugh, the Church he founded here. Catherine, Emilie and Rebecca will have warm memories of their Uncle Len who baptized them. Len was a great missionary who loved Christ and loved men and always had à special place in his heart and mind for thé Persian Church, even when working in France. He is going to be sorely missed by all who knew him.
May thé entire Stewart clan know God's confort in thé days ahead. Len always said, Pray for Julie,and we will. Julie was à great blessing to him.
"Vivre c'est Christ, mourir m'est un gain."
In thé hope of thé coming résurrection, with our love,
The Bloise family

We both express our sadness and yet joy at the passing of Lenny.  We have had the privilege of knowing him, but mostly knowing him through stories told

told by his Mom.  The entire Stewart family has been a blessing in our life.  Len always had a smile and a kind word and reminded you of his mother in his looks.   One of God's beloved children has gone home.  For this we rejoice.  Although we never had the privilege of meeting Julie we pray for her in this difficult time.  It is with deep regret that we will be unable to attend his memorial service due to a family obligation.  Our sorrow and job is with the family.

Beloved brother Len, 

Your life testimony was an amazing one that we will remember for a loooooong time. Your enthusiasm and passionate love for God's people, and in particular for Iranians was an examplary one. You were a great mentor for me (Mansour) especially during my three years at Princeton Seminary. Your fatherly care of giving me bunch of good theological books to make sure I have undergone detoxication worked very well, thank you! I remember one day you asked me to translate an English text into Faris. After it was done, and as a way of thanking me, you mixed Farsi, Azeri, and Englight together saying: "Chokh tashakkor! Agha, san Muhandes, san doctor, man hammal!" J  Actually, now that I look back I realize that actually you were the engineer. You were the one that cared most for my education. 
 

Nahid often talks about one Sunday in 2006 when she used to cook for church every  Sunday. On that particular Sunday as Nahid was carying a very heavy pot of Iranian food, you noticed this from distance. Right in front of all Iranian crhuch members you proclaimed: "Nokarha amadand" , the bondmen are coming! We missed your serious sense of humor! 

We will miss you brother Len until we see each other again in heaven. We will never miss praying for your remnants and loved ones. 

Boos Boos brother Len, 

Rev. Mansour and Nahid Khajehpour 

Our sincere condolences to Len's beloved family,

Our family got to know Len at Proclamation and had the joy of worshipping together there for several years. It was this brother who encouraged my calling for missions in Japan and connected us with the community here that we have been a part of for 10 years now. For this I will be forever greatful to Len, who was my model of a genuine servant and soldier for the gospel. I am in deep sorrow for the loss of a dear friend, who has so impacted my life and those of countless others. We will continue to pray for his family.  

In Christ,

The Han Family in Japan

Len,

It is only today that I learned of your crossing the river. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get to know you and serve with you when you came to the Oasis refugee center in Austria. Your heart for the Afghan and Iranian refugees was so clear to see. Baredareman, you had such impact and influence among them. I am so thankful for the hope of seeing you again on that day!

Khoda khafez baredareman.

Tom Richards