…of whom the world was not worthy (Heb 11:38)
I received news on April 24th that my friend Tim Cunningham had been killed while serving in Iraq. 1st Lt. Timothy Wayne Cunningham was an incredible man of God and someone whose story I hope inspires you. We became friends my sophomore year in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, his freshman year. We were both part of the Navigators ministry on campus. He immediately impressed me with his distinct manner and love for life. Tim was the most spiritually mature freshman I have ever met. When he felt led to leave A&M to attend West Point many of us were disappointed to see him go. Of course we knew he would have an incredible impact no matter where he was. Listening at his funeral to the eulogies given by the cadets he met there as well as his favorite chaplain confirmed what I had always expected. He touched everyone he met.
He wrote a letter home to his family around Easter that typifies his love for God and impact he had on others. Please take the time to read all of this, you will be blessed.
Friends and Family,
No, I don’t proclaim it with loud shouts and feigned
excitement. I say “He is alive” as a statement of
fact and assurance in the Lord, who is my light and
continued deliverer.I was speaking with a man in one of the more notorious
neighborhood in my sector. This guy is old, at least
for American standards. The whole sector I control
knows me, by name “Mulazim Tim” and face, and so he
was pleasant to me, and offered me a chair and some
chai (tea). I’ve had so many cups of chai my skin is
turning darker (Iraqi). So, this encounter seemed no
different to me. At least at first.We progressed to talk about some security issues, some
local projects we are working on, and some things
related to the “Musalaha,” or “Reconciliation.”(This strategy, the Reconciliation, I accredit to the
Lord only, for He has taught me and other American
commanders Counterinsurgency strategy by offering
people a way out. Giving them a chance to change
their ways and be redeemed in the eyes of the
Americans and Iraqi Security Forces. This includes
those with American blood on their hands).But, anyway, the man had seen a few people arrested
following the Reconciliation period in his tribe, and
is old enough to be tired of the terrorists operating
in his area (indeed, in his own family).He looked me squarely in the eyes and said. “You know
Mulazim Tim,” he said as he grasped my arm, “I look in
the eyes of Arabs and I see nothing. But in the eyes
of a Christian I see brightness, and hope.”Nothing could have prepared me for that comment.
I work diligently to engage every person in my Area of
Responsibility and treat them with neutrality and
respect, but I do not, in any way speak of my
Christianity or proclaim Jesus. It is not my time to
do so. I am serving a different purpose for the
Gospel here. By hopefully paving the way for faith
based groups to move in…but to hear this man speak
of Christians that way, and indeed respond in love to
me, I was blown away.I saw in his eyes that the Holy Spirit is moving and
reaching to the hearts of the people in Iraq. He is
alive!With Christ’s love and purpose at hand,
Tim
I ask you to take the time to read the articles that I post here. One is a biography written by his mother which is a touching piece on his life. Also, there is an account of the memorial service written in the Houston Chronicle that sums up the most touching funeral I’ve ever been to.
As his grandmother said to me after the service, we will have no idea this side of Heaven how God is going to use this. May our Father stir our hearts to live more fully for Him. Realize that we have an opportunity to touch everyone we meet with the love of Christ. Please take account of your life and think about the incredible gift and potential God has given you to live everyday for the sake of His Kingdom and His glory. (Psalm 73:23-25)
Even though I had not seen Tim in several years, news of his tragic death left me deeply saddened. He left behind his wife Samantha and a precious 1 year old little girl Abigail. Please pray for them, especially in July when Tim was supposed to be coming home.
I could write pages and pages on the testimonies I have heard about his influence on others, but I leave you with this and these things written by others.
Rembering My Soldier by Cindy Cunningham
I’ve been asked to give information for a biography for my son Tim. I’ve seen the obituary pages with the list of family member names, and, as important as that information is, it makes me wonder what the person was really like.
Timothy Wayne Cunningham (but Tim to anyone who knew him because everyone was either a friend, or a friend he hadn’t met yet), was born on January 22, 1982. He’d been trying to be born for a full month, but the doctors at Houston Northwest Medical Center decided he needed to wait another month. I guess Tim was just in a hurry to get busy living life because that’s certainly the way he lived his life….all out!
Tim has an older sister, Christy Dawn, who will be 30 soon. He also has an older brother, John David, who is now 28. Christy has two children, T.J. (Timothy James) and Emily – Tim’s niece and nephew. Christy and John David helped pick out Tim’s name. You see, they really loved their uncle Tim Loyola and decided having a brother by that name would be awesome. Uncle Tim is outgoing and just a little crazy. Our Tim definitely inherited those traits – not just from his namesake, but somewhat from his mom.
A couple of years later, another sister came along. Sara Beth, who is now 23 but soon to be 24 (their ages are usually all odd or even numbers). Tim and Sara had a special bond. Tim felt he needed to take care of his little sister and often did. He even left Texas A&M one day to come home to take Sara shopping for her senior prom dress – paid for it himself.
Four years later, his youngest sister Kelsey was born. Tim loved playing with her, singing with her, and annoying her sometimes. Kelsey attends Alvin Community College now, is almost 20 and is working toward her future.
Tim attended elementary school at Helmers Street Christian School where I had the privilege of teaching his K4 and kindergarten class. When Dad (John) decided to go to seminary, Tim then entered Donna Park Elementary School in Hurst, Texas. I still remember how enthusiastic Tim and John David were about getting to school on time. I walked into their room one night and both boys were lying on top of their bedspreads, fully dressed, lying very still with their hands by their sides. When I asked what was up, they both told me that they talked it over and figured out that they could get extra sleep and get to school sooner if they dressed the night before and didn’t have to make their beds. Such was the alliance of my two boys.
While we lived in Hurst, we attended Fielder Road Baptist Church where Dr. Bill Everett was pastor. Under Dr. Everett’s ministry, Tim accepted Christ and began a relationship that shaped Tim into the man that he became.
After Dad finished seminary at Southwestern Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary, we moved to Rusk, Texas. We all absolutely loved living in East Texas and still, to a certain degree, consider that home. Tim attended Rusk Elementary, Rusk Junior High, and Rusk High school where he was in Student Council, National Honor Society, on the track team, played baseball, and worked in the community in every way he could. Both Tim and John David were recognized as Citizens of the Year while in junior high. Tim was extremely involved in the church where his dad worked, First Baptist Church Rusk, as was the whole family.
After a pastoral change, the family moved to Alvin, Texas to be at South Park Baptist Church. Tim, ever adaptable, willingly left all of his friends in Rusk (although he never lost touch with them) and began wholeheartedly to apply himself at Alvin High School as a junior. He attended the prom in Rusk and in Alvin, going with new friends. One of those friends became his lifelong best friend and helpmate – Samantha Morgenroth Cunningham. Those friends still get together every year to celebrate what’s going on in their lives, but they started out as a study group, trying to get through calculus or some other math (I teach English so math is all the same to me).
While at South Park, Tim participated in Christmas productions, went on mission trips to Mexico, and a huge trip to Brazil. He came back from those trips with an absolute passion for caring about other people. Tim applied for and received a NROTC scholarship to attend Texas A&M. After attending for a year, Tim realized he could better achieve his personal goals if he were to attend West Point. So he started the process, received his appointment, and started at West Point the year just after his older brother, John David, graduated. While at Texas A&M, Tim hooked up with Chris Siever and was totally discipled and encouraged by The Navigators program. This built in Tim a strong love and passion for God’s Word that stayed with him through to his last day. Samantha hooked up with Chris when he moved to University of Texas (isn’t it weird that an Aggie and a Longhorn would end up together???) where she was attending, earning her bachelors degree and bilingual ed certification. Samantha also has a passion for the Word because of Chris and also spent a year in Mexico teaching in their school system just so she would be better equipped to work with kids here in the States.
While at West Point, Tim applied himself fully to his studies and military activities, but one of the most important activities to him was his involvement with Cadet Chapel Sunday School and Genesis. Tim felt it was important to give back to the teachers at the school, so he worked with their children in Sunday school every Sunday. Boy did he love those kids! He even organized their little Christmas program and from what I heard, it was a hoot! They did a Sister Act version of the nativity. He worked with Chaplain Cynthia Lindenmeyer and developed a life-long friendship with her, her husband Maj. Lindenmeyer, and their two kids.
After Tim graduated from West Point with a degree in Nuclear Engineering, he and Sam were married immediately. And just as quickly, they discovered that they were pregnant. A year ago last March, just after Tim finished Ranger school, little Abigail came into all of our lives. Abby’s a year old now and certainly has her dad’s exuberance for life and love for people. After he graduated from Ranger school, Tim, Samantha and Abby moved to Ft. Campbell to serve with 101st Airborne, right along side his older brother, also a part of 101st Airborne.
If I could sum up Tim’s life, it would be that he lived all out. He was all out as a runner, all out as an athlete, all out as a student, all out as a son, all out as a brother, all out as follower of Christ, all out as a friend, all out as a husband, all out as a father, and all out as a soldier. He lived and died all out for others.
I know you’re thinking that I’m just his mom and partial. You’d be right about the partiality, but if you ever met Tim, you’d know that I’m not exaggerating or being sentimental. Tim loved people; he cared about people, and loved life. I know that he’s loving heaven right now because he’s reuniting with friends and family and probably planning a big event for when we all come to join him there. His wish would be that you’d make that part of your plans – to join him in heaven.
Obviously, Tim has lots of other family still living – both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and fellow soldiers.
Tim’s service will be held at South Park Funeral Home, Pearland, Texas. At Tim’s request, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to be used to take care of his daughter Abby. You can send those donations to First Baptist Church Rosharon. The address is P.O. Box 799, Rosharon, Texas, 75783. Funeral arrangements are pending. We have to wait for Tim to get back to the states. You may contact South Park at their website for further information.
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