Wheaton Christian Academy Alumni Spotlight

Paula (Jordan ’75) Lithander and the Class of 1975  

In 1997, Paula (Jordan ’75) Lithander was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma. Her four children were still young, and she asked God to delay her death so she could have the privilege of raising them.

He granted that request.

In April of 2009, with her children grown, Paula was again diagnosed with cancer, with stage 4 malignant melanoma. Four months later, on August 5, she died.

At Paula’s memorial service, friends and family celebrated her deep relationships and her many years of ministry as a missionary to Bolivia, a Bible study teacher, and a pastor’s wife. They spoke of her random acts of kindness and her willingness to pray for and love others. “She impacted people around the world,” her sister, Janice, said. “She taught me—and is still teaching me—how to live for Christ and die to self.”

During Paula’s second battle with cancer, she had a different request for God. “My prayer is that my ministry would continue (until my death), that my work would not be done until God chooses to take me,” she said.

Paula used her illness and suffering to increase her ministry. “My wife’s greatest desire was to bring glory to God through her life and death,” said her husband, Kirk, “and she did it with the Lord’s help. Her unshakeable faith in the midst of sickness, pain, and death inspired our family, congregation, and friends from around the world.” Paula’s theme during her battle with cancer was “I Choose Joy.” She put it on the white boards in her hospital rooms and wrote about it on her CaringBridge blog.

Most of all, though, she lived it, even while her body was dying. One day in the hospital, after several difficult tests and many hours without food or drink, she told Kirk she was frustrated. “Why?” he asked.

“Because I’m grumpy,” she answered.

“Paula, it’s okay. You’ve been through a lot. It’s all right to be out of sorts.” But Paula’s heart wanted to glorify God, and anything that interfered with that caused her grief. Her intimacy with Christ continued to increase, and she clung to joy all the way to her peaceful death.

In an update letter written to friends and family nine months after Paula died, Kirk wrote, “When I see my kids, I am reminded of the wonderful legacy that (Paula) imparted in their lives. All four have been raised with a firm foundation of good morals, values, and biblical principles. I know she will never be forgotten.”

Paula was given the privilege of raising her children—and she did it well—and her ministry was actually increased by her cancer. God had answered both her prayers, but He was not yet finished. Paula’s legacy was about to expand in an unexpected way.  

When Howard Volz ’75, one of Paula’s classmates at Wheaton Christian High School (Wheaton Academy), learned of her death, he was stunned. Their class was small, 33 students, and he had seen Paula several years earlier at one of their reunions. “(As I pondered) Paula’s and then my own mortality, I felt a gentle but unmistakable prodding by God that the legacy of Paula and the Class of 1975 … should be served in tangible ways,” he said.

When Howard and thirteen of his classmates gathered at Gene ‘49 and Carolyn (Stevenson ‘51) LeMaire’s house in the fall of 2010 for their 35th reunion, Howard presented the idea of the Paula (Jordan ’75) Lithander Endowed Scholarship fund. The following month he sent a letter to the entire class: “The purpose of the scholarship would be to provide financial assistance for the tuition costs at Wheaton Academy for a student whose parents are missionaries or involved in full-time Christian ministry. The initiation of (this is) a huge undertaking, but I (feel) that it is an idea clearly inspired by God. I invite you to prayerfully consider your part in this opportunity…”

With the size of their class, Howard knew it could take years for the fund to build before a scholarship could be paid out, but he was persistent. “He was being obedient,” said WA Director of Alumni Relations Dawn Earl. “He had an honest desire to follow through on this nudging from the Holy Spirit.”

The scholarship fund had another supporter: Kirk Lithander, Paula’s husband, and this led to an unexpected gift to the fund. When a member of Kirk’s church in Ohio lost his wife not too long after Paula died, Kirk walked with him through the grieving process. Kirk’s friend was so appreciative, he wanted to make a donation in Paula’s honor. Kirk directed him, as he’d done with several others, to the scholarship in her name at Wheaton Academy.

This friend’s gift was significant, and Howard was able to send a very positive update to his classmates in February of 2012. He wrote, “God has (brought) our scholarship fund to the attention of others. A

generous benefactor recently made a $15,000 donation to the fund… (We) are now years ahead of where we thought we would be at this time.”

In the fall of 2012 a student received the first Paula (Jordan ’75) Lithander Endowed Scholarship. Howard Volz has been amazed to see how God has worked in so many hearts to make his idea a reality. “I was responsible for verbalizing it,” he said. “God knew who would put money into it, and He knows who will contribute in the future. He knows who will be in each role. He just wants us to be available and faithful—with our obedience and with our giving.”

“This is something the Class of ’75 can continue to work on together. God has in mind who will receive the scholarship year after year. He will put the right people in place and they will be used mightily of God—following after what Paula did.”

A godly life led to a good death, and a legacy continues.