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To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain

xite heavenByrons

Our brother in Christ, Byron Porisch, fought the good fight, and departed this transient world on November 17, 2013. While we mourn the loss of a dear friend, we also rejoice, because Byron has joined the faithful and dwells in eternal glory with God. Byron was a kind, fearless, and zealous man of God. He opened his home, his family and his heart to us when all doors were closed. His faithfulness, loyalty and devotion to the church were only overshadowed by his humorous and loving nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Michelle, and his daughters. The world grieves for its loss; however, the heavens rejoice as Byron joins them in eternal life.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 4205 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI at 10:00AM, November 23, 2013. Visitation will also be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, from 4:00 – 8:00PM, November 22, 2013. Burial will occur at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 88954 600th Ave, Alpha, MN 56111 at 2 pm, December 7, 2013.
The Chehab Family.

Hesham Shehab

Hicham [pronounced HESHAAM] grew up in a world of bitter animosity between Muslims and Christians, which he experienced personally in a physical attack when only about 7. By age 13 he was recruited by an extremist Muslim group and later fought against Christians in the 1975 war in Lebanon. He was preparing to become a Muslim Preacher (Imam) when a car accident laid him up for a year. In 1980, in his first semester in college, his brother was killed by Christian militia. Hicham's response was to study by day, and by night take out his revenge in attacks on Christians. However, hearing the Sermon on the Mount, in a course of cultural studies (in college), brought him to faith. Later, Hicham earned an M.A. in the history of the Arabs and did Ph.D studies in the history of Islam. Hicham finished his pastoral education at Concordia, Fort Wayne, IN, and is currently in the Ph. D program there. Presently, Hicham, and ordained LCMS minister, pastors Salam Christian Fellowship and works as a missionary to the Muslims with the Lutheran Church in Illinois.