GFA’s 2025 theme was “Faithful to the End: Finishing Your Course with Joy.” God gave me an upfront and personal look as I partnered with my husband, Dr. Dan Dahlhausen, in finishing his race. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2024, the Lord gave him the promise of Psalm 73:28, “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord God, my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” And Dan did just that! In ALL his conversations he continually praised God for His goodness. The Lord gave many opportunities to tell others of all His works. Dan crossed the finish line on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 7:35 p.m., surrounded by family.

Watching Dan die was both terrible and beautiful. To the end, Dan was kind, thoughtful, grateful for help, and thankful to God. Our children and their families gathered for months to help care for him. Though caring for their dad was hard at times, they NEVER showed annoyance or frustration and always served sweetly. They came by that honestly, but not from me. Dan was ALWAYS serving others. It was such a blessing to see our children gather and support us. We were both grateful and humbled by the huge outpouring of support and prayers from family and friends across the globe. Dan spoke of this often, saying, “I love being in the body of Christ” and “I love God’s people!”

Dan loved his Lord, God’s Word, his family, God’s people, Mount Calvary Baptist Church (our church), and GFA! He faithfully spent hours every morning reading his Bible and praying for people across the globe. The day after his tumor was discovered, Dan started a journal and titled it, “Getting Ready to Cross.” He asked me not to read it until after he died, but I wish I had read it earlier, because I was so blessed to read Dan’s heart-filled and scripturally-based responses to God’s workings in his life.

9/21/2024 (Day One)—God is good all the time. I have complete confidence the Lord is in control and will direct every detail of what happens, so I have complete peace. No worries.

9/22/2024—Only by having all my sins covered by God’s righteousness can I look forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face, but praise God, I am ready, able, and willing.

9/24/2024—When looking back at my life, there are a lot of blessings, but also a lot of regrets, and I am amazed at the mercy and lovingkindness of the Lord. I do look forward to when I will never sin again and not even have any tendency or will to do so.

9/26/2024—God is good. He continually gives me encouragement each day through the Scriptures, friends, and reading devotional books.

9/27/2024—This morning the Lord really gave me encouragement from Romans 8:38–39, “for I am convinced that neither death … will be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Death will not separate me from God. In fact, I will be with God in heaven. Praise the Lord! God’s promise, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.”

9/30/2024—The future is still very uncertain here on earth, but Heaven is for sure!

10/1/2024—I can say, it is good for me that I’ve been afflicted. Why? Because even though I suffer physically, it has driven me closer to the Lord. It has caused me to look to Heaven, realizing that I am just a pilgrim here. I desire to know and love God more, to love holiness more, to love holy company, to love praying, and to know God better.

1/1/2025 - New Year’s Day, 2025—I am now in stage 4 with a terminal diagnosis. I am sure that God loves me very much and that this is the best thing for me from God. So God is good all the time.

At Dan’s funeral service, Dr. David Boyd, one of our Mount Calvary pastors, shared a testimony about the reasons he wants to be like Dr. Dan. After taking the time to reflect on Dan and his testimony for the Lord, especially as he crossed the finish line, I enthusiastically echo Dr. Boyd’s sentiment. I want to be like Dr. Dan! I thank the Lord for the privilege of watching this man who lived beside me for 43 years.