Eduard Löwen, a midfielder for the St. Louis City Soccer Club, has had his share of success over the years. But life has its downs as well, and earlier this month, Löwen's wife, Ilona, lost her two-year battle with brain cancer.
In a March 9 social media post, the team shared a message from the Löwens' pastor, Marc Sikma.
"Edu and Ilona built their life on faith in Christ," he said. "We find comfort in knowing Ilona's suffering is over and that she is now in the eternal presence of her Savior."
At her funeral, Eduard gave a profound testimony of God's love and sufficiency.
"My world has been shattered. I still don't understand it and probably never will," he lamented. "Still, I can say with confidence that God is enough, that he is my everything, and that I have joy thinking of my sweet Ilona."
Because of Jesus, he knows death is not goodbye.
"In the assurance that there is somebody who loves her way, way more than I ever could, she's in eternity, and I will meet her one day," the widower declared.
Even this loss cannot dim the love he has for his Savior.
"As I loved her, there is somebody that I love more, and that is Jesus," he said, closing with a challenge. "My question for you is, 'What are you waiting for?' There is nothing on this earth that compares to what God can give."
Since Ilona's diagnosis in March 2024, the Löwens have used their suffering to point others to Jesus. In the midst of the pain, Eduard said Ilona told him something he will never forget: "I want to be with the Lord more than anything else. That's where I belong."
As her body weakened, he said her faith only grew stronger. Before her passing, Eduard told JOY FM that he wanted "the gospel to be shared in any possible way."
