What is the Andrew Baer Memorial Fund?
Donations to the Andrew Baer fund are processed through the National Christian Foundation. You can donate to the fund a number of ways:
- You can mail a check to: National Christian Foundation, 11625 Rainwater Drive, Suite 500, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. Please make your check payable to National Christian Foundation, and note The Andrew Baer Memorial Fund, #2927629, in the memo area.
- Click here to transfer securities. Select from the list for your particular gift and follow instructions. Or, you can contact NCF at 1.866.580.4483.
- For non-liquid gifts such as business interests, real estate, restricted securities, or estate gifts, please contact Paul Forbes or Bobbi Griffith at: 816.903.3399.
NCF will issue and transmit receipt for each eligible contribution to the Andrew Baer Memorial Fund given through NCF.
Andrew’s Story:
A Prodigal Journey, A Walk of Faith
Andrew Baer grew up in an Army family and was born at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Like most military children, he had the privilege of moving around the United States and the opportunity to live overseas (in Germany).
He truly enjoyed traveling and living the culture wherever his family was assigned during his parents’ military careers. He graduated with a BA from George Mason University and was involved in restructuring the GMU Student Association and serving as Treasurer for the Humanitarian Action Working Group. Andrew also received an MA from the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
After graduation, Andrew worked for the Intelleger Risk Management Company, providing security for the Kajaki Dam Reconstruction Project in Afghanistan. Andrew served as the Site Security Intelligence Officer, working with both U.S. military and Afghan security forces. Andrew’s efforts were recognized by USAID in Kabul in that they used his product as the standard and “go-to” document for reference in the area of operations. Andrew served as an EMT with the Buckhall Fire Department for three years. He was a consummate professional and delivered work of the highest standard.
Because of his experiences as an “Army Brat,” Andrew continued to enjoy traveling during his free time as an adult. He completed a trip to Machu Picchu to celebrate the completion of his graduate degree. He was always interested in giving to others and kept busy by volunteering with their local HOA and coaching soccer for the local community.
More important than these activities and accomplishments was Andrew’s faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Andrew grew up in a strong Christian home but went through a prodigal period in his life where he walked away from his Christian faith and upbringing. He spent time searching for answers and truth. In God’s grace, he was brought back to where he started and he rededicated his life to Christ.
Andrew often attended camp and events at White Sulphur Springs. As an adult, he spent vacation time and volunteered to serve on staff as a counselor for Allegheny Outback (AO!). White Sulphur Springs was an incredibly powerful and important part of Andrew’s journey and Christian walk. It played an important role in bringing him to saving faith in Christ, and in turn, he gave back to White Sulphur Springs by serving on staff so that the Lord could use him to be a positive influence in the spiritual journeys of others.
Andrew’s life is not so much about his birth, his accomplishments or even his death—caused by a tragic accident while he was en route home from Afghanistan—but rather it is about his faith walk with Christ, his prodigal journey that saw him walk away from and then return to his Christian faith. The Lord used White Sulphur Springs in Andrew’s life as a child and as an adult, and he desired to be part of that process for others. Join us in honoring Andrew’s memory and continuing what he started by supporting the Andrew Baer Memorial Fund.
EMS Award honoring Andrew
“Andrew was my 2014 AO! Counselor. I am so grateful to have been able to get to know him because, though the time was short, he wasted not one moment. I have many fond memories of him. My favorite and most vivid being when he single-handedly canoed my brother down the river because he had gotten sick and thrown up. Andrew was marked by Christ-like love and servant-hood. I wish there were more men like him.”
“Over the many years of AO! that I’ve done, I have had many amazing counselors but none like Andrew Baer. He was kind, light-hearted, and genuinely cared for each and every one of us campers. He was the exact friend I needed during that point in my life. His quiet nature made it easy to talk to him. He had a genuine interest in me and my life. I will miss him greatly, and he will always be remembered.”
“I will always remember Andrew’s challenge to me. He asked, ‘How do you tell who the second lieutenant is in a platoon of Soldiers?’ He said, ‘He is the guy with the messed-up shirt, who looks like he had no sleep last night, and the man with the worst MRE to eat. But you know what? Every Soldier in that platoon looks happy, well dressed and properly fed because the lieutenant is more concerned with their needs than his own…Be that guy.’ “
Memorial and Prayer Wall
Use the following form to tell us and others how Andrew Baer impacted your life, or to offer up a prayer request or a praise. All content is held in moderation, and will not appear until the administrator approves your message. Once your message is received and approved, we will share it according to your instructions.
Rajit Das
For All I Can Do is Mourn from the Heart
As the tears have all dried up from
Mourning in your passing physically
For all that still remains are a trickle of tears from the heart
As I peruse the aisles in Barnes and Noble Bookstore
Books on History and War, I come across
All I can think of is you, bro
As I wish I could scream to my hearts content,
“Andrew! Why aren’t you near?”
Why can’t you say, “Mate, lets talk!”
Why? Oh! Why? did you leave so soon for heaven
Your absence is felt like a punch in the stomach
What would I do to hear your thoughts today
In the tumultuous of times like
And hear those words of reassurance..
For all I can do is mourn from the heart
For Heaven is where you reside
And I am sure you are playing with your beloved dog
With Christ cheering you on from the side
Tell me what is life like in Heaven?
For God has accepted you into His Kingdom
And has praised you for what you have done
While dealing with so much
You guided your flock
Your love of humanity was seen by your actions
For all I can do is mourn from the heart
And with each memory, the heart pangs
What would I do to see
As I sit with your family around your dinner table in your home
And hear Father Wooley say grace
From the corner of my eye see, in reverence, as my head is bowed down
See you make the sign of the cross, with a Amen
A testament of faith, a simple act
It was like yesterday, as I sat with your family in the patio table outside
And bowed my head in reverence with them
As Father Wooley said grace and prayed
For your well being…
I Felt the love from them towards me
Accepting a Hindu man into their home
To break bread with
Because we are all God’s children.
For all I can do is mourn from the heart
As I try to remember
Memories I had with you
1 ½ years is nothing,
It felt like eternity
And I feel guilt ridden
What more in memories can I share with your brother Eric
Who is eager to hear more stories of you
You were close to both of us
Your presence is felt in spirit
And not be near physically
For alI I can do is mourn from the heart
All I can say
Of the memories I have of you
Are stored in a vault within my heart
A vault that can be accessed by me
And when the day comes
When my true love is beside me and asks
On Valentines Day, “Raj, why are you so down”
I will respond to her
“Well you see, I had a brother.. whose name was Andrew who was borne on this day….”
For all I can do is mourn from the heart..
For you, Andrew, a brother who was so dear.
Received: January 30, 2017
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This perpetual fund with White Sulphur Springs is to ensure others, like Andrew, have the opportunity to return to their faith. White Sulphur Springs was so integral in the development of Andrew’s faith as a child and his return to faith as an adult. We ask that you help us ensure that his purpose in life continues beyond his physical death.
