COLORADO SPRINGS — Tears, music and laughter filled Vanguard Church on Saturday as family, friends and church members honored David Hames, who died in the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
About 450 people listened to devotional songs and stories about Hames’ talent, humor and faith.
At mid-service, Hames’ wife, Renee, and their two children, 5-year-old Aidan and 2-year-old Zander, joined Vanguard pastor Kelly Williams on the podium.
“God orders our life,” Williams told those gathered. The loss of Hames “was not random, but that doesn’t take away the pain.”
Hames, a Colorado Springs freelance filmmaker, and Dan Woolley were in Haiti making a film for Compassion International about the country’s poverty-stricken children.
When the earthquake struck, Hames and Woolley were walking through the lobby of the Hotel Montana. Hames was crushed when the hotel crumbled. Springs resident Woolley was pulled out alive about 65 hours later.
The memorial service began with the Vanguard worship band playing “Kryptonite,” by the rock band 3 Doors Down.
Hames sometimes sang rock ‘n’ roll songs at Vanguard services but always with a Christian spin.
On one occasion he sang “Kryptonite,” hamming it up as he strutted like a rock star down the church aisles.
During the memorial, two of Hames’ friends spoke of the love the 40-year-old had for God and his family.
Rob Strait, Hames’ friend for 11 years, promised to be as devoted to his wife as Hames was to Renee. “David modeled marriage well,” Strait said.
Hames converted from Judaism to Christianity 10 years ago and soon after began attending Vanguard Church with Renee.
Memorial organizers honored David’s Jewish roots by reading a Jewish prayer during the service.
The memorial concluded in the church parking lot, where Renee Hames and the children released about 100 red balloons into the blue sky.
The name of David Hames’ filmmaking business is Red Balloon Productions.
