(March 24, 2015 - by Harold Goerzen)  If there’s one word that epitomized the life of longtime missionary Andy Braio, it might be “passion.”

Whether playing/coaching baseball, leading tours of ministries of Reach Beyond (formerly HCJB Global) in Ecuador, heading a communications team at in Colorado Springs, Colo., or volunteering at an orphanage in Africa, he did it with unbounded effort and a sense of humor that touched the lives of all who knew him.

“The joy of the Lord exuded from every pore of his body,” said missionary Pat Jacquin who represents Reach Beyond with her husband, Dick, in Florida. “He had lots of funny sayings. Who’s going to remind us not to be a ‘gib’ or that ‘we is the grass’? He loved his family and friends. He was always ready, willing and able to go for coffee…. When you were in his presence you had fun. The only things he was serious about were his love for the Lord and His Word. Andy’s walk matched his talk. He was faithful till the Lord called him home.”

Andrew James Braio died at his home in Colorado Springs Tuesday, March 17, at the age of 74, after a yearlong battle with cancer. He dedicated the last 24 years of his life to missionary service—15 of those with Reach Beyond—together with his wife, Linda.

Born to Rose and James Braio in Paterson, N.J., on March 13, 1941, Andy was the oldest of three children. When he was 11 years of age he moved with his parents to Sacramento, Calif., to build a better life.

As a young boy, Andy’s greatest love was baseball which he played at El Camino High School in Sacramento and later at California State University Sacramento from which he graduated with a master’s degree in physical education and a minor in history. Following college, he played first base for a semi-professional baseball team in northern California.

On March 21, 1964, Andy married Linda Louise Fortier. Early in their marriage, Andy began his career as a teacher and baseball coach at Encina High School, a job that lasted 20+ years following by seven years with a commercial development company.

“He was a great coach who was admired by his players and showed a personal interest in them all,” related Becca Veteto, one of the Braios’ four children and a former Reach Beyond employee. “Many came to the Lord because of his influence in their lives.”

When Andy was is his early 30s, he gave his life to Christ, several months after Linda became a believer as a result of reading Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth. Together the Braios became involved at Arcade Baptist Church in Sacramento. They were also founding members of its new church plant, Sun River Church in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Andy served as an elder at both churches, and the Braios directed a high school youth group. They also developed a love for missions, taking members of the group to Mexicali, Mexico, every spring break for more than 20 years. This outreach program, led by Azusa Pacific University, sparked a fire for missions that would eventually lead the Braios into full-time missionary service in 1991.

“Our lives first intersected in the 1970s when we served together in Mexicali,” recounted Barb Cline, who serves as an ambassador for Reach Beyond together with her husband, Ron, who became the mission’s president. “They came with their church and we were with the university. We became close friends. When we became missionaries with Reach Beyond in 1976, they joined our support team. We challenged them at a missions conference to join us at Reach Beyond, and they responded.”

It was during orientation for potential new missionaries in Florida that the Jacquins first met the Braios, leading to a lifelong friendship.

“We immediately bonded with them due to their abundant love for the Lord, their deep sense of love and care for those around,” Dick commented. “Andy had the unique ability of making people smile. His putting people at ease and quick wit were only outpaced by his ability to seek entry into others’ hearts to understand who they were and what made them tick.”

Initially the Braios were slated to serve in Quito, Ecuador. They had sold their house and packed their belongings “when God interrupted their plans and asked them to serve at the international headquarters in Miami (where Andy became head of the communications department). They said ‘yes’ as was their heart pattern,” Barb Cline noted.

When the Reach Beyond Ministry Service Center relocated to Colorado Springs in 1992, the Braios also moved, and Andy continued to lead the communications team from this new location. But their work often took them to Ecuador and more than 30 other countries worldwide.

“I don’t believe Andy took any negativity around him very seriously,” added Reach Beyond retiree Susie Lind. “He knew that if God wanted something to happen, it would. He and Linda hosted many very exciting [mission tours] and won many loyal friends for the mission. Their friendships were long lasting, and it encouraged them to serve with the mission in Spain for two years.”

Ron Cline added that it was always a treat to work alongside Andy. “I traveled with him through Africa, Russia, Europe, South America and Asia. Everywhere he went he made friends and spoke with people about Jesus. He has always been an upbeat, energetic, positive person with a deep concern and passion for the lost and forgotten people. What a wonderful combination of emotions for a servant of God.”

“Andy became known as the ‘Happy Whistler’ in the workplace, representing infectious joy and enthusiasm,” added missionary Ed Giesbrecht. “I loved how he memorized many portions of Scripture and often prayed the biblical prayers for others in a very natural manner. He knew what it meant to walk with Jesus in an authentic way.”

Upon retiring from Reach Beyond in late 2006, the Braios continued to be active in missionary service, helping with ACTS Ministry which operates an orphanage and school in the West African country of Burkina Faso. Andy and Linda often traveled to there to teach elementary and secondary school, lead a young adults’ discipleship class and oversee work teams that helped with building and planting crops.

As Andy began to cut back on his missions involvement, he returned to his love for baseball, working as a ticket taker/usher for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 2013—then the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. It’s a job he treasured but had to drop after being diagnosed with cancer in January 2014.

“Andy finished this earthly journey with dignity, faith and courage,” concluded Reach Beyond President Wayne Pederson. “He’s a model of how to go through end of life challenges. He never lost his optimism and his smile. God bless his memory and positive faith.”

In addition to his wife, Linda, to whom he was married three days shy of 51 years, Andy is missed by his four children, Angie, Amy, Becca and Joff, as well as 10 grandchildren. A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, in the stone chapel at Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ACTS Ministry (www.acts-burkina.org).

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Source: Reach Beyond