His grandmother’s diligent prayers and a letter to the editor in The Alabama Baptist changed the course of his life.
Pastor John shared his powerful personal redemption story as we sat in the quiet sanctuary at Eastern Shore Baptist Church in Daphne last week.
We were in between the morning and afternoon sessions of the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting and only a few people milled around as they prepped the stage for the next items on the agenda.
Pastor John’s story captivated me on several levels so we’ll try to share it in TAB soon but for now I want you to know the why behind his diligent attempt to chase me down to explain about that letter to the editor from a few decades ago.
“I just needed to share this with you to let you know what you do matters,” he said. “You never know how God will use the words and the stories you choose to put in The Alabama Baptist.”
My mind jumped quickly to another life changed — and actually saved from suicide — when a front-page photo overlayed with a Scripture verse caught Doris Harris’ attention during the late-night hours leading up to what she intended to be her final moments on earth.
I wasn’t in the editor’s chair for either of these two particular life-changing moments connected to TAB, but they serve to remind me of the tremendous legacy on which I have the honor of standing.
I hope Pastor John’s story encourages the entire TAB team as staff members work hard each day to tell the story of what God is doing through His people, serve as a central communications hub to connect people with resources and provide insight into the culture at large.
I also hope Pastor John’s words encourage and empower you in your many responsibilities and spheres of influence.
Life can become discouraging at times when we aren’t seeing the results we have hoped and prayed for — but focusing on the journey and the important small steps needed to move forward might help.
What if we focused our energy on discerning where, when and how God is leading us to serve?
What if we could consistently and diligently invest in the lives of others without growing weary even when it seems to be a constant one step forward, three steps back kind of routine?
What if we paused and prayed for each person and situation as they pop in our minds throughout the day?
What if we stayed in our lane and provided top quality effort and results for what we’ve been called to do?
It’s such a fulfilling moment when team members discover the slot made for them (or seat on the bus as Jim Collins calls it in “Good to Great”) and decide to truly own it, taking it to a new level.
As brothers and sisters in Christ we also have the opportunity to pour our lives into the roles made for us through glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. We truly never know how God might use what we say or do to change another’s life.
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