Legacy of Faith

Mother's Day is tomorrow and I can't think of a more fitting tribute than to talk about the legacy of faith my Mom has begun. I could't help but think about it while we we at the call service this past week. You see...if my mother had not gone to Bible Study Fellowship and daily talked about her faith with my Dad, my brother, and myself, I'm not sure our lives would have gone in the direction they have.

We had always gone to church and Sunday school for as long as I can remember, but I know that none of us really understood what it meant to commit our lives to Christ and to live out our faith until we began to see my Mom change as a result of attending an in- depth Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship. At first we kind of thought she'd gone off the deep end and become a religious fanatic. But as time went on and as God worked in our hearts, we gradually all came around. Of course, for yours truly, it took a major dramatic event in my life to get my attention. But , in the midst of that event God lead me to Campus Crusade for Christ and from there my life took a totally different direction. My brother also became involved in Navigator's while at college. He ended up a going to the seminary after finishing his undergraduate work. He's an incredible preacher and he and his wife have raised their children to know and love Christ. I went to visit him once at the seminary and met his dorm mate ....you guessed it...Bill Douthwaite.

God works in interesting ways ..doesn't he? One woman....influencing her entire family to seek the Lord..ends up with a son who becomes a pastor, a daughter who marries a pastor...and now a grandson who will soon be a pastor...as well as six other grandchildren who know the Lord and who, I have no doubt ,do, and will continue to live their lives serving God and bringing up their families to do the same.

I have no idea how my Mom ended up at the Bible study she attended. I imagine one of her friends repeatedly encouraged her to get involved in a Bible study. Thankfully..God nudged her....and she listened. The next time someone encourages you to get involved in a Bible study....I hope and pray you will listen. You just never know what legacy of faith you will begin.

Happy Mother's Day Mom. Thank you for the gift of life and faith, and for covering me, Jeff, and our families with prayer.