A Word, A Witness from Lois Whitaker           

[from an opening devotion for the Board of Elders at Central Christian, Decatur]

  Faith, comes to us as a gift.

-          from my Mother, I learned pray;

-          from my Father, I learned to love the Christian Church and that money is not the ultimate in life;

-          from my third grade Sunday School teacher I learned to love the church beyond my own congregation;

-          from Virgil Sly I learned you don't give outreach gifts with "strings" attached; you have to trust those who go and know; 

-          from Bettie Griffith I learned first hand that God's grace is sufficient;

-          from being ill I learned that no matter what, all is well - with God and with me - whether I loved or whether I died;

-          from Pete Smith I learned God is greater than my Bible and that God did not stop speaking when the final page was written;

-          from Marvin Cheney I learned ANY question was valid and all right to ask if it was something I did not know and wanted to.                             

These next few things I learned in Jim's student pastorate:

-          from Thelma Hastings I learned how to be gracious with some of the barbs of being a pastor's wife;

-          from the most despicable man I have ever known I learned you can pray when anger consumes you;

-          I learned that God understands and loves each person as I love Jim;

-          That "LOTS" of people may be "two" who are vocal;

-          There are always Christian members who love you (and your family) enough to make up for any who don't;

-          From Jim, "If we can't make the Good News work in our own lives, do we have any business proclaiming it to others?"

-          From Jim I have witnessed "The Truth Shall Set You Free"; his integrity was dependable and trustworthy - and freed him from accusations that were not.

-          At Central I have learned about the tremendous power in an egg, as opposed to an atomic weapon; to appreciate the Corinthian Letters and Harper's Bible Dictionary, that hoped for miracles do become realities.

All these things and much more were gifts to me, gifts that became strong blocks in the foundation of my faith, gifts that served others well, have served me well, and gifts that are not for me alone.

Gifts for All Generations, the theme for our region's Capital Campaign, expresses my hope well.  The Church that I love taught me about God and nurtured me as I came to have faith IN God.  Disciples of Christ have the GOOD NEWS in the greatest packages!  I want it to be here for all the children of tomorrow, and their children's children. Do you remember that 66% of the $2 million in our Regional Capital Campaign will be used for new church development and new life for established churches needing help? WE ARE A PART OF THAT!  I am proud of that!  Central Christian was one of the very first to participate! I am GLAD about that!

The faith I have was first given to me by others who believed in an all-inclusive, unconditionally loving, ever-present God.  I am very grateful; it is of ultimate importance to be sure our church is here for ALL generations!  May God be known and followed and praised FOREVER!    AMEN

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