Whodunit Wednesday: Faith formers

No one grows in faith all on their own. God created family for a reason. In faith, family is called ‘church’. And as Peter learned from Jesus, we can have all sorts of family who are more than family. 

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”    Mark 10:29-31

Shirley and I both grew in faith because of some influential people in our lives. Some of these people may not even know (or have known) what part they played in our lives - but we know. This is how God works. You and I may be touching people’s lives even today, forming faith, without ever knowing it. But we are focused on living for a loving, mighty God, as the examples we had lived. 

Shirley became a Christian partially because of her neighbor, Mary Evans, who was willing to ask if the girls (Shirley and her sister) wanted to join her at church. Later when Shirley attended and was growing, it was Jim Grimes who influenced her. He was an elder in the church who led a young people’s class. The Collins’ gave her an example of sharing faith, as did her time with Iowa Mission and Harding University in Florence (HUF) which taught her about worshipping God in another culture. L.V. Pfeiffer and Jerry Jones were influential teachers and examples in her life. 

Scott was challenged by his best friend, Bret Carter, to really think about faith in God. It was Bret who brought him to Christ and has remained an example even to this day. Scott’s first professor at York College, Tom Schulz, showed how important it is to know the Word and live the Word. Tom took Scott on a trip to The Netherlands where Tom and his wife Dottie had been missionaries. This started a fire in Scott for missions. 

In many of the congregations which still support us we have seen multiple examples of people of faith, people willing to put into practice what they preach and what they see in Jesus. These are followers of Jesus, disciples. Dub Orr in Abilene showed what it is like to shepherd, even from the very first day. Teachers who said things like: “If you are not serving the Lord here and now, what makes you think you will serve Him in some other country?” Made us think deeply about our daily life in Christ.

What we do and say each day is being watched and seen by all sorts of people around us. As we travel and get to see so many various people and places from our past and present Shirley and I are so very thankful for the many examples we have had in our lives, shaping and forming and firming up our faith in the One who deserves all faith, Jesus Christ. Tahnk YOU for the influence you have had in our lives. We pray that we remain focused on Him in all that we do and that God is able to use our example to help others grow in faith. 

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5