Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Future Impact Begins with Faith in People

Howard Hendricks was born into a broken home from birth.  He became a troublemaker and in the 5th grade it peaked. His teacher had predicted 5 kids in her class would end up in prison. He was supposed to be one of them. Once, the Teacher even tied him to his seat and taped his mouth! When he entered 6th grade, his teacher Miss Noe said, ‘I’ve heard about you. I’ve been warned. I’ve heard you’re a troublemaker. I want you to know…I don’t believe a word of it.’ Today he says, that one teacher made him feel like someone really cared about him and it changed his life. He went on to become one of the most well-known profs at Dallas Theological Seminary. Some of the greatest Christian leaders of our day credit him as having the greatest impact on their lives: pastors like Tony Evans, Chuck Swindoll, and Andy Stanley. Before he retired, he spent 52 years as a professor. He says today, “People are always looking for someone to say, “Hey I believe in you.”

For Howard Hendricks, it was a 6th grade teacher. For me it was my Sunday School teachers who believed in me enough to encourage me to participate in music in the church by the 5th grade and preaching my first sermon in children’s church about the same age!

Impact is only as good as it plays out in future generations
– David Jeremiah

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