My Heroes

Such a day of mixed emotions.

Last night we were blessed to take part in celebrating Pastor Walt Rattray's 70th birthday.  What an amazing man he is.  Pastor Walt is the man God has used to establish Church on the Street a ministry that has been duplicated across our country and overseas as well.

Truly I look to Pastor Walt and see the heart of God.  He has ministered to the down and out, the crazies of the world, those who no one else gave the time of day.  He has done this day in and day out with an amazing sense of energy and zeal that most certainly comes from the Lord.  When other men may have been enjoying retirement for 6 or 8 years now this man of God has not even shown signs of slowing down.  Paul and I were both snapping pictures from the front row but were hard pressed to get a good one - most came out in a blur because the man does not stand still.

His wife Louene, my friend, has been by his side through out the years of ministry and is truly one of the role models of a christian woman for me.  She too is amazing and words will never be adequate to describe the woman referred to as "Miss Louene" by all the disciples of Church on the Street.

The birthday cake was ablaze but more so were the hearts of those in attendance - ablaze with love for a very special man.  My hero, Pastor Walt!!

Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of one of my heroes and on the same day grieve the loss of my other hero.  David Wilkerson 79 years old was killed in an automobile accident in Texas and his wife badly injured also.  

This is the man that established Teen Challenge Ministry that is very similar to Church on the Street.  He was the "Skinny Preacher" that led Nicky Cruz to the Lord and was the basis of the movie, The Cross and the Switchblade".   I watched this movie when I was a teenager in our little youth group in California.  

David Wilkerson too had an amazing heart for the hurting and an amazing ministry.   I have kept all the newsletters I received from his ministry and they are never old or yesterday's news because they are full of the Word and full of God's encouragement to the hurting.  They spur me on in my faith.

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Yes, I have mixed emotions this morning but so thankful to God for such godly examples to me for these many years.  David Wilkerson is basking in the Lord's presence today for which I praise God and Pastor Walt is again today doing what he does best, loving and winning people for the Lord.

Another Daughter

In my short time as a new blogger you have heard me mention two daughters so far.  Well, there is another daughter that I would like to mention today.  This daughter was born in my heart instead of being carried under it.  When we are out together and she introduces me to someone she introduces me only as "my mom".  We get funny looks after the intro because you see Connie is black, she is African American and I am white with lots of brown polka dots.  She is also almost 4 years older than I am too.  With those two noticeable differences we do get funny looks but that is okay.  We both get a good laugh about it.  Connie truly is the daughter of my heart.

I met Connie about 15 years ago when I had the honor of teaching women in a discipleship program at Church on the Street (COTS) in Phoenix, AZ.  I was the first face she came into contact with when she arrived at the program and somehow we just clicked.  I am so glad we did.  Connie went on to marry a young man that went through the same program and they just celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.  Together they are a very precious couple.  Connie ministers for the Lord in the work place as a CNA with one of our local hospice organizations and she is very good at what she does.  I am very proud of my daughter!  A week from next Monday is her birthday.   

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Connie

Happy birthday to you!
(I love you lots and lots!)

The link to Church on the Street (COTS) seems to be down right now but in future blogs I want to share more about this amazing ministry and what a blessing it has been in my life.  So stay tuned as they say : )

(edited 4/19 COTS link is good now)