< 20th ANNIVERSARY > A VALUABLE MEMBER OF GOD’S FAMILY

NOTE: Today marks a significant milestone for this SOUND BITES Ministry -- its 20^th Anniversary! I began this ministry on March 29, 1999 as a way to glorify God for the life of our son, Dustin Thomas, who had died one year earlier. Dustin had been born with developmental disabilities that he lived with for 16 years, ultimately dying from an unrelated brain tumor. A line in today’s SOUND BITES quote speaks to what our family and friends felt about Dustin -- he was “a valuable member of God's family, unique and special in God's sight, loved by those around him, with much to offer regardless of his limitations."

On this anniversary, as I have done at times in the past, I would invite you to share how God has used SOUND BITES to minister to you, or how you have used SOUND BITES to minister to others. Post your comment here.

Thank you for your support for this ministry. Please share SOUND BITES with others and help us spread the good news of God’s grace through Jesus Christ to the whole world -- "The world is our parish." 

-- Rev. Dave Wilkinson, founder and editor

A VALUABLE MEMBER OF GOD’S FAMILY

The Lord said, "You are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you." (Isaiah 43:4)

As I sat watching the handicapped preschoolers gather pumpkins, I felt saddened that my own three-year-old was among them. Why had I bothered to bring him? Mentally and physically handicapped, he could really only observe the fun around him. My hope for a meaningful life for Thomas was at an all-time low.

I talked about my feelings with another parent who was also watching. She opened my eyes to something. "Like you," she said, "I almost didn't bring Kristen today. She is unaware of her surroundings and couldn't possibly enjoy the activities. But then," she continued, "I realized while she may not get anything out of this experience, perhaps someone will see Kristen and be touched by her."

In her words, I saw a ray of hope, a glimpse of meaning in Thomas' life. Perhaps by seeing him participate in his limited way, others would see Thomas not as "handicapped" but as a valuable member of God's family, unique and special in God's sight, loved by those around him, with much to offer regardless of his limitations.

I smiled as I scooped Thomas up, and we hurried into the field in search of pumpkins.

-- Sharon P. Stanley in “The Upper Room”, November 30, 1990 

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MY EXPERIENCE AT A BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  (John 1:12 ESV)

In 1994, when our family was living in Cleveland, Ohio, we learned that a Billy Graham Crusade was coming to town. Part of the procedure that Billy Graham always followed was involving local churches and ministries across a broad denominational perspective. Billy Graham's team would solicit churches to pray and to send harvesters into the field. A lot of before-hand prayer and preparation was involved. I decided that I would be willing to be trained as a counselor -- one who comes to the stadium floor at the designated time, to meet people who wanted to receive Christ into their lives right then and there. Each night of the crusade Billy Graham would preach a basic gospel message, and then follow that with an invitation -- an invitation for people to leave their seats and come to the stadium field. Once people were gathered, he would invite them to pray a simple prayer with him, acknowledging their sin, accepting God's forgiveness in Christ, and asking Christ to come into their heart and live with them daily.

I was trained and prepared to answer any questions that came my way as I met with people who had ventured down to the field. Over the four-day crusade I probably counseled with 6-8 people of all ages. One night, I got down to the field and was looking for someone to talk with. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find another counselor, a woman. She was standing a short distance from a man and a woman who had come down to the field together. She asked if I would talk with the man while she talked with the woman. I said I would be glad to. Then she said, "They're developmentally disabled, here with a group home." My first reaction was… my training had not prepared me for this. Then God reminded me that He had prepared me for this through our son Dustin and his developmental disabilities.

Suddenly I felt empowered by the Spirit. I introduced myself and quickly found out that he could not speak, but seemed to understand basic things. While waiting for Billy Graham to invite the large crowd to pray with him, I talked briefly with this man. I asked him where he thought God was, and he pointed to the sky.

Soon Billy began to speak again, and then invited people to pray with him. As Billy prayed, this man prayed in unintelligible words -- more of a guttural speech. After the prayer was finished, I asked him where he thought God was now. And I'll never forget what he did next. He pointed to his heart. In his own way he was saying that God in Christ was now living in his heart. He got it!

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson

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