Good News - May 2021

In honor of Mother's Day, Good News Wants to Know... What is something your mother did or said that had a lasting impact on you? Mom was so faithful about reading the Bible together as a family (“you can eat real food - so therefore you have time for spiritual food”) and about des- ignating Sundays as a sabbath rest (a time to spend with the Lord and not work). I’m really grateful to have grown up with rhythms of resting and scripture as they’ve formed the way I live and work as an adult even now! Amanda Forman, Lead Business Designer, Zone (UK) I'm not sure whether I could quote my grandmother - she was a very wise woman and before I went into the min- istry, she called me aside shared the fol- lowing wisdom with me: Her words were, "people are either going to make you a hero and tell you how wonderful you are, or people are going to tell you you are a failure - remember both those statements originate from the same source which is the evil one want- ing you to fail. Alan Platt, Global Leader, Doxa Deo/City Changers When I was in the hotel business during the development of Auberge Beach, I needed to visit North Carolina to order some items for the hotel. On the way back, I told her I was going to stop by for an overnight in Jacksonville where my parents lived. She asked me what I would like of dinner and that she wanted to make me something special. I asked her to make her macaroni and cheese casserole with ham. I’ll do it she said. I stop by for the overnight and had her famous dish. The next morning, she gave me a big hug as I was leaving and told me she loved me. Two months later she had a massive stroke and was gone to be with the Lord. No matter how busy we get, take the time to spend time with loved ones. They can be gone in an instant. Andy Mitchell, President/CEO, The Fairwinds Group My mom used to tell me that instead of complaining that a church isn't meeting your needs, it was my job to meet the needs of others. I think it was her paraphrase of Philippians 2:4, which says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Beau Heyman, Executive Director, First Care Women's Clinic I was privileged to have a hard working mom who unconditionally loved my dad, my brother and me. I remember many things that she did and said but three stand out above the rest. The first occurred when I was going through a particularly difficult time as a young adult and chose to respond with self-pity. She took my face, turned it toward hers and in a stern voice said, "I didn't raise quitters." The second took place as she was recovering at Broward General from open heart surgery. When I walked into her room, she looked up from a Christian tract she was reading and said, "I finally understand. I prayed and asked Jesus into my heart." And, the third took place as she was waning in her final months on earth and my mom, the woman who lived life to its fullest, looked up from her bed and said, "It went so fast." William “Bill” C. Davell , Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law One of the important life changing lessons I learned from my mom was to serve her. I grew up in a home with a younger brother. My dad always made us clear the dinner table and wash the dishes. My mom got out of the way and let us serve her. I think this was initially difficult for her. I learned from this that there are no gendered chores. I also learned that a mother and wife need to be served. (Ephesians 5:25) Dr. Bob Barnes, CEO, Sheridan House Family Ministries Growing up my mom pursued outsiders and attacked them with kindness and an open door. From the homeless, to widows and the sick. She continues to live out the things Jesus told us about in Matthew 25. It made Thanksgiving dinners a little different… but I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything. Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting There are so many stories I could tell, though what stands out most was her support during my earliest days in radio. My first on-air shift was the late/overnight timeslot... she never missed a show. Brian Mudd, Program Director \ Host of The Morning Rush & The Brian Mudd Show, iHeartMedia A very specific and spoken impact my mom has had on me was one night of VBS, my teacher talked of how much love Jesus had for me that He died for me. To help us 3rd & 4th grades “get it” she told us to go home and ask our parents if they loved us so much that they would die for us. So I did, I asked my mom this very question and I can see it and hear it as if it were yesterday. Without any hes- itation, she looked at me and said, “Yes, absolutely! I would die for you.” In that moment, I understood the love of Jesus, because I knew and experienced the love of my mom! Major Connie Long, The Salvation Army My Mom's dedication, focus and hard work in serving our family and her hus- band of 50 years is what inspired me most – especially since she had a life beyond the house as an exceptional artist, tennis player, bridge player, award winning flower arranger and ballroom dancer. Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship The ends NEVER justify the means. Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, President, Professor of Health Sciences, Palm Beach Atlantic University As missionaries my parents sent us off to boarding school for 4-5 months at a time right from grade 1, yet our mother had a way of reassuring us of their love and that we were little missionaries ourselves going away to school enabling them to excel in their medical ministry. Our mom always taught us to find the opportunity in any challenge. Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service, Inc. My mom woke me up every day with the phrase "Rise and Shine!" These words of purpose still echo as I wake up to a world in need of the light of Christ! Doug Sauder, Lead Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale My mother, Esther, was the hardest working woman I've ever known. Her and my dad raised 10 of us as well as running a cotton farm in Mexico. Amazing. As I grew, my mom became my greatest fan. The first one at all my baseball games Alan Platt Andy Mitchell Beau Heyman William “Bill” C. Davell Dr. Bob Barnes Bob Denison Wants to Know… Amanda Forman