My Heroes
 |
Mrs. Livengood:
Once in a lifetime you meet a
rare person of whom the world is
unworthy. I had the opportunity
to meet such a lady when I was
only seven years old. She was my
2nd and 3rd grade teacher. Her
passion for God, her devotion to
her family, and her love for
everyone inspired me. Everyday,
we would race to school, she in
her car, and I on foot. When I
saw her car, I would run with
all my might to make sure I beat
her into our classroom. She
called me her little shadow.
Because she was so special to
me, we always stayed in touch
through the years. She suffered
for many years heroically and
without complaint from crippling
rheumatoid arthritis. On May 22,
2006 she went home to meet the
Savior she loved and served.
What a wonderful gift of grace
she was to everyone her life
touched. The last words she ever
said to me were, “I’ll see you
in heaven.” |
|
 |
Mom:
Moms can be God’s greatest gifts of
grace a life has ever known. Such
was my Mom to me. Mom was the one
who sat me on her knee and told me
about Jesus and my need for a
Savior. She read to me and sang to
me every day about Jesus and the
cross. My Dad and Mom were both
singers. Music was a big part of our
family. We did not have a
television; therefore, music
(records or the radio) was always
the sound I awoke to. In those days,
Mom and Dad mostly listened to
quartet and southern gospel music.
They traveled and sang in various
Assemblies of God churches in
western Maryland. When I was very
young they stood me on a chair
between them and I would sing with
them. Mom made everything fun. She
was hospitable and loved to cook for
people. Our favorite times together
were going shopping, watching a
movie, or just sitting on the bed
talking. Every holiday was very
special because of all she did to
make it that way. At age 48, she
thought she was having a late
pregnancy, but instead doctors
discovered a football-sized lymphoma
in her stomach. On October 22, 1987,
Mom went home to be with the Lord at
age 52. She was my best friend and
there’s not a day that goes by that
I don’t want to talk to her. No one
on earth can take her place, and no
one can imagine how much I still
miss her! Many nights I lay awake
imagining what she is doing in
heaven!!! (1 Corinthians 13:12) |
|
 |
Grandma:
Grandma prayed for me before I was
born. In the 1950s she was a
minister. She traveled around and
prayed for the sick, and visited
nursing homes and hospitals.
Everywhere she went, she played an
accordion and sang, and I sang with
her. When families visited our
church, she kept them in her home,
fed them, and laundered their
clothes. She worked tirelessly at
church and at home while patiently
and prayerfully living with an
alcoholic husband. She was the most
loving, giving, and compassionate
person I ever knew. She sacrificed
and laid her life down constantly.
Although she suffered from Lou
Gehrig’s disease for 15 years, never
once did she complain. She always
said, “The Lord is Sovereign and we
can trust Him.” She was content in
whatever state she found herself.
When she could no longer move a
muscle, she told me, “Well, I guess
the Lord wants me to finish out my
days as an intercessor.” I know the
Lord Jesus as my Savior today
because of Grandma. She went home to
heaven September 10, 1992. I only
wish I could have seen her as she
entered heaven…I know she was
shouting, “Glory to the Lamb who was
slain!” Grandma, you are the wind
beneath my wings! |
|
 |
Shirley
Weaver Plummer:
There are eternal results in my life
that are inestimable because of the
virtues, the love, the prayers and
faithfulness of this lady. She
laughed with me, cried with me,
counseled me, taught me, corrected
me, prayed for me and set an example
of what it means to be a faithful
follower of Jesus Christ. She
didn't leave a monetary gift, but
those of us who were touched by her
life, are rich spiritually because
of the investment she made in our
lives. Once she saw her Savior
through a glass dimly, now
face-to-face. How jealous I am not
to have been there to see the glad
reunion of her homecoming on 18
August 2006. May God give us all
strength and courage to go on
without this champion of the faith...
trusting in the Sovereignty of an
all-wise God, who works all things
after the counsel of His will and
does all things well. May He
fill us with His wisdom and all that
we lack for every good work, so that
like Shirley, we too may fulfill His
purpose for our lives. What a
legacy she leaves to the glory of
God. She will be greatly missed. |
|
 |
Rudy Teague:
I met this charismatic evangelist
when I was nine years old. He was
handsome and charming and preached
like a house on fire. He stole my
heart when he sat me on his lap and
sang to me one day. I was smitten.
Some kids have pictures of rock
singers or TV stars plastered on
their bedroom walls. My bedroom wall
was wallpapered with pictures of
“Brother Teague.” He held revivals
in large tents, stadiums, and
auditoriums during the late 1960s
and early 1970s. Many souls came to
Christ through his ministry. My
relationship with the Lord was
deepened by his ministry. On July 2,
2005, he went home to be with the
Lord. Although Brother Teague and
the tent days are gone, he will
always have a special place in my
heart.
|
|
 |
Kathi Siford:
I met this beautiful lady in 1976 when I went to work for her at First Virginia
Bank. She encouraged my professional development, was my biggest fan musically and
because of her I found the church I love and have been a part of for over 30 years.
Throughout the years, circumstances caused us to be apart, but when we got back
together it was as though we had never separated. We did not miss a beat, we picked
right up where we had left off. We have always been just like family and that's
because in Christ, we are family. There have been times throughout my life that I
thought the coroner's report for me would one day read, "she died laughing" because
no one has made me laugh and brought me more joy than this dear friend. She has
suffered physically as much as anyone I've ever known, yet she never complains and
is always encouraging others. Everyone loves her because she radiates joy. Her
laughter is contagious. She loves my Savior, and oh what gift of grace and an
inspiration she continues to be! We plan to stroll over heaven together forever and
I hope our mansion is side by side!
|
|
 |
C.J. Mahaney:
In 1978 I heard about a Christian
meeting geared mainly for young
people in Washington, D.C. I decided
to attend…my life would never be the
same. When I got to the church, my
friend and I thought we were surely
at the wrong building because there
were thousands of young people
standing in line to get inside. I
thought we must be at a rock
concert. I asked someone in line and
sure enough...we were in line for a
meeting known as Take and Give (T.A.G.).
I attended church from the time I
was five days old, and had been
privileged to sit under
world-renowned ministers, but I had
never heard anyone who taught the
way C.J. did. Every message was
cross-centered, humorous, and
extremely practical. He taught us
about responsibility, faithfulness,
servanthood, humility, and the
importance of relationships. He
taught us about holiness and living
for the glory of God. C.J. is the
most passionate human being I have
ever known. What I’m most struck
with is that while he has become a
highly sought-after speaker over the
years, he remains very humble and in
love with the Savior. He was my
senior pastor for almost 25 years
and has since handed the reins to
Joshua Harris. Because of C.J., I
love the Savior more and my life is
back on track. |
|
 |
Joanne Nickel:
My family moved from West Virginia
to Maryland in 1969. In a field
overlooking my new school one day, I
sat crying because I had been forced
to leave all my 9th grade, life-long
friends. Mrs. Nickel was the girl’s
Flintstone (MD) High School
Volleyball and Basketball coach. All
my life I loved two things…music and
sports. I played ball from the time
I could pick one up. There was a
little league behind my house, but
in those days girls were not allowed
to play ball. At that time, I could
throw and hit a ball as hard as any
boy, but rules were rules and all
they let me do was carry bat bags
and attend the yearly Little League
picnics. I was 14 years old the day
I met Mrs. Nickel, and while she
taught me that my love for sports
did not equate to my skill level,
she didn’t give up on me but
encouraged me, coached me, and
inspired me that if you put
everything you have into
something…you can be a winner. The
moment I met her, all my sadness
over leaving my old school behind
was gone and those days of having
her coach me marked the happiest
school days of my life. Mrs. Nickel
taught me what it means to be part
of a team, to be humble, polite, and
not a showster. Now that school days
are far behind me…she remains one of
my dearest friends. |
|
|
|
