Certain people stand out to you in your church.

In 1966, a man began attending our church by the name of Jerry McCullough (I was 7 years old). At age 80 (he doesn’t look it or act it), he still faithfully attends The Ridge.

Some of my first childhood memories of him are seeing him serve. If you needed something done at the church, you could count on Jerry to be the first to volunteer.

Something else stood out about him. He had an incredibly positive and encouraging attitude. Fifty-one years later, he still has it!

He was actually a youth leader when I was a teen. And, yet, he still allows me to be his pastor! He still speaks to me! He still attends our church! (If people say they knew me as a teen, my first response is usually to issue an apology.)

But the legacy Jerry McCullough has left for me is this: he has always believed in me. I’ve told him that, but I don’t know if he knows how much that means to me.

He’s been through it all. He has had every reason to doubt me. Yet almost every time he sees me, he says something to encourage me. Sometimes it’s just his hand on my shoulder.

The power of believing in someone. It’s potentially life-changing!

Who is that person you believe in? Have you told them?

Encourage each other and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Whatever it takes,

Jerry