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UNANSWERED PRAYERS

THE
FUTURE
IN OUR
HANDS...
by
Dr. Richard Hunter

Dear Towne Lakers:

Imagine if you will, a local couple, Jane & Tom Jones who live right around the corner from you with their two beautiful children, Natalie and Scott. They both get up and go to work every day. The kids go to school. Each night, they have a family dinner, do the homework, get to bed and start all over again the next day.

One day, tragedy strikes. On the way home from work, Scott is broadsided on I-575. Miraculously, he lives but his injuries are substantial. Tom will be out of work at least eight months. They have no disability insurance, no savings, and no extended family to help them through the tough times.

Jane and Tom are suddenly forced to make some very difficult choices . pay the electric bill or put food on the table. Pay the mortgage or the doctors' bills. Things are getting tight. They might lose their home if one more unexpected expense comes their way.

Fortunately, we live in a community that is known to be very generous to its' neighbors in need. Unfortunately, that need usually has to be pretty substantial before it is brought to the attention of those who can help. Sadly, a situation, like the Jones,' would probably never even be noticed by those that could help the most!

However, that is about to change! Recently, I was contacted by one of our readers who had a wonderful idea for helping people. He wanted to know if we would work with him to help establish a program that would help people in our community with short-term financial emergencies like the situation profiled above. He would provide the money, if we would provide exposure for the program and help him find those in need. What a great idea!

Thus was born Unanswered Prayers, a program to provide short-term funding to those in our community in need. We have named it this because we know that although God answers many prayers, sometimes he might need another channel with which to answer others. (The reader initiating this program has chosen to remain anonymous.)

We are asking the community to help us identify those in need. Please call us at (770) 517-8210 ext. 580 to let us know of situations where you think this program can help. We will profile those the program has helped in each issue of The TowneLaker (anonymously, of course). In addition to providing interim funding, our exposure of the family's plight might spur others to contribute on their behalf.

Initially, the maximum contribution to a single family or individual will be $300. (If more individuals contribute to the fund, this amount could be increased.) If you would like to contribute to this fund (on a one-time or monthly basis), you may drop your donation to us at The TowneLaker office, any Crescent Bank branch or CENTURY 21 Advantage (next to Wendy's).

We are very excited about helping with this program. We hope it will be a model for other programs around the country.

Sincerely,
Gina Carr Kyle

Dr. Hunter is the pastor at Hillside United Methodist Church.
RHunter@hillsideumc.org.

He was born 60 years ago in a hut of mud and reeds in a poor, miserable village. His family heated the hut by burning cow dung. His father abandoned his family at a young age. In later years, he hid his shame by claiming his father had died. His mother took up with a married man. She convinced him to leave his family and marry her. They created an angry and violent mix in his life. The man was cruel to his step son and the men of the village taunted this unhappy boy.

The boy struggled in school and was disruptive. He left school (or was cast out) and became a wanderer. Soon, he was living alone in the hills and stealing sheep and goats from the local herds. He dreamed of attending the military academy but did not have the grades or the means. He gathered his own group of wayward young men and became their captain and terrorist leader.

This lad, rejected by his own people, would move from goat-stealer to the highest seat of power in his country. Today we know him as Suddam Hussein, a man that has risen from orphan to stealing an entire country and robbing it of its dignity and peace.

We can only wonder what might have been if his parents had truly loved and accepted him. What could he have become if only one significant adult had befriended him in the village, the school, or the countryside. This is no excuse for his violent behavior, it's only a reminder that children who are loved, affirmed and lifted up always have a good chance at becoming good, productive citizens.

We often debate international issues, lament about the state of education or society, but let us remember this week that each time we hold a baby, we hold the future in our hands. Look around you for the child or young person who needs your encouraging word, your enabling presence, an opportunity to succeed with your support. And remember the words of Jesus Christ. "Whosoever welcomes a little child, surely welcomes me."