Ridgell's Originals

Al was a nurse who often gave end of life care to older people.  That was how he met one of my fellow elders, Guy.  Al gave care to Guy's father.  Guy periodically invited Al to church at Southern Hills but Al never took him up on it.

Then Al's eyesight started going and he had to give up nursing, then driving.  Guy would occasionally give Al a ride or help out with something.  Life was not turning out like Al had planned, or how he wanted.  It became increasingly difficult for Al to see well.

One day Al was walking to get gas so he could try and mow his yard.  One of our members, Tony, saw Al, gave him a ride to get gas, bought him a coke, and invited him to church.

A few days later, Al called a taxi to take him to an eye appointment.  He told the taxi driver he could not remember the address of Dr. Avila.  The driver, Chance, said he went to church with Dr. Avila at Southern Hills and he would get Al to his appointment.  Chance asked Al to church (and by the way, Chance has been a Christian only about three years).

And then Guy called and invited Al to church.  Al said he wasn't sure what was going on, but it sure seemed like God wanted him to check out Southern Hills.  He was telling his next door neighbor this story and the neighbor said he knew someone at Southern Hills.  He was an elder named Steve and his Dad had heard Steve preach at the neighbor's home town church.

So Al came with Guy.  Met a lot of people.  A lot of nice people who were very friendly.  He even got to meet elder Steve, who thanked him for coming and asked if he had any questions.  Al did in fact have some questions.  And that is how I met Al.

So Guy, Al, and I would meet every week for coffee and talk about life.  And tell Jesus stories, and ask and answer questions.  And pray about things.

One day a long time friend of Al's, Bruce, came over to check on him.  Al told him he had been talking with Steve about following Jesus and being baptized.  But Al wasn't real sure what he wanted to do.  Bruce told him he was teaching a class out at Hamby chruch of Christ on the book of Acts and maybe he would like to come hear.  So Al did.

A couple of weeks later, Al told Guy and me that Bruce was saying the same things we had been talking about.  I told him of course -- same book, same stories.

So a couple of weeks ago, Guy and Bruce baptized Al into Christ.

Because Al was honest and seeking God's will for a life turned upside down.  Because some Christians lived out their faith by serving their neighbor and by speaking a word for Jesus.  Because some brothers shared the good news of Jesus.  Because God still connects seekers and believers.

Al told me the other day I would not believe all the good things happening to him since he was baptized.  I told him that actually I really would.

So God thanks for Al.  Thanks for Guy, and Tony, and Chance, and Gabe, and Leon, and Bill, and Bruce, and Cody, and well ... more people than I even know.  But you know them.  And used them.  And your Kingdom grew.  So bless and protect Al.  In Jesus.