We’ve been gearing up for several weeks now for an exciting weekend event at Bethel – we’re taking an entire morning to appreciate the impact of teachers in our lives.  Teachers at every level and in every arena of our lives, whether in our formal education, a Sunday school class, or a mentor who coached us along the way, THIS is a weekend for you!

I’m grateful for many teachers who have positively influenced my life along the way.  It’s because of many of these teachers that I am who I am today.  Most of my memories aren’t of earth-shaking moments that I recognized at the time; it’s more a recollection of the little influences and the seemingly inconsequential words of encouragement that I never imagined were a part of God working in my life to guide me in a certain direction.

Case and point:  Mrs. Canniff, my Jr. and Sr. year English teacher at Millersport High School in Millersport, Ohio.  I was a good student and I graduated at the top of my very small class.  So, getting an ‘A’ wasn’t all that big a deal to me.  I’m just being honest.  But Mrs. Cannif did more than teach me the finer points of english, writing, and literature.  She was a voice that was the first to encourage me in doing one thing – writing.  I can’t tell you what the assignment was or what her exact comment was, but I can tell you the impact it made on me.  She told me I was a good writer and that I should keep writing.

She was the first to encourage me to write.  My mom was the next, she said:  “You have a gift to write.”  And then there was a professor at Asbury College, Dr. Spann, who gave me a great grade on a term paper that most of the class bombed out on.  I probably enjoyed that moment more than I should have (Jesus, forgive me, please!).  And then, when I started working here at Bethel, there was the voice of my Pastors who drew out of me a gift that God had been developing since 11th Grade english class with Mrs. Cannif.  I’m not saying I’m the greatest writer or anything…the point is that the voice of a teacher made all the difference in my life.

I wonder if you can tell a similar story?  Sure, the details will be completely different but the bottom line is the same – a teacher made all the difference for you.  Whether you were in grade school or grad school, I want to hear your story.  What was the teachers name?  Where did it take place?  And why was their influence something you’ll never forget in your life?  You may have to think about it for a moment, but I’m guessing that if you do you will discover that those seemingly inconsequential words of encouragement made a bigger difference than you’ve ever stopped to recognize.

This blog brought to you by Mark Keene.