Mother Madelaine

She is just a few years shy of 100. She was helped to the front of the room this morning to share a word at the CUE Conference, calling us to be faithful, aggressive, and effective beacons of Christ's light in the city. This tiny, fragile African-American lady had a voice far stronger than her body led me to anticipate. She is Mother Madelaine Johnson, the grand-daughter of an escaped slave, and heroine in the Free Methodist Church.

Mother Madelaine and her husband Walter (recently gone to heaven) planted 9 different churches in the US and Canada over the years. Her husband was described as one who "showed the Father's heart." Together they were used of God to change thousands of people's destinies.

Mother Madelaine looked at us and called us all "beautiful young people". At 56, that felt pretty good. Then she leaned towards us and said, "My grandfather, an escaped slave, always said to me, 'If I could do it, YOU can do it.' And I say to you. YOU can do it. Don't ever quit. Keep going. YOU are needed in this world."

OK..I am pumped. Ready. This world needs us. ARE YOU IN???