Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
This is Pastor Wendell Wilson…
he discipled me.
I met him in June of 2o08…
and ended up living with him for about five years.
He ran a Christian rehab for men down in Florida…
and after I finished the program…
he asked me to stay on…
become his resident director.
So I did.
I served there for four years…
and somewhere in all that time…
he became more than a pastor to me…
he became a father.
He was one of a kind…
a remarkable man.
I could tell you story after great story…
so many memories…
but what stands out most…
is how he lived…
How he loved people…
I’ve never met anyone who genuinely loved others like he did…
And the way he spoke to you…
man… he had a way with words. He backed them up too.
He would say things to you…
right in the moment…
exactly when you needed to hear it most.
One profound thing he told me that never left…
“Son… people would rather see a sermon any day… than hear one.”
That stuck like Chuck with me.
I still carry it.
Because as powerful as words can be…
they don’t mean much without something behind them.
I can say the most beautiful things…
turn your stupid heart to jello…
but at some point…
I need to shut my mouth…
and be about it.
Show you.
Let you see it.
Because I’d rather see something real…
than hear something perfect.
No matter how well penned it is…
it’s empty…
it has to be lived…
it’s just beautifully nothing…
I’d rather see things clearly…
and say things simply…
let action… with feeling… be the real pen…
…
Pastor Wendell passed away at his home in 2o16…
surrounded by friends and family…
and it was beautifully real… to see.
…,’…,’…t
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Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 