1 QUOTE

“Those who criticize should be willing to suggest alternatives.”

- Dr. J. Robert Clinton

1 NOTE

Henrietta Mears was born on October 23, 1890 in Fargo, North Dakota. She lived a vibrant Christian leadership life based out of Hollywood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. (This was my first church after becoming a Christian). She was an unusually gifted leader who wielded great power and influence to train Christian leaders. The massive impact of her mentoring ministry is still felt today.

Henrietta’s mom was 42 years old when she was born. (My mother was 41 years old when I was born.) Henrietta’s parents knew deep sorrow. Their first child died unexpectedly at age 20. Their second child contracted meningitis and was deaf. Their first daughter died of typhoid at age 7. The sixth child was named Margaret (who would go on to a play an immense role in Henrietta’s life and ministry). By the time Henrietta arrived, Mrs. Mears was a seasoned mother full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from great loss.

These heart-breaking losses fueled Henrietta’s mother’s love for God. When Henrietta was a little girl, her mother was at peak-discipleship. She modeled daily prayer. Henrietta would toddle in and get on her knees next to her mother praying. Mrs. Mears explained to her daughter, “I am talking to God.” Henrietta’s mother lived out the centrality of the Bible. Before Henrietta could read she learned the book of Romans as her mother read her Paul’s classic. Henrietta encouraged her mom not to simplify the words because she understood the big words. Mrs. Mears taught the children to live out Scripture. Henrietta never forgot her mother’s lesson on repentance using table butter. She modeled creative teaching of the Word at a powerful Sunday school class. Mrs. Mears trained her daughter to abide in Jesus, evangelize the lost and sacrificially care for the poor. What an amazing disciple (and mother)!

A core leadership lesson Henrietta’s mother taught her daughter was ‘leaders make the party better.’ Whenever Henrietta came home from a party or a youth group meeting, her mother was ask her how it had gone. If Henrietta complained about the party, her mother would ask her, “Henrietta, what did you do to make the party better?” If Henrietta complained about the youth group meeting, she asked her is she could have shared a Bible verse, a testimony or prayed for another child to make the meeting better. This sense of obligation to every group she participated in never left her, one of the many reasons so many young leaders were drawn to Henrietta Mears.

1 QUESTION

This Thanksgiving week, some of us might find ourselves in less than ideal party conditions. Anyone can complain. How will you make the party better? Happy Thanksgiving.

Until Next Tuesday,

John