The One Factor

Mondays with Michael 1.4

Jane ordered an adoption packet from Focus on the Family. There were a couple of books, a DVD, an Adventures in Odyssey CD, etc. I started reading one of the books called "The One Factor" by Doug Sauder. It starts by talking about the power of one. One man, Moses, led the Israelites out of slavery. One action by Rosa Parks on a bus brought around justice. One affects thousands!

There is a saying in Kenya: If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

What the book is really about is the foster care crisis in South Florida. Apparantly, in the 1990's the foster care system in South Florida was a disaster. One lady finally had enough. Irene went door to door trying to raise awareness. She visited several churches trying to get help. Finally, one pastor, Pastor Bob, pledged his church's support. Within one year, 40 families from his congregation were foster parents. The following year, another 75 families became foster parents. That is a testimony of the power of one.

But it doesn't stop there. As I continued reading, things started clicking. We adopted Deacon from Ft. Lauderdale. That's in South Florida. I looked at the back cover of the book and read the following comment: "Doug Sauder and the ministry of 4Kids are daily reminders to me of the power of one." 4Kids...our adoption agency was Adoption 4Kids of South Florida! Who made that statement about Doug and 4Kids? Pastor Bob Coy, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. Calvary Chapel? The office for Adoption 4Kids is located on the grounds of Calvary Chapel! And Pastor Bob Coy? Could he be the same "Pastor Bob" who pledged the support of his congregation a decade ago? Isn't God amazing! Because one woman contacted one pastor about the foster care crisis, an agency was formed that allowed us to adopt our son 10 years later!

One more interesting fact to wrap all of this up. Doug Sauder, the president of 4Kids, did not always attend the large Calvary Chapel. He grew up in a small church. His father, Roger Sauder, is the minister of the Apostolic Christian Church in Ft. Lauderdale.

So, what can God do through you today?

Make it a great Monday!