God’s Gift of Faith
Faith is new with each generation, with each person. Although upbringing in a church can help, the decision to accept God’s plan and to believe in His only Son Jesus Christ for salvation is an individual choice. As adults, some people rededicate their lives to Christ. Alternatively, people with no church background can make a decision based on faith from God.
Grace and Faith from God
Here is a key Biblical passage which explains God’s grace to people and God’s gift of faith:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).
Grace is God’s kindness or favor toward us, allowing us to be saved. Being saved by grace means that we have not earned salvation. Faith is also a gift from God. Faith allows us to respond to God and to receive righteousness, “given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). Further, acting on faith honors God for the benefit of others. We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, including serving people, especially the poor and other needy people. God prepared good works in advance for us to do. Therefore, God is fully involved in this process. Our role is to use the faith that God has given us.
Renewed Life through Jesus
In early April 1972, Don started attending evening chapel services and discussion groups at college. Although he was saved by age 13, he made a new commitment to God. Inspired, he confessed his sins, and he became transformed to renewed life with Jesus. Although he did not always carry out his new life fully, his faith grew. In June, he confessed to his parents wrongdoings, particularly while he was in high school. He felt that he had a new start, since he would be leaving their home to be married later that summer.
Oh, happy day, Oh, happy day, When Jesus washed … He washed my sins away.
Opportunity to Use Faith
Until age 24, the focus of Don’s time was marriage, work and education: high school, university, and graduate school. Therefore, the opportunities to help others were limited to family and friends. Sue Ellen helped children directly as a speech therapist with Bucks County Schools and then Flint City Schools.
After Don and Sue Ellen moved to Flint, Michigan, he wanted to actively help people, so he became a big brother through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. His little brother was David, a 9-year-old boy whose father was in prison. Don and David did activities that a boy his age liked, such as playing ping-pong. Don also made a monthly pledge to a Christian aid organization for a sponsored child to whom Sue Ellen and Don wrote correspondence.
An Unusual Event
After Flint switched to a strong-mayor government, it became obvious there were no prospects for Don being named a city manager in either Michigan or Ohio. Still, an unusual opportunity arose. The Flint City Council wanted to hire a Fiscal Auditor. Don applied for the job and after about six months, the good government coalition won a majority and offered Don the job. Yet, the mayor said the position was not authorized by the charter, so Don would not be paid. The Flint newspaper reported on Don’s interview with council. When asked about his loyalties, he did not side with either the council or the mayor, rather would follow his conscience. It was reported that some of the ministers in Flint liked Don’s answer. It was the first time that Don’s faith would be in public view.
A Happy Ending
When Sue Ellen and Don had the opportunity to move to Dayton, Ohio, in 1978, they knew that Ohio was the right place because of family. Both sets of parents and other relatives lived in Ohio. Even so, Don would miss the neediest person: his little brother David. Whenever Don and Sue returned to Flint for a visit, he looked up David. Then, during one visit David could not be found.
Many years later, news about Don’s little brother David came in a surprising way. David’s fiancée Betty went to great lengths to locate and invite Don to their wedding at a church in Flint. Don was thrilled to attend the wedding on Saturday, July 22, 1995.
Cambodian Friends
The faith that God gave Don motivated him to serve on a Dayton areawide task force for Cambodian resettlement in the early 1980s. He also proposed that the church where he and Sue Ellen were members sponsor a family. The church was happy to do so and welcomed Hoeum and Saroen and her nephew Mang. The church owned a small apartment building which was perfect for providing housing. Eventually Hoeum and Saroen moved to Jacksonville, Florida, while Mang stayed in Dayton.
When in Florida for vacation in 1992, Don and family visited Hoeum and Saroen at Jacksonville. The Cambodian refugees tried to improve their economic status by operating a convenience store. Later Hoeum was killed by a gunman. His death had a profound effect on Don. Hoeum had survived the horrors of Pol Pot in Cambodia, only to be killed by a gunman in America.
Confession Builds Faith
Regardless of any circumstances, with faith we can trust God for the future. By 1985, Don had grown in faith. Still, prior to a state budgeting seminar in Columbus, an unusual situation unfolded. Don remembered that he had stolen some merchandise when he was a college student in Columbus. What made the current situation unusual is that it had occurred more than 12 years earlier when he worked for three years for the owner of a men’s clothing store. Did the Lord really want Don to make amends for his misdeed that long ago? The answer was Yes! Don had stolen some underwear, socks, and a decoration. He calculated the amount that he owed Marvin, who was the store owner, and Don added interest and inflation. Then, Don rounded up, making the total amount $100.
Don called Marvin, told he would be in Columbus, and asked to meet with him. Marvin invited Don to lunch and, recalling that Don worked for government, asked if his son could join them. This is not how Don wanted this meeting to go. He just wanted to meet with Marvin and hand him the money. Nevertheless, the three of them met at a nice restaurant in Bexley. They had a good conversation, and Marvin insisted on paying the bill since he had made the invitations.
After that, Don confessed his wrongdoing at Marvin’s clothing store, and handed a $100 bill to Marvin, who said he would give it to charity. Marvin expressed his surprise by these words: “Of all my employees, I never thought it would be you.” At this, Don was profoundly affected and never wanted to cause such a response again. Now he knew why the Lord wanted him to experience this humbling and life-changing moment.
…to Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word … Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Here Am I: A Story with Reflections for Life
[This section reprints a portion of the article which was published in the National Digest for the month of April, 2026.]
Here is my story that I wrote in my early 40s. I had wondered for years whether it has meaning for my life. It is a true story.
“Eckhart, where are you” I was surprised to hear Coach Haines say my name, especially now. After Friday’s season-opening loss, he had started his Monday talk praising our Junior quarterback. So what did he now want with me? I raised my hand slowly from my back-row seat.
“You did a ‘helluva’ job.” That’s all he said to me. However, it sounded as though he was pleased. I had heard him sound that way before, during the winter wrestling season. When I kept losing every match, he praised me for not getting pinned. Yet I also remembered what he did just a few weeks earlier during a scrimmage game after I had a holding penalty. He kicked me square in the rear when I lined up for the next play. Somehow, despite the shock and the pain, I heard him yell, “Don’t ever do that again!” The words became etched in my mind and my muscles.
As the team left the school building on our way to the practice field, Frank Fogt, one of the line coaches, explained more. Over the weekend, the coaches watched the film of Friday’s game with St. Marys, and they discovered that my blocking performance at offensive guard was outstanding. I thought that I had done well, but this was unexpected. After all, I had sat the bench all last season, until the final play of the final game – one play for the entire year.
Actually, I hadn’t been a starter since the seventh grade, when Coach Carpenter said that if I continued to play as well as I did at quarterback, I would surely get a college scholarship. But he left town after that season, and I had struggled through my football days ever since. What seemed to keep me going until my Senior year was some strange combination of unexplainable dogged perseverance and an unexpressed fear of what others would think of me if I quit. Before games in our Sophomore and Junior years, Tim and I used to hang out with other nonstarters. It seemed that we hoped we could play, knew we wouldn’t, but feared even the possibility.
My friend Dave was a great inspiration. As we worked during the hot summer before our Junior year, making countless bales of hay, he told me that he was going to make the team that year – that he would make the team, and he did. So if Dave could make it, why couldn’t I? As our Senior season approached, I was determined to be a starter – that was my goal.
Dave became the team captain that year, and all during the pre-season, he and Bill were the starting offensive guards. Then my break came when Bill was injured just before the first game. My goal would be met – at least temporarily. I would be a starter! And so was Tim. Dave was injured for the second game, and Bill and I were the offensive guards. Joe and I were named co-captains for that game: an honor that I approached with mixed emotions because of Dave’s injury. However, Dave returned as captain the next week, and he and I were the starting guards for the remainder of the season.
Bill started at outside linebacker, and he took my place for the Greenville game. On the day before that game came the early morning call. From my bed, I heard my mother on the phone before she and my dad drove off. I knew why. That day I said nothing about it at school. I went to football practice as usual. But full realization hit when Coach Tackas and Coach Fogt asked if my parents were coming to Parents’ Night. I had no answer to their question. I choked out the only response I could make, “my grandpa…died.” For me, Parents’ (and Grandparents’) Night was at the funeral home, not the football stadium.
Our season ended with a mediocre 4-6 record, much less “sting” than anticipated from the 1967 Yellow Jackets. Yet I relished victory. I was a starter, playing beside two of my good friends – John at tackle and Ken at center. The biggest surprises for me, however, came later.
When my friend Pete called to congratulate me for making “all-league,” I thought he was kidding as he liked to do. But he insisted it was true. I wanted to see for myself; I had to see for myself. So I drove into Sidney to buy a newspaper, since ours wouldn’t come in the country until the next day. It was still hard to believe, but, yes indeed, it was true!
At the banquet, Joe was awarded “Most Valuable Player” – an honor that was probably unanimous among coaches and players. But I was thrilled again when my name was called to receive the offensive lineman award. The awards continued after the banquet, almost to the point of overextended embarrassment. The “most improved player” trophy made sense, but being named to the 2nd team “all-district” was something I wouldn’t even have dreamed of.
——
As an adult, I have often reflected on that season. Does it have special meaning, illustrating God’s working in my life? Is God using it to show me something?
How can I follow and be closer to life’s team leader Jesus, as my Lord and friend forever? How do I obey the calls Jesus makes upon my life, and carry them out fully?
Where does the desire to be a starter come from? Where does the faith to be a spiritual starter come from? How does it develop? Could it be that our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe, has also started me with a certain infinite hope and then builds my God-given qualities by patiently coaching me? And doesn’t the loving God both discipline and encourage me, bringing me into greater service for Christ’s team? How do I respond to God’s direction?
My change from quarterback to guard allowed me eventually to perform up to and even beyond my football potential. Is it a parallel to my life change from making my own calls to listening and responding to the Holy Spirit – producing the thoughts, words, and deeds in me that immeasurably surpass the best that I alone could ever strive for, or ever be?
Why “offensive guard”? Those two concepts (OFFENSIVE + GUARD) don’t go together, do they? If they do, when am I to be offensive and when am I to guard? What am I to be offensive about, and what do I guard? Am I being called to: confront the strong, protect the weak? In what situations? How am I to be offensive without being judgmental? How do I guard boldly without blocking truth from my own thinking? In my position, how do I follow the Way, reflect the Truth, and express the Life of Christ-like devotion for God’s goals? How do I interrelate with other team members, the fellowship of believers, as the Body of Christ? No longer blocked or blocking, how do I love everyone, whether on the same team or not?
It’s hard – no impossible – to answer these questions on my own. Still, the Lord prepares me to answer His call, “Don, where are you?” With trust in God, I will respond, “here am I.”
Three Men, Each with a Request
Each of these requests gave Don an opportunity to act on the faith that God had given him. In addition to helping each person, the three situations provided Don with important insights. The Lord has given Don throughout his life many opportunities to help others. Nevertheless, these three stand out for using God’s gift of faith and growing in faith. They came to Don’s attention at approximately the same time.
In July 1996, at a conference in St. Louis, Chris Halverson asked to meet with Don. His father, Richard Halverson, was chaplain of the United States Senate. Chris was active in Christian activities at the state level. He asked Don to: (1) initiate or expand Bible studies among Ohio legislators, and (2) help organize a prayer breakfast for when the Council of State Governments was to meet in December in Cleveland. The second activity was a success; however, the first one was not, even though Don used his own time to meet with many legislators. Don prayed about why mutual Bible studies did not come together. The Lord instead focused on what Don had learned. Two problems surfaced: legislators did not trust members of the other political party to participate even in a Bible study, and there was no common time in which they could gather because of meetings with lobbyists and others. Therefore, Don had learned much about the unsavory political environment.
Another man approached Don in 1996. On the sidewalk in front of the Ohio Statehouse, Rick came up to Don: “I know you are a man of God. Will you help me?” Rick’s insight was not mystical; he heard about Don from Tim, a friend. Rick was homeless and wanted Don to go with him to the Social Security office so his benefit could be reinstated. They accomplished it, and through God-given faith, Don helped Rick for years, in many ways.
Rick was a binge drinker and heavy smoker. He was able to limit his drunkenness to the first three or four days of the month, then abstain for the remainder of the month. He was sentenced to state prison due to his record of numerous minor crimes. When he was released, Don picked him up, and wondered where Rick could go. The Parole Board made two suggestions: an apartment building and another location. Don sensed that the apartment building, where guys were hanging out, would mean continued trouble for Rick. The second location was a small house, which could be bought by a lease-purchase arrangement. Don told Rick that he could buy the house, but it would take all of his monthly income. The idea was effective for a while until a friend moved in with Rick.
Don learned much from Rick. For example, when Rick was homeless, he found places to stay without being seen. He used an abandoned parking booth during the winter months. When he didn’t have money for cigarettes, he would pick up cigarette butts from parking lots and sidewalks. Rick liked going to a particular holiness church with Don because the cigarette butts were mostly unsmoked. Apparently, some churchgoers would light up in the parking lot and not have time to finish smoking them. Rick’s time came to an end when he was hit by a car. Don planned a memorial service at the neighborhood library.
Another man named Brad asked for Don’s help. Brad sat at the corner of the Riffe Center, where Don worked. Brad was a panhandler, seeking whatever money people passing by would give. What made Brad unusual is that his mother had taken thalidomide before he was born, causing him to have severe defects. One morning Brad asked Don if he would find Brad a place to live. This stretched Don’s faith. After finding a place, Don learned that Brad had a family: a former wife, a daughter, and twin teenage sons. Sue Ellen tried to help the daughter, while Don concentrated on Brad and his sons. Through the faith and skill of the daughter, they were able to buy a house. Meanwhile, Don believed the best way that he could help the family was to give driver lessons to the two sons, who had dropped out of high school. They drove responsibly, so Don felt that God wanted him to give them the car. One of the brothers got a good job at the airport, and the other became the family driver, which was needed because other family members had disabilities.
Ashland Theological Seminary
Don enrolled in seminary in 2006 to study the Bible intensively. Acting on God-given faith, he wanted to see if a dream he had in 1999 was in accordance with Scripture. He believed that God wanted him to pursue the seminary studies. After reaching conclusions that are not widely shared among Christians, Don felt called by God to write and have a book published. Again, this was a step of faith. He believes that the book and other materials will benefit many people.