J.D. (In Black) Talking with an Unidentified Visitor at AGFSA Campus
"There is a widespread hypothesis -- Six degrees of separation -- holding that any two people in the world are separated by a chain of no more than six acquaintances." (Wikipedia)
I am always amazed that wherever I go, I meet people that I have a connection with, either geological or people we know. Socializing has never been difficult for me. I LOVE PEOPLE! And my friends would tell you that I don't have a loss for words. When I do get to talking with new friends, something will come up... a connection. I am left feeling like God set up a divine appointment. You can only look back and say, "It's a small, small, world - or at least a divinely ordered one!"
My recent trip this past weekend proved to be such an event. There was more than one divine appointment at AGFSA and I give God all the praise and glory. There are no "accidents" when you meet up with people. God intended for you to connect with them for whatever reason. One of the directors (whom I knew previously from Highlands in KC) has a niece that I was in Youth Group with me back in Ohio. She and her husband had come from Ohio and knew exactly where I had grown up. I think it shocked her as much as it did me. In fact, that niece still lives in the same area in Ohio and cuts my cousin's hair on a regular basis! How's that for a small world?
In my conversations, I ran into a wonderful family who happens to work down at AGFSA. The dad, John, walked into the banquet with us. Immediately I began to talk with him. I found out within a few minutes that he used to live around KC. In fact, he was a pastor up in northern Missouri when my husband and I were up there, too. I thought he looked so familiar. He's now on staff at Hillcrest. Later at the banquet, we spoke again and found out that there were quite a few people we both knew personally. Then I asked if he had heard of the S_______'s (the family my sister married into). Thus a wonderful story unfolded involving John's son, J.D., who happens to work there on campus as a house parent and directs the choirs (BTW- He was wonderful at directing!! The choirs were fabulous). I asked J.D. if I could share this story, and he said, "YES!"
First of all, you must know that we went to the same college (Evangel), only I was gone before he got there in 1993. I only attended there in 1990-1991. We had both been involved in the music department, so we knew names of not only the staff at the time, but fellow students who were in the music department at the time. He was involved in Concert Choir and I had been involved with Frontline (both touring music groups from the college). J.D.'s dad said that he knew the S_____'s, my sister's family, so I wondered if J.D. did, too. So I asked. He got a somber look on his face and told me he knew Casey. She, too had attended Evangel in 1993. Casey is a relative of my sister's husband's family. I believe she was one of Tim (BIL) cousins. Her maiden name was Casey S__________. She married another friend from college, Mark, who was one of my closest friends in college. Mark and I ate lunch together at the Joust and sat in Psychology class together. We were buds. (Never romantic, I will add - just buds).
Tragically, Casey and Mark and other family members were traveling along a Missouri Highway a few years ago when they were involved in a fatal car accident. Casey and Mark and their family in the car went home to be with the Lord. J.D. and I talked about the accident and revisited some more thoughts about the couple.
What occurred next was absolutely amazing:
J.D. told me that even though he went attended this Christian College (now University) that he was not saved. One night while on tour with the concert choir, J.D. was confronted by Casey. She felt a urging in the Spirit to go and speak with him. She simply said "J.D., I felt impressed by the Lord to come and talk to you. I noticed that you are running away from God. I was there not long ago. But I want you to know that if you don't stop, you're going to go straight to hell."
He said with a smile, "That conversation with Casey that night was the pivotal event in my life that made me turn around and brought about my salvation. I credit Casey for my salvation and where I am today!"
Wow, I was shocked.
J.D. then said that even though they didn't live a long life, there was much to be thankful for in their lives and their testimony of God's saving grace lives on. We know that they are in heaven today.
What a testimony! I am privileged to call J.D. a new friend in the Lord as well as the other people I connected with at AGFSA. God bless you all.
A final thought for today: What are we doing to impact the world? It starts right where you're at! Wherever you live in this small world, you need to be a light. Are we living up to the potential that God has in us to turn every day into a divine one? You never know who you will meet. You never know what affect you will have on them concerning eternity. May God bless your life, reader, to be filled with divine appointments and to make a godly impression on everyone you come into contact with.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD, ROY, TODAY!!! 
