This past weekend I was in Hollywood, California to honor “Teacher.” [Me with a cut out photo.] A new documentary about her life was being pre-screened to many people who have had their lives impacted by her directly or in-directly.
Teacher is what the students of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California called Henrietta Mears. She lived in another age, born in 1890 and graduated to glory in 1963.
From the time Teacher arrived at FPCH in 1928 she built the Christian Education Department from around 450 young people to 6,000 over the next three or four years.
Through her direction, generations were taught and trained so well in biblical principles, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, that the department “ran itself.”
Teacher took several lengthy sabbaticals during her tenure. One of these extended over a full year. This was long before the days of photocopiers, the internet, and television was barely a thing.
During her absence the Christian Education Department hummed smoothly, welcoming her home at the end. When she returned, they were also ready and able to run with the fresh vision and passion the Lord poured into her while she was away.
Why and how she set out to train up a self-sustaining Christian Education Department is the topic of my book, A Little Drop of Love: Henrietta Mears, how she helped change a generation and you can too.
Teacher was the subject of my master’s thesis. The thesis alone was a huge milestone in my life. I made a couple brief attempts to publish it then, but life had other things to teach me first
It was sixteen years later before I sensed it was time to focus on publishing it.
When I was doing research, I ordered a second hand copy of a biography about Teacher written by one of her co-workers. It was a hardback copy from its original printing in 1957.
When I opened the cover, it was personally signed by Miss Mears’ with the Bible address Psalm 37:5.
What are the chances that a book published one year before I was born, and signed by Henrietta Mears’ is delivered to me, so I can write a new book about her? And it happens that Psalm 37 was already a favored Psalm of mine for years.
When I first saw her signature and the address I sat down and wept gently in amazement. I still sense the serendipity or sovereignty, whichever you prefer, that brought that particular copy to me at that time in my life.
That is when I decided to use the same verse when I sign my books once it was published.
When I went to Hollywood this past weekend, I took a large pile of my books to sign. It was a blessing to be in the church where she trained and sent out over 400 pastors and missionaries, and where fifty other ministries found their origins.
As I signed each one, the realization of the truth of Psalm 37:5 in my personal life was deepened.
I bless you with experiencing the truth of this word in your life too.
“Give God the right to direct your life,
And as you trust him along the way,
You’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!” Psalm 37:5 The Passion Translation
