The power of presence

I speak on behalf of all the grandchildren when I say that we loved our grandfather. He was good to us. He let us be kids, and, with the exception of Wriley [the only granddaughter], he let us be boys. He let us climb trees and pretend to play guns and do all the fun stuff that I think really helped shape us into men as we grew older. There was no question that Papa loved his grandchildren … and his great-grandchildren.

My grandfather had a lot of great qualities. He was a mix of hard work. He was really witty. He cared for everyone, and he was extremely intelligent. But without all those qualities, AFA would still be just a dream.

AFA wasn’t just Papa’s workplace; it was a large part of our childhood. When we visited him there, he had pockets full of quarters for a snack or a Coke or whatever they had in the vending machines at the time. We only learned when we started working there that unmistakable jingle of the keys and coins in his pocket. When we heard it coming down the hall, that meant “look busy.”

Later, after I stopped working there, AFA employees put together a collection of sayings that Papa often said around the office. I was reading through some of those sayings, and this one really resonated with me: “God never called me to be successful, just faithful.”

He went into a lot of cultural and political battles, and he didn’t win them all. There were a lot of debates and boycotts that he didn’t win. But he understood the power of presence – of showing up even when success wasn’t guaranteed.

He showed up in his work. He followed through with his beliefs. When a nation seemed to write him off, he showed up. He showed up for his family, always – even if it was opening the door late at night for a frustrated, angsty teenager like me, just to sit and talk for a little while. And most importantly, he showed up for his faith. He gave each day to God.

My grandfather left us a legacy, but not one we live under like a shadow. It’s a solid foundation, an extension of a mission far greater than any of us, and that’s to share the gospel. It’s a legacy we can cherish, and the success story we can continue. It’s similar to a star’s light that carries on even after its death.

So thank you – family, friends, AFA supporters – for being a part of this journey and for embracing his legacy. Thank you for reminding us about the power of presence – the simple and profound act of just showing up … and doing what God has called you to do.