Friday, August 27, 2010

Thankful for the Journey



Behind the door of the Willow Pond Community Center on weekday afternoons you will find Rickey Fanning (Rickey works with Suzanne Wallace at the Community Center). Rickey is a Kingdom worker. He is humble and strong.

Rickey pours his heart and soul into his work at Willow Pond.  Loving and mentoring kids is his primary mission.  He calls it his "dream job," and he thanks God for the journey that prepared him for this work.

He thanks God for the journey. It reminds me of a breakfast I had with two friends a few weeks back. They were telling me about a young man they both know who loves to travel.   I realize that isn't uncommon.  However, when most people say they love to travel they are most likely referring to the destination.  Not the journey.  This young man loves to travel.  As in...he likes the plane ride!  He literally will fly somewhere, and in very short order, fly somewhere else.  It isn't all about the destination.  He enjoys the journey.

Being thankful for the journey is a lesson we could all learn from Rickey.  It is even more inspiring when you learn his story.  I won't do it justice but I'll give you some significant points:

* Mother left when he was one...after attempting to take his life

* Father was murdered when he was 11

* Spent most of his teen years in foster/group homes or other facilities

* By 16, he was using and selling hard drugs and at 19 was living in his car

* Went through difficult marriage...which ended

* Had an altercation with his wife's brother--resulting in his arrest (he prayed in the police car for God to get him out of his situation)

* Again he turned to drugs

* Moved to Dallas to be near his brother--and soon he was living in his brother's car

In Dallas, he heard about a place called The Father's House--and the Blood-n-Fire ministry/church led by John and Suzanne Wallace. He entered a one-year, rigorous discipleship program at The Father's House before being trained at an equipping center in Atlanta led by the Wallaces.  He then spent time in ministry in the Czech Republic.  Next he began to pray about what he was going to do next...at times becoming discouraged and depressed. The Lord led him to join Behind Every Door...and we are privileged and thankful to lock arms in Kingdom work during this part of Rickey's journey (a part I hope lasts a long time!).

Next thing you know he is sharing his testimony - his journey - at a Christmas party with 100 friends, including President George W. Bush!

People have asked in different contexts: "How do you find the people who work in the Community Centers?"  The short answer is: "We don't."  God does. And in this case, He brought us Rickey Fanning. 

Miraculously, by the grace of our good God, Rickey is thankful for his difficult journey.  And we are thankful for him.

--Dean Wilson