Nov. 3, 2009 — Each one, teach one

Back in the early 20th century, Frank Laubach aspired to become the president of a theological school in Manila. He wanted that job in the worst way.

But when the time came to elect the president, he lost that position by one vote. Distraught, he prayed: “Lord, I wanted it. What happened?”

But it was through that disappointment that God used Laubach in an extraordinary way. Laubach began to work with ordinary people, teaching them to read the Scriptures.

And through that process of trying to teach the illiterate to read, he developed the now famous Laubach Literacy Method, whose slogan is, “Each one, teach one.” It is a reading method still used worldwide.

God uses our disappointments.

Just a thought. I'm Sid Batts from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greensboro, fpcgreensboro.org.