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FAMILY NEWSSTAY THE DAY! This is a special day for us. Willie Franklin is speaking this morning and tonight. To learn more about Willie see below in this bulletin. This was the only weekend Willie had available to come to us, and he was willing to come to a mission field like Dowagiac because he loves the Lord and is dedicated to mission work. We hope Willie can help us grow in our outreach to this community. He has also been talking to our young people and other young people in the Michiana area. After services we will have a potluck meal, and tonight at 6:00 Willie will be talking to us about the future of this congregation. Be sure to come and hear the word from this great man of God. JUNE 16 — Fun Fare: We have a lot of activities lined up, but we need people to work each activity. Mandy has a sign-up sheet for different areas of work. Please see her. The program will be in the afternoon (1:00 to 5:00 P.M.). JUNE 3 — NEXT SUNDAY — POTLUCK, TIMBERS: Put these on your calender. We need everyone involved! OUR SICK: We have a lot of illness among us, and several people who are in need. See Karl and Julie for information sheets and addresses. TODAY'S LESSON
MEET WILLIE FRANKLINWillie was born in Monroe, Louisiana, in 1949. His childhood family moved to San Diego, California, in 1959 where Willie graduated from Abraham Lincoln High school in 1968, then later earned All-American in football and track, as well as state runner-up in wrestling at Mesa Community Junior College. Willie enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to play football and graduated in 1972 with a degree in Education. Meanwhile, in 1971 Willie was a walk-on with the Baltimore Colts and made the team. He played for them for almost two years and was converted to Christ by Ron Fletcher in 1973. In 1974, Willie signed with the Los Angeles Rams, but his heart was more in the Lord's work. He decided to give up pro-football to attend Harding University for a two year preaching program in 1975 (Biblical Studies). While at Harding preaching school, Willie traveled all over the states preaching and teaching the gospel to young and old alike. He taught at workshops, gospel meetings, youth rallies, special Sundays, Christian camps, college lectureships. In addition, he taught through mission work in Jamaica, Canada, and Alaska. Willie finished the Biblical studies program in 1977 and returned to Clinton, Oklahoma, to work with Ron Fletcher. Willie returned to Harding University 1979, to work as campus minister and recruiting students to attend Harding College. In 1981, Willie took an opportunity to teach Bible classes at Dallas Christian in Mesquite, Texas. In 1983, Willie married Pam Albanese. They soon moved to Papua New Guinea, where they lived for seven years doing mission work around the island. They also worked among the churches of Christ in Australia. One year after returning to the U.S. with three daughters — Natalie, Janelle, and Rachelle — their son, James, was born to the Franklins. Willie worked with Avon Malone and the Wilshire Church of Christ, as well as doing evangelism on the campus of OCUSA and Oklahoma University. In 1995, Willie, Pam, and the four children moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to work with the churches of Christ around middle Tennessee and the Leanna Church of Christ. In 1999, the family moved to Rolla, Missouri, to work with Tony Wallace and the churches of Christ in that area, while also working a campus ministry at University of Missouri-Rolla. In 2004, Willie and Pam moved the family to Corinth, Texas, where they are currently doing work in campus ministry at the University of North Texas, as well as working with the churches of Christ in that area. Today, while also working with the Aubrey Church of Christ in Aubrey, Texas, Willie continues to be a “man on a mission” — to seek out and save the lost is his heart's burning desire. MY BROTHER WILLIE FRANKLINAll you have to do is look at Willie and then look at me and you know we are not born of the same mother. The fact of the matter is that Willie and I have not been together much over the years that we have known of each other. Willie came to the Lord in 1973 as his bio above tells us. I came to the Lord in 1958, so our age difference would make me more likely to be Willie's father than his brother. So how then can I refer to Willie as my brother and claim any special relationship with him other than good friends? Willie and I have shared a common mission — to work with young adults and teenagers who are facing the challenges of living in the twenty-first century and help them build a dynamic faith that will sustain them through the struggles our culture and our time present. I started working on college campuses in 1968, but I had no training or schooling in the Bible. Willie started in 1973 and got years of schooling and training at the feet of great scholars in our brotherhood. He is better educated than I am and is trained in evangelism which I am not. We have done programs together, but have not had time together. See, we do have the same Father and the same brother in Jesus Christ. — John Clayton Our sign by the street!
Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. www.dowagiaccoc.org |
