In the message of President Carter this past Sunday, he set forth a challenge to the congregation. He asked everyone to agree to go back home and perform and act of love and charity to our community. Accepting this challenge, we set out to do a small act of kindness for our community.

I first saw Jimmy Carter in May of 1978.. He was visiting my work location in Oak Ridge Tennessee, at the Oak Ridge National Lab…He made a morning visit to Oak Ridge DOE Facilities…Wish I could tell him when I visited Maranatha how much it was a thrill to see him then.

When I first started attending Maranatha many years ago I found myself sitting in a pew on Mother’s Day. My son had passed away just two years before and His death was still tender on my heart. As a young lady begin to sing that morning I listened to the words about a young child standing with Jesus at the gates of heaven.

This was without a doubt the most inspiring weekend my wife and I experienced. President Carter remains awe-inspiring. His message and mere presence command respect. He re-invigorated my spiritual journey after the waste and death I went thru during my combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the late 70’s a college student, I had the opportunity to visit the Carter White House to attend a youth conference. Later, I served as Kentucky state college chairman in President Carter’s re-election campaign. Both President and Mrs. Carter have always been an inspiration and have never stopped working hard to make the world a better place.

I was in the Navy 78-81 onboard the U.S.S. Eisenhower. I’m just wanting to thank him for his loyalty to us for the time we spent off Iran, he stayed in the White House instead of campaigning against Reagan, so if something happened we were not left in the Lear hope.

In the fall of 1991, Habitat for Humanity had a convention in Columbus, Ohio. My friends told me that President Carter would be the keynote speaker. I was only 19 years old. I was not a Christian then, and I had no idea that Mr. Carter was. I just wanted to see a former United States President speak.

When I was eight years old, I met President Carter as he was boarding a riverboat in Davenport, Ia. He stopped to shake my hand in a crowd of hundreds (or so it seemed). The next day, I learned about the rabbit incident and that really stuck with me. To me that exhibited that a man can be strong and compassionate concurrently.

I was raised by my grandparents in Old Fort, NC. They were inspired by the background and stories of Mr. and Mrs. Carter. One of their goals was to have the honor of meeting the Carters. Sadly, they both passed away without achieving their dream. On May 15, 2016, I was honored to attend Sunday with Mr. Carter.

I had a friend who broke up with a long time girlfriend. I took him to Sunday school in January of 2012. He found strength to continue his life and turned to God to help him through adversity.

I was 13 years old waiting for the FBI to come arrest my father. It was the 1981 national union strike and my father was taking a stand for political honesty, as campaign promises had been made. My father and PATCO had helped elect Reagan and they realized they had been cheated.

I was with Bob for 28 years. Love of my life, partner in adventure. I could not believe that he died. Since then, there is pain, grief, searching for some answer, some thing that could make me whole again. I read about President Carters Bible Study, and though I do not belong to a church, I am a member of 30 years to a 12 step group who believes in spiritual principles.

When an elderly neighbor with no spouse or children recently fell ill and is thus on bed rest in the hospital, it was time to lend a helping hand. I sent an email to two other neighbors, suggesting we perhaps get some things together for him to brighten his hospital room, to let him know we are thinking of him, and to just offer general cheer and support.

My wife an I woke up at 3 a.m. on the 28th of April 2019. I really didn’t know what we were getting into, but I figured this would be a great thing to attend. I don’t go to church much, mainly because I feel, there are too many phony messengers of God. People who take his name in vain and don’t actually practice what they preach.

My 10 year old, Ellie Rae, was incredibly excited about attending President Carter’s Sunday School class and took his challenge to heart. She has always been very compassionate so acts of kindness aren’t out of the ordinary for her but she has been more intentional since Sunday.

Having attended our first Sunday School Lesson with President Carter in 2014, my wife and I were inspired to host international students from around the world. President Carter spoke at the time about reaching out to strangers and breaking down cultural barriers.

I attended Pres Carter’s first Sunday School lesson in the summer of 1976. I watched as he and other members of his church organized and built the present Maranatha Church. Sitting in his class on Sunday, Sept 29, 2019, I watched this extraordinary man talk with ease and conviction to a huge crowd of people.

My husband and I attended church in September. We had been feeling discouraged and lost with church and the direction it was going along with politics and life.  After attending, we couldn’t stop thinking about the direction our life was going and the amazing Sunday school lesson and church service. 

My father, William L.Guy, served as the North Dakota Governor (1961-1973) and knew President Carter. My wife and I met President and Mrs. Carter at the National Governor’s Conference in Houston in 1972 when President Carter met with governors to discuss his presidential run in 1976.

I wrote Governor Carter early in 1973, to encourage him to run for president (I made the same request of Governors Askew and Bumpers). I was thrilled when he entered the race and had the honor of chauffering him and Jody Powell to campaign appearances in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.