Obituary of Deborah Nelson

Deborah Rane Harris Nelson, age 74, born and raised in Fort Scott, Ks, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Olathe, Ks.

She was born on June 26, 1949, the daughter of Ray Hugh Harris and Cleta Mae Graham Harris.

Debbie graduated from Fort Scott High School.

After graduation, she spent her entire career as a dedicated employee of Mercy Hospital until she retired. She started as a Therapy Aide and later worked as a Certified Nurse Aide

She married Anthony Ware Nelson Jr.

Debbie enjoyed watching court shows, and westerns, and attending church at Mount Olive Church of God in Christ.  She read the Bible, prayed, and held many different roles in the church.

Debbie adored elephants which could be seen by her huge ceramic collection.

She also loved spending time with family.

Survivors include her three children, Toni Gibson, and husband Xander, Anthony Nelson the III, and Rosalyn Nichol, and her husband Jacob; and two grandchildren, Ella, and Nyha.  Also surviving are two brothers, Eugene, and Roger Harris; and three sisters, Glenda Harris, Rotena Gray, and Hattie Wright.

Her husband, Anthony, preceded her in death, in March of 1998. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, William Graham, Buford Harris, Donald Drake, Leon Harris, Phyllis Mason, and Linda Vann.

Elder Roger Harris will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M., Friday, November 17th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Ks 66701.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

KISS is Coming to Fort Scott, Almost

Almost Kiss. Submitted photo.

For those who love American Hard Rock Music, there is a show for you this weekend in Fort Scott.

KISS, the original group formed in the 1970s is known for such hits as  “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Black Diamond,” according to its website.

A group considered talented enough to be endorsed by Gene Simmons, one of the original KISS members, Almost KISS will be performing this Saturday, November 18,  at 7 p.m. at  Fort Scott’s  Memorial Hall, Third Street and National Avenue.

To order tickets: https://advanceboco.ticketspice.com/almost-kiss-tribute-band

Memorial Hall at Third and National Avenue.

Almost KISS are four devoted KISS fans and they choose to pay homage to the famous band in their shows, according to their website.

This entertainment event and others throughout the year have been organized by Advance Bourbon County.

Cory Bryars, Brad Matkin, and Josh Jones were having a conversation earlier in the year.

“Brad mentioned this tribute band, Almost Kiss,” Jones, spokesman for the Advance Bourbon County group, said. “Then he started reminiscing about his old rock and roll days. I have even talked Brad into having full Kiss makeup on during this event. So that itself is worth the admission fee.”

“With ABC, I have no set agenda on acts or events that I prefer,” he said. “Our main thing early on is to try as many different types of events as possible and see which ones gather the most attention. Then as we move into 2024 we will be more selective on which events we bring in. It’s just a way of giving back to a community that we love being part of. We have a beautiful venue and the most wonderful people around and it’s our hope we can now start drawing in outside people to our community to see what we can offer.”

Josh Jones.

Advance Bourbon County is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation whose purpose is to make Bourbon County a better place through events and fundraising opportunities, according to its website.

“We will be announcing our upcoming events for 2024. We plan on doing about 6-8 events in 2024,” Josh Jones said.

The ABC recently organized a renovation of the waiting room in Memorial Hall, which is used by entertainers when they are offstage.

Aaron Judy with H2 Painting, Jeff Allen Electric, Fort Scott Fire Department, Flowers by Leanna, and Stoughton’s Plumbing helped with the project.
The work was done with volunteer work and some donated materials.
“Memorial Hall is such a big asset to our community and Advance Bourbon County is excited to play a part in helping fix it up,” Jones said.

 

 

Deadline to Enter the Christmas Parade: November 27 at 1 p.m.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

presents the 2023 Christmas Parade!

Thursday, November 30th at 6pm

Deadline to enter the parade:

Monday, November 27th, 1pm

Click here for printable entry form.

Click here to enter online.

The Parade will start at Wall & National, in front of the radio station, go south on National to 3rd St., turn left on to Main St., then proceed north on Main to Skubitz Plaza where the parade will end at the Mayors Christmas Tree.

Festivities after the Christmas parade in Fort Scott:

*Lighting of the Mayors Christmas Tree immediately following the parade, north end of Main

*Holiday Fireworks

*Photos with Santa at Be the Light Boutique

Get your co-workers, friends or family together

& enter the parade today!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Do You Stink? by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

 

When I was a young girl, I thought the fragrance of ‘Evening in Paris‘ was absolutely lovely! Several years ago, I ordered the cobalt-blue bottle of this cologne from ebay just to remember the scent and enjoy the nostalgia. (However, it didn’t smell as good as I thought it did as a kid.) The sense of smell is a powerful instrument for bringing us pleasure or annoyance. I love the fragrance of an iris, but the scent of a skunk is a whole nother ballgame. I’ve been told by friends that my home has its own fragrance. I wasn’t aware of it because I’m used to it. But I know what they’re talking about, as I recall my piano teacher’s living room had the same certain smell every week.

 

Whether we realize it or not, Christ followers give off a pleasing or offensive scent everywhere we go. Like Pepe’ Le Pew, the “odor-able” French striped skunk, we may not realize we’re giving off a putrid odor that annoys people or causes them to run away from us. Pepe’ was used to his odor, and I think it’s possible that some believers can be so used to their harsh and overly-opinionated personality that they aren’t aware that they’re annoying and their persona stinks to high heaven. Apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary” (Ephesians 5:4 TPT).

 

What’s your favorite fragrance? You can’t buy the following perfumes anywhere, but you can possess them in your heart and lavish them on people everyday: Compassion, Love, Hope, Encouragement, Kindness, Gentleness, Understanding, Patience, Goodness, and Empathy. These priceless fragrances display the character of Jesus Christ.

 

“Thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads in triumph [as a trophy of Christ’s victory] and through me spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14 AMP). Through the yielded lives of believers, we are to spread the fragrance of God wherever we go. We should live every day as fragrant love spreaders. (There’s more than enough manure spreaders out there.) Just a few positive words of encouragement spoken over a discouraged individual can change his/her outlook and give hope.

 

“But this beautiful treasure is contained in us — cracked pots made of earth and clay — so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 VOICE).  Believers must realize that anything good we do only comes from God’s power living in us. We owe it all to Jesus for making it possible to wear the fine fragrances of a renewed life in Him. Although we’re common/imperfect clay jars (created from dust/clay) we possess the fragrance of God in our heart. His sweet fragrance in us will naturally spill out on others as we practice loving on them.

 

Christ followers need to be aware of how we smell to others. What one person thinks smells good, another can think it stinks. I once worked with a very nice woman, but her cologne fragrance was horridly unpleasant to my nose. Obviously, she thought it was wonderful or she wouldn’t have chosen to wear it. But, to me, it smelled like toilet-bowl cleaner. We need to seriously reevaluate our spiritual fragrance choices to ensure that we’re a sweet and welcoming fragrance to others.

 

The Key: Don’t be like Pepe’ Le Pew and turn people off because you stink.

Ad: Fort Scott Community College – Level up your career!

 

Want to level up your career or need to take classes that transfer to a 4-year college? Enrollment is OPEN for the spring and summer semesters at Fort Scott Community College! Dive into a world of knowledge from the comfort of your home. Spring classes start on January 10. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your skills and achieve your academic goals. Plus, did you know that most classes at FSCC transfer? Join us on the journey of learning! For more info, go to https://fortscott.edu/admissions and contact Admissions today!

Coping with Loss and Loneliness During the Holidays

Clara Misenhelter (Wicoff) Submitted photo 2023

 

 

By Clara Misenhelter

Southwind Extension District

 

The holiday season is here. It can be a joyous time, but not always or for everyone. For many, especially those feeling emotionally distant or those who have recently experienced a loss, it is a time of year that can leave us particularly vulnerable to feelings as we are pressured to “get in the holiday spirit.” While there is not any one best way to cope with these feelings, consider these tips for coping with loss and loneliness during the holidays:

  • Accept your feelings. Give yourself permission to feel how you feel. Whatever you are feeling is appropriate.
  • Do what feels right to you. Remember that you can opt out of a holiday event or tradition if it will be too much for you. Make a plan for comforting activities you can do instead. Consider asking someone to check in on you.
  • Get support. Talk to loved ones about your needs. If you or someone you know is in crisis or seeking emotional support, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also chat with them online at 988lifeline.org.

 

One year ago, K-State Research and Extension hosted a webinar about coping with loss and loneliness during the holidays. To learn more about this topic, you can view the webinar recording online at ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed. You can also join Tara Solomon-Smith and me at the Iola Public Library on December 7th at 6:30 PM for a free program on coping with loss and loneliness during the holidays. For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

 

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For November 13

 

Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

Bourbon County, Kansas

 

Nelson Blythe

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

November 13, 2023 5:30 p.m.

 

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute Followed by Prayer
  • Approval of Consent Agenda
    1. Approval of Payroll Totaling $214,950.58
    2. Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $248,178.11
    3. Approval of Minutes from 10/30/2023
  1. Public Comments
  2. Department Updates
    1. Public Works
  3. Lora Holdridge-Holiday Dinner
  • Susan Walker, CFO
    1. Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(1)
    2. Financials
    3. Elected Official’s Longevity
  • Teri Hulsey, EMS Director
  1. Justin Meeks
    1. Tax Sale
    2. Contracts
    3. MOU
  2. Commission Comments
  3. Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in theattorney-client relationship.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual     proprietorships

KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

 

U234 Board of Education Agenda for November 13

Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760

 

DESTRY BROWN

Superintendent

 

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

November 13, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.

PUBLIC AGENDA

1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President

2.0 Flag Salute

3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)

4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)

4.1 Board Minutes

  1. 10/09/2023 Regular Board Meeting
  2. 10/30/2023 Special Board Meeting

4.2 Financials-Cash Flow Report

4.3 Check Register

4.4 Payroll –October 20, 2023 – $1,669,587.26

4.5 Activity Fund accounts

4.6 USD 234 Gifts

4.7 FSHS Art Club Fundraising

4.8 FSHS Extended Trip Spring Break 2025

4.9 FSHS Swimming Fundraising

4.10 FSHS Wrestling Fundraising

4.11 FSHS Baseball Fundraising

5.0 Recognitions (Information/Discussion Item)

5.1 Student Recognition

5.2 Employee Recognition

6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)

6.1 Superintendent’s Report

6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report

6.3 Special Education Director’s Report

6.4 Finance Director’s Report

 

 

7.0 Old Business

 

7.1       Enrollment of Nonresident Students Policy

7.2       Changing Method of Board of Education Method of Elections and Voting Plan (Discussion  

Only)

8.0 New Business

 

8.1       Possible purchase of Property (Discussion Item)

                         Enter Executive Session – Preliminary discussion of the acquisition of property.

 9.0 Public Forum

10.0  Other Business – Personnel Matters

10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

10.2 Exit Executive Session

10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

10.4. Enter Executive Session – Superintendent Evaluation

10.5 Exit Executive Session

11.0 Adjourn Meeting David Stewart, President

What’s Happening in Fort Scott November 10 Issue

What’s Happening in Fort Scott! November 10th Weekly Newsletter

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Special activities all this weekend! See link below.

Visit your National Park!

Trolley Tours of Fort Scott

50-minute narrated historical tour

Every Friday & Saturday on the hour

Fridays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Saturdays 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

$6 adults, $4 12 & under, leaves from the Chamber

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Pizza Republic Wednesdays – 10% of sales go to FSHS Tiger Booster Club every Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm

Christmas on The Bricks T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Orders NOW until November 10th, Adult Sizes only-unisex sizing, click here for pricing and to order!

Candlelight Tour Tickets are on sale NOW, contact FS National Historic Site 620-223-0310 to purchase!

Dolly Hollyday Christmas Light Trolley Tours 12/8-12/23, tickets are $8/adult or $5/kids or reserve the Trolley for your friends and family for $125! Contact the Chamber 620-223-3566 to reserve your spot!

11/7-9&11 ~ FSHS Performing Arts Presents Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway, $8/adults and $6/students & children, click here for tickets and more information!

11/10 ~ US Marine Core Birthday Celebration at Pizza Republic, all are welcome, official

cake cutting ceremony will begin at 7pm, click here for more info!

11/10 ~ Vienna Boys Choir at Fort Scott Community College, 7:00pm, tickets are $45 with general admission seating, click here for more info and to order tickets!

11/11 ~ Bake Sale Fundraiser at First Southern Baptist Church, 7:00am-6:00pm, all proceeds go to building fund.

11/11 ~ Veterans Day Program at National Cemetery No. 1, 11am, organized by the VFW. All are welcome to the VFW after the ceremony for ham & beans!

11/11 ~ Veteran’s Day Appreciation at Fort Scott Munitions, all Veteran’s will receive a free box of ammo with no purchase necessary, 10am-6pm

11/11 ~ Outlaw Jim and the Whiskey Benders at Pizza Republic, a concert to celebrate Veterans

and their sacrifices made for our freedom, $5 cover charge, 8-10pm, click here for more info!

11/10-11/12 ~ Veterans Day Appreciation Special at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, all military personnel/active or veteran/first responders can come out and ride at NO CHARGE with ID card, click here for more info!

11/12 ~ St. Anne’s Altar Society Fall Festival Turkey Dinner and Kennedy Gym, adults $10.00 children 11 & under are free, come out and enjoy the feast and fellowship, 4-6pm, click here for more info!

11/14-15 ~ SEK Housing Conference in Independence, all welcome to attend! Click here for info.

11/15 ~ Paint Party at Papa Don’s hosted by 2 Southern Ladies, $35 per person, 6-8pm, click here for more information.

11/16 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by USD234 at Fort Scott High School, 1005 S. Main, 8am

11/16 ~ Bourbon County Senior Citizen Health Fair presented by HBCAT at the Scott View Apartments in the Conference Room, 9am-12pm, click here for more information!

11/16 ~ The Fort Scott Community College Theatre Department presents “Santa ‘Claws’ is Coming to Town”, admission is free as a holiday gift to the community, 7pm, see flyer below for more info!

11/18 ~ Almost KISS Tribute Band LIVE at Memorial Hall, 7pm, click here for tickets!

11/19 ~ 27th Turkey Shoot at BRCC, K-8th + a partner, fee:$2.00 per team, see flyer below.

11/18-25 ~ Annual Key Warehouse Sale, one week only, NOT ON THANKSGIVING, closeouts on men’s, ladies, and kids apparel, click here for hours and more information!

11/20 ~ FSMS Extravaganza sponsored by the FSHS Swim Team, 5-8pm, see below for the list of vendors that will be at this event!

11/20 ~ Washington Workshop Pulled Pork Dinner at Fall Extravaganza, $10, pulled pork/chips/drink/homemade dessert, 5-8pm

11/21 ~ Holiday Sweets Auction hosted by Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, come out and get your desserts for Thanksgiving, 5:30pm, if you plan on donating baked goods or other food items please bring them to the Village before 3pm that Tuesday, click here for more info!

11/23 ~ NO Chamber Coffee – Happy Thanksgiving!

11/23 ~ Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Elk’s Lodge, 11:30am-1:30pm, free will donation, click here for more information!

11/29 ~ Crooner’s Tree Lighting, doors/kitchen/bar open at 5pm, live music, tree lighting & champagne toast at 7pm, make reservations at fscrooners.com, click here for more info!

11/30 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sunshine Boutique, 18 E. Wall., 8am

11/30 ~ “Candy Land Christmas” parade hosted by Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 6pm

SAVE THE DATE!

12/1-12/3 ~ First Annual Christmas on the Bricks in Fort Scott Downtown Historic District, horse-drawn carriage rides/candlelight tours at the Fort/gingerbread house making contest/Christmas paint party at Pizza Republic/Floral Centerpiece Making Class at Sunshine Boutique and SO MUCH MORE! Click here for a complete listing of activities that will be happening that weekend!

12/16 ~ Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Fort Scott National Historic Site, 10am-11:00am, click here for more info.

_________

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Holiday Open House Shopping Event Downtown and Around, continues Friday & Saturday the 10th & 11th!

U.S.M.C Birthday Celebration at Pizza Republic!

And, Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders Sat. Night!

Kansas Rocks Veterans Day Appreciation Special November 10th through November 12th!

Christmas on the Bricks memorabilia sweatshirts & t-shirts are now on sale, pre-order by Nov. 10th!

Santa Claws is Coming to Town!

27th Annual Turkey Shoot @ BRCC!

2023 Fall Extravaganza is November 20: Shopping To Support the Swim Team

Fort Scott Middle School.

The annual 2023 Fall Extravaganza is Monday,  November 20 from 5-8 p.m. at the Fort Scott Middle School. The event began in 2009.

“Fort Scott High School Swimming is sponsoring the event,” said Madeline Martin, the swim coach for both boys and girls teams.
“The purpose of the event is to help our swimmers raise money to attend the 2024 Summer Olympic Swim Trials as well as bring an opportunity to town to support local businesses.”

“We have 56 booth spaces this year, a few more than last year in addition to several new vendors,” Martin said.

On  Facebook: https://fb.me/e/NkwvKmyf

Below is a list of vendors for the event:

About FSHS Swim Teams

“We have 11 boys coming out this year through our cooperative agreement with Frontenac and Pittsburg (school districts),” Martin said. “This girl’s season I am planning on 15+ girls from our COOP with Pittsburg, Frontenac, Arma, Colgan, and Humboldt ( school districts).”

The swim team practices from Monday-Friday in Pittsburg at the YMCA.

“Boys swimming has been active in Fort Scott since the winter of 2019 and then girl’s season began the spring of ’20 but was cut short due to COVID,” she said. “Angie Kemmerer began coaching the team and this will be my third year as swim coach.”

The money raised from booths at the Fall Extravaganza will allow the student-athletes to go to the Summer Olympics in Indianapolis, Indiana in June 2024.

“We are going to be spectators at the Summer Olympics,” she said. “The kids are excited to go watch some of their favorite athletes in person and watch a high-level competition in person.”

 

 

It’s Not Always About Numbers by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

Last week, I shared that I drove five hours to Iowa to sell my books at three different Christian bookstores over three days.  Although I hoped to sell several, that did not happen, but God arranged for me to meet some extraordinary people who taught me much about serving and compassion.

I wrote about how on the first day, Francine, an employee, and I bonded.  She, a tough, determined woman in her 70’s, demonstrated a work ethic I admired.  You needed a box moved?  She jumped in to help.  Books located for a potential customer, phoning in a request?  Francine scoured the store until she found the needed item.  Crates loaded and taken to another store?  In she came with her dolly. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do.

I asked Francine questions about her life.  Tough.  Growing up in poverty, she now works jobs for the three bookstores and as a security guard at night.  She had to leave work early that day, she said, because she was making dinner for her church’s youth group that met once a week.  “Would you like to speak to them?” she asked.

When I arrived at her small, country church at 6:30 that evening, I followed the noise into a cellar-type basement where six high schoolers were sitting around a table, laughing and visiting.  Gee, I thought, no cell phones.  I was thrilled by what I was witnessing.  There was Francine, dishing out the stew she had prepared and directing her teens to the homemade cookies resting on the side counter.

Melissa, a teen, volunteered to pray, and a young man, sitting with his back to me, removed his hat.  (I am old enough to be impressed.)  The prayer was sweet and sincere.

We were directed upstairs to the sanctuary area.  It was an old, yet proud, room with hardwood floors, plaster walls, an ancient piano, and this sign on the side wall.  Attendance the previous Sunday: 10.  Money collected: $101.00.  Think about that.  Some pastor, every week, prepares a sermon for 10 people.  One of those 10 probably leads worship.  But they continue, week after week, to do God’s work. Wow!

Submitted photo.

Francine was a huge part of this church’s survival.  As it turned out, she also, for 27 years, had made cookies for the Blood Bank, and this, my final day “selling” my books in their third store, also was the beneficiary of her benevolence.  She was the one who served cider and her cookies to patrons…the same patrons who avoided me at all costs.  Still, she did her best.  “I want you to meet our visiting author who has come all the way from Kansas,” she said, proudly. “I’ve bought five of her books, four as presents.  I’m on Chapter five of her book, and it’s great.”  I later told her that I needed to hire her as my agent.

We need more Christians like Francine, people who are willing to do whatever it takes to help others succeed.  It wasn’t about numbers.  Every single person she met deserved to be valued.  I left Iowa, not with many book sales, but with clear understanding why I had gone there: to know that God wants my faith to grow.  As usual, He worked in ways I never expected.