Bill Billingsley was the lead pastor at Sheridan Hills Baptist Church in Hollywood, Fl. I served on his staff and he impacted my life in huge ways. In fact, whenever I get together with Dan Southerland or David Hughes we often will comment about the difference making impact Pastor Billingsley had on our lives. I went on staff at Sheridan Hills when I was 33 years old. I immediately learned the value of modeling. No it was not on a stint on the runway- but in life’s pathways.

I remember walking the campus early in my tenure and he bent over and picked up a gum wrapper- I tried to make light of his behavior. I asked him, “Do you all have a maintenance staff here”? At which he began a classic teaching moment. He explained, “Hal it’s the job of every staff person and member to pick up trash. As a leader we set the tone for what gets done by what we do. The fact of the matter is if you are on the second floor and the toilet begins to overflow you need to stick your hand in and fix it. Don’t merely report the problem – step in and lead.” His view of leadership and the role modeling played permeated everything he did. He gave me insights into leading, parenting and marriage.

Another story, it was Valentine’s Day and the staff guys went to lunch together. We were laughing and talking about what we would buy our wives. He was laughing right along. The one of the young guys (his name shall not be mentioned, because it is mine) said, “How little can we spend our wife’s Valentine’s gift and still get credit”. This is a discussion all guys have or at least think about every year. We all began to discuss how we didn’t want to appear cheap and “what the safe amount to spend might be”. In classic Billingsley fashion he explained his plan, “Gentlemen I am going to see how much I can spend on my wife instead of how little. You see I love her and I will find ways to cut expenses in other areas before I spend less on her. Love is generous and you guys need to do your best”. Point, set and match! We all bought better gifts that year.

Who is it in your life that models following Christ? Got a story you can share?

Let’s continue the dialogue on difference makers. My Dad is the hardest working man I have ever known. I can remember not seeing him during the weekdays sometimes as a child. It wasn’t that he traveled- he was going to work before I got up and often getting home after I went to bed. I know some people say he had his priorities wrong, etc. This was his story- there were 4 kids and my Mom stayed home to take care of what Dad believed was vital- his family and our needs. Dad never had a chance to go to college and I remember him telling me that college opened doors and also that, “His son would not make the same mistake”.

Sometimes I would go to work with my Dad (as a teenager) and watch him run a small printing company, Ad Design, in Washington, DC. I loved watching my Dad lead and he would often put me to work. He saw work as a virtue and reminded me that although he couldn’t always be the smartest guy in the room (I thought he was), he could be the hardest worker. It was this “never quit, never say die” attitude that he gave me and I am so grateful. I miss him in huge ways (he died in 2000) and wish he had a chance to see Church at the Bay- he would have loved it. I am also sure he would have found a way to play the trap set in our band. Thank you God for my Dad and the influence he has in my life. How about you? Have a story you want to share?

Difference makers come in all sizes and shapes. God has blessed my life with so many people who have engaged me, challenged me, encouraged me, sharpened me, and believed in me. I want to discuss 3 Difference Makers in my life. These individuals have all gone on to be with the Lord and I often wish I could get their input.

Difference Maker #1

My Grandmother- Dorothy Snowden

This is my Mom’s Mom. Grandma had a difficult life:

· Never graduated high school

· Single parent in her 20’s

· With no child support, she raised 2 kids

· A bullet lodged next to her spine

I tell you that now so that you will see how she gave me what she never received. For one reason or another, I was a difficult child (I just think it was more fun). I was constantly in trouble at school and I was an accomplished liar. My Mom really struggled with me and I often made her cry because of my obstinate attitude (I do regret that). Needless to say, my Dad could bring the heat and did on a regular basis. When everyone seemed to be focused on my negatives- and there were plenty to see- Grandma took a different edge. For some reason, she began to focus on my strength of personality and saw it as a positive leadership characteristic. She would often tell me, “Hal, you are going to be President one day.” I loved it when Grandma would come and I hated to see her leave! She found a way to cut through my anger and pain and redirect it. I became a Christ follower at 16 and as my life changed direction, I realized Grandma had been praying for me while she encouraged me.

Later on in life, as I began in full-time ministry (student pastor and small groups pastor), I would speak at our church and then send Grandma a tape (not 8-track!). I found out that when she traveled, she would listen to me rather than the radio and I laughed- she thought I was better than anyone and compared me to Billy Graham (sorry Billy). I went to visit her in her mobile home park in St Petersburg and I discovered I was famous. She had been passing the tapes around the neighborhood and encouraging… probably making her neighbors listen. One neighbor told me that Grandma gave these instructions when she loaned a tape, “only play it once, I don’t want you to wear it out.” When she died, I discovered she had every tape I had ever sent her. And so in her death- she was still encouraging me.

One last thought… I performed my Grandmother’s funeral and shared some of the stories of encouragement. I thought I was Grandma’s favorite- what I discovered was that every Grandchild thought that they were Grandma’s favorite! To be continued …

Have a comment?

Hey everyone- I’ve decided to make the leap and enter the blogosphere. Every now and then, I’ll be posting Go God moments, new learnings, and some leadership ideas/challenges. Here we go …

The Greatest Difference Maker in My Life:

I have always admired people who can make a difference and leave their mark. Before I was a Christ follower, I saw only famous or platform people as difference makers. After coming to Christ, I realized that everyone had a shot at making a difference if they reached their “God potential”. So I want to begin this discussion with the obvious greatest difference maker in my life, Jesus Christ.

I did not grow up in a home that followed Christ. In fact, we rarely went to church…you know, we were C&Eers (Christmas and Easter). My religious training up to 16 years old was fairly eclectic: baptized Catholic, parents attended a Presbyterian Church some, but mainly not much of anything.

We moved from outside of DC (Wheaton, MD) to Atlanta, Ga. It was there that I committed my life to Christ through the influence of a home Bible study called The Ellis’. Up to that point, I was running the edge and on the verge of making some huge “life-screwing-up” choices. Jesus Christ began the process of rearranging my priorities.

By my senior year in high school, I had become a serious Christ Follower. God gave me incredible friends and churches to sharpen me. I was amazed at how my focus in life was changing. Up to then, I really didn’t have a focus but, somehow, Jesus was taking over my life. I became very active in sharing my faith and studying the Bible.

Sometime in my senior year, it became obvious to me that God was directing me toward vocational ministry. I must say that most of my family was shocked- no one in my family worked in ministry and they had not seen that in me before. I guess that is because it wasn’t. I still laughingly remember my Mom’s phone call on my 30^th birthday. She said, “Hal, I am so excited to see you following God and in full time ministry- I thought by now you would be in prison!”

As I look back over 30 years of following Christ, I am amazed at what God has done and His willingness to use me. You see, I know a lot about me and God knows even more. I am so grateful for the difference he has made and continues to make in my life.

How about you? What is the biggest change in your life since becoming a Christ follower? Leave me a comment…