How God brings people together never ceases to amaze me. Some call it coincidence. Others laugh it off as just luck. Maybe it is for them. But I follow the living God and can see His hand guiding me to incredible opportunities I would never have experienced otherwise. For example…

In 1980, Beverly and I moved into our very first house. She was working in Atlanta for Southern Bell, a regional telephone company. I had joined a law firm in an Atlanta suburb specializing in local government and environmental law. And we were happy…mostly.

I routinely worked long hours and had about an hour’s drive to my office. So Beverly spent a lot of time alone at home. Then one day she learned of a jazzercise class and decided to give it a try. The class was held at nearby White Oak Hills Baptist Church. She loved it. And we were happy.

God brings people together for a purpose.

After several invitations to visit the church and some nudging by Beverly, I finally got my lazy self up one Sunday morning and off we went. The church as a whole was genuinely friendly. But there was this one guy who had an-ear-to-ear smile and a ready handshake. And that’s how I met Gene Blankenship.

Beverly and I joined White Oak Hills, where we served extensively, saw our three children baptized, and had 14 happy years. But one year wasn’t. In 1983, Beverly’s dad died unexpectedly. Then a few months later my dad was diagnosed with ALS. And if that wasn’t enough, my job was going nowhere.

I was depressed, confused, and overwhelmed. As Sunday rolled around I barely managed to get to church. But every single Sunday there was Gene near the back with his ever-present smile and firm handshake…waiting for me. He always asked how I was doing and always listened.

And that purpose will change your world.

God brought Gene Blankenship into my life for a purpose. Gene was my personal light of encouragement during a very dark time of my life. And through him, God began to show me what real encouragement, His encouragement, is all about. But that’s not all.

After ten years of studying what the Bible says about encouragement, I founded a ministry dedicated to encouraging people and teaching them how to encourage others. The ministry is called Ciloa and as of this writing it has reached into 187 countries.

None of that would have occurred without Gene’s influence and willingness to take the time to encourage me and demonstrate what it means to encourage one another as long as it is called today. ¹ I am eternally grateful God brought us together.

On May 31, 2024, at the age of 93, Arthur Eugene Blankenship, Sr. passed from this earthly life into the arms of his Heavenly Father. He was a wonderful man and a good friend.

 

Ciloa Forever!

 

Chuck

 

 

Chuck Graham is Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa, an international ministry devoted to sharing God’s encouragement and teaching others how to “encourage one another as long as it is called Today!” He is also an author, speaker, teacher, and encourager. Chuck and his wife, Beverly, live in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. You can learn more about Chuck and Ciloa at www.Ciloa.org.

 

 

Footnotes: (1) Read Hebrews 3:13.

Pictures: The Banner: Gene Blankenship. (1) Gene and Barbara Blankenship (2012). (2) Gene and Barbara Blankenship (2006). (3) The Blankenship Family. All pictures provided by Barbara and Arthur Blankenship.