"By some definitions, Cook has the largest church in the country. As the full-time chaplain of Atlanta's international airport, his flock includes the 56,000 employees and a quarter of a million travelers who pass through each day.
The United Methodist minister models his ministry on the parable of the good Samaritan — a stranger who helps a traveler in crisis and practices kindness, often without mentioning religion. Cook says he gets a lot of practice in these days of inflexible airline rules. He often pays a traveler's $150 change fee from his chaplain's budget or his own wallet. And sometimes he manages to bend the rules."
"but first the chaplain peeks into the chapel. It's an interfaith chapel: There is an altar with flowers, but no cross or other religious symbol. A Muslim man is on his knees, facing east. A woman sits in the corner. Cook walks over to her.
'Excuse me,' he says. 'I noticed you were here this morning.'
The woman is in her 40s, rail thin and fidgeting anxiously. She whispers that she came from downtown to meet someone who never showed up. She's run out of money and can't leave the airport. Cook says he'll buy her a transit card for a week. At this small gesture, she begins to cry"
See this? he doesn't prosthelytize, he's not up in anyone's face about how they are sinful, or wrong, or going to hell.
This is simply a good man, living his faith quietly, every single day.
Now this I can wholeheartedly endorse and respect.
Thank you for sharing. I admire how he can pray to his God for everyone and still respects them for their individual belief or lack thereof. He appears a true minister of good will.
That is one tall order! My Dad did a pretty good job of it, and I just wish I could do as well. They are rare and few, the folks who can go day by day, and do the work so well!!!
"By some definitions, Cook has the largest church in the country. As the full-time chaplain of Atlanta's international airport, his flock includes the 56,000 employees and a quarter of a million travelers who pass through each day.
The United Methodist minister models his ministry on the parable of the good Samaritan — a stranger who helps a traveler in crisis and practices kindness, often without mentioning religion. Cook says he gets a lot of practice in these days of inflexible airline rules. He often pays a traveler's $150 change fee from his chaplain's budget or his own wallet. And sometimes he manages to bend the rules."
"but first the chaplain peeks into the chapel. It's an interfaith chapel: There is an altar with flowers, but no cross or other religious symbol. A Muslim man is on his knees, facing east. A woman sits in the corner. Cook walks over to her.
'Excuse me,' he says. 'I noticed you were here this morning.'
The woman is in her 40s, rail thin and fidgeting anxiously. She whispers that she came from downtown to meet someone who never showed up. She's run out of money and can't leave the airport. Cook says he'll buy her a transit card for a week. At this small gesture, she begins to cry"
See this? he doesn't prosthelytize, he's not up in anyone's face about how they are sinful, or wrong, or going to hell.
This is simply a good man, living his faith quietly, every single day.
Now this I can wholeheartedly endorse and respect.
- Coeloptera
Glad you were touched by this story. You might like Guide Post magazine.
Subscribe it for a while and maybe your out look will continue to change for the better and maybe just maybe you'll find this loveing God I've tried to tell about.
Thank you for the story...Mike
Glad you were touched by this story. You might like Guide Post magazine.
Subscribe it for a while and maybe your out look will continue to change for the better and maybe just maybe you'll find this loveing God I've tried to tell about.
Thank you for the story...Mike
I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not likely. You know I believe all we have is each other, but as a humanist, I can appreciate that the love and charity he shows to all people helps make things a little better in the world every day.
Wish we had a million like him, all over the world.
- Coeloptera
Last edited by Coeloptera; 09-11-2009 at 07:25 PM.
