Morning Star Fellowship - part 15

The history of Morning Star Fellowship continues with Ruth Hart.  She is the younger sister of Shawn and Ashley, and the youngest child of Ed and Marie Hart.  Ed is one of the pastors of Morning Star Fellowship.

Ruth Hart
Ruth basically grew up in the shadows of her big brother and big sister.  She saw Shawn as always being the spiritual one and Ashley as always being the perfect one.  She didn't always remember to read her Bible every day like Shawn did, and she didn't bring home straight "A"s like Ashley did.  Ruth felt like she never quite measured up.  She really wanted to be accepted for who she was - not for who she wasn't.

After high school Ruth attended Kye Valley Christian College.  There she met Cole Allison.  Cole had curly auburn hair, deep-blue eyes, and he always had a smile on his face.  They both became good friends.  About a year later they started dating.

Cole always greeted Ruth, "Hey, Princess!  How's it going?"

Ruth liked being called a princess.  It made her feel like she was accepted for who she was.  It made her feel like she was not in competition with anyone.

Cole often asked her if she had any prayer requests, and in turn Ruth asked him if he had any.  There were many times when they stopped whatever they were doing and prayed for each other.

Cole and Ruth were married the summer after they graduated from college.  They lived in a small apartment near downtown Kye Valley.

They volunteered working with the children's ministry at Morning Star Fellowship.  Cole always played with the children.  It didn't matter if he was wearing a nice suit.  He got right down on the floor and played games with the children.  Ruth really liked that he had a strong sense of understanding them and wanting to be at eye level with them.  The younger children always climbed on Cole.  He often gave them piggy back rides - in his suit and tie and all.

Cole and Ruth usually lead the children in learning memory verses.  Cole always picked out verses that were short and easy for the children to remember.  He always said that long verses were for the teenagers and adults.  In time Cole became the children's pastor.

One Sunday morning a little boy asked Cole, "Are you Jesus?"

Cole smiled.  "No, I'm not."

"You look like Him."

"Really?  How do I look like Him?"

"I don't know.  You just do."

Ruth had witnessed this, and chuckled to herself.  She knew what the little boy saw.  In fact, she knew what all of the children saw.  She saw the same thing herself.

Ruth, referring to the little boy, later told Cole, "He sees Jesus in you.  The children all see the love of Jesus in your eyes."


"You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."
Jesus
Matthew 5:14-16




Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.