1122 John Hagee, American

May 2. John Hagee is the founder and Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church in , Texas, a non-denominational evangelical church with more than 22,000 active members.

Pastor Hagee has served the Lord in the gospel ministry for more than sixty years and reached international audiences through his radio and television ministry. He also founded John Hagee Ministries, which is telecast to the and Canada, and the organization Christians United for . On this date in history, Pastor Hagee opened a home for orphans.

In the face of hopelessness, a godly man takes action.

When John was 15, he was the assistant athletic director at a home for orphans. Every day he’d go into work, and he’d see the orphans’ hopelessness. He’d hear the edge in their voices that said they were afraid to hope. He’d feel their loneliness.

Every Friday was visitation day, and they’d talk about who was coming to see them. “My mom is coming to see me” or “My mom is coming to get me in a blue car” or “My dad is coming to see me”—whether anyone was coming or not. Hagee grieved for the little boys hanging on the fence outside and waiting for someone to come.

Week after week they’d wait. But no one came.

Eventually it dawned on them that they were alone. They got it. No one was coming, and no one cared. Sadness overtook them. Rejection became the rule of live.

Hagee knew there had to be solution. “I know we cannot change the world. I know it is an ocean of pain. But it is wrong to see a need and not help that need to the level that God helps you.” He just didn’t know what the solution was yet.

The concrete plan came years later, after Hagee let the Holy Spirit grow and water his heart through his many years of ministry. His vision of providing a home for single mothers in need was finally becoming a reality. His vision for this home was not just a safe place for mothers, but a place where medical care would be provided, parental training would be given, counseling, educational opportunities and job-placement services would be offered, all with no financial obligations.

Hagee knew the vision had been created in his 15-year-old heart. Replaying the memories of kids hanging on the fence pleading for someone to come solidified his desire for change. “We cannot help them all, but we can help some,” he said. “And we should.”

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27 NLT).

What can you do for the people in your life who need help? In the face of hopelessness, a godly man takes action.

"Sanctuary Of Hope; Pastor John Hagee's Heart". Youtube, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzypmaLT1Dw. Accessed 24 Apr 2019. Maule, Will. "‘All Completely Free Of Charge’: Pastor Opens Incredible Facility For Pregnant Women In Crisis". Faithwire, 2018, https://www.faithwire.com/2018/03/15/all-completely-free-of-charge-pastor-opens- incredible-facility-for-pregnant-women-in-crisis/.

Story read by Chuck Stecker Story written by Abigail Schultz, https://www.instagram.com/abigail_faith65