Who Said It
Ben Patterson

Ben used to be an avid wrestler and weightlifter. Now he focuses on a different kind of building up. He disciples students. He is currently the campus pastor at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He previously served in the same role at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Ben has written a number of books. He's also pastored churches on the east and west coasts.

What He Said
Call Forth the Best

Gracious words build up and strengthen others, calling forth their best.

I read of a professor at a small New England college who year after year was voted by his colleagues and students as the school's outstanding instructor. When he retired, the college held a banquet in his honor and asked him to give a speech explaining the secret of his success as a teacher.

The professor blushed as he began and said, "Well, I guess I can say it now that I'm leaving. At the beginning of every semester, in every class I taught, I would identify the student who seemed most likely to fail. On the first exam, I gave this person a far better grade than he or she deserved. And then I somehow made it known to the rest of the class, in the student's hearing, how well the student had done. In 40 years of teaching, it never failed to produce the desired result. Every student rose to a higher level."

Adapted from He Has Made Me Glad (InterVarsity, 2005) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, please help me become a motivator of others by the way I affirm, patiently challenge, and encourage them.

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