Named Buildings, Known Lives

Charles E. Mandley Memorial Gymnasium, Lebanon High School, Lebanon, IL; Hank Feldt Athletic Fields, Lebanon High School, Lebanon, IL; Harry M. Statham Sports Center, McKendree University, Lebanon, IL . . .Walking this morning in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center I began pondering the name of that place, then I began to wonder about other such places around town and their shared places in history. I have been blessed to be the public address announcer at one time or another in all three of these venues and am also blessed to know, or have known, all three of the gentlemen for whom these venues are named.

Charles E. Mandley gave unselfishly of his far too short life to the children of the community and the young men and women who gathered in the LHS gymnasium to learn the fine art of sports competition. Hank Feldt continues, now well into his 70's, to teach young men and women the skills they need to compete at a high level on the athletic fields and on the courts - and has been named to various halls of fame for his dedication and accomplishments. Harry M. Statham is the winningest college basketball coach in NCAA history and his storied career has been fully spent on the McKendree University campus. Known throughout the University, community and coaching circles, as a coach's coach, Harry Statham humbly dedicates himself to the building of productive citizens, tenacious students, and student athletes . . . in that order.

These three individuals did not finance the building of the venues where their legacies are etched, but they have completely given of themselves that the lives of others might be built upon the lessons they have learned there. The inherent human investment and cost which results in having a name painted on a wall or a sign, or having it etched on a plaque, far exceeds the financial value of any of the venues where such things can be found. These places haven't been named as they are for trivial reasons, but reflect lifetimes of perserverance, dedication, faith, and hope, all given for the sake of the other, for the lives of the ones known and unknown. God bless Charles, Hank and Harry, for their ongoing legacy of transformational commitment.

Yet, all this got me to thinking about 'named' legacies . . . and then I began mulling over the Church of Jesus Christ. Oh, we know the various expressions of the Church: United Church of Christ, Catholic, Methodist, ELCA, LCMS, Baptist, Church of God, Pentecostal, Nazarene and on and on ad naseum, each fairly certain that the name JESUS CHRIST FAITH CENTER is printed or etched on their walls exclusively. But, the fact of the matter is, the Holy Spirit established the Church of Jesus Christ first (Acts 2), all other names and expressions of that initial birthing came later, often as a result of internal theological and ecclesial war (So much for the Church of Jesus Christ fully reflecting the Son of God.). And, again truth be told, the only way to lift up the One by whom the Church is named, is to served as He served, to live as He lived, and to be faithful as He is faithful . . . not as an expression of denominational perfection, but as a reflection of the One who has laid down His life for all. It is, after all, the Church of Jesus Christ . . . or it is not the Church at all. Period.

It is something to ponder in this first week of Lent. In whose Church do you worship? In whose Name do you serve? By whose Name are you known? If the answers to those questions isn't Jesus Christ, you might think a bit about who paid the price that you might know life . . . and find a worship home where Jesus Christ is still the only Lord. Blessings on the journey!