My name is John Golling, and I’m the new registrar at Covenant Bible Seminary.
“If you meet me and forget me- you’ve lost nothing.
If you meet Jesus and forget him- you’ve lost everything.”
I first read this quote on the back of a business card that belonged to a man named Charlie Walker, and it has intrigued me ever since. Of all the things someone could put on a business card, Charlie chose to put what is essentially … an invitation to forget him! Usually, a business card is something you would give someone if you want them to remember you. In fact, isn’t the whole point of a business card to help people not forget about you?
I think what Charlie is saying by putting this on his business card, is that his hope for everyone he meets is that they have a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.
It’s kind of like what John the baptizer says when some of his disciples were leaving him to become apprentices of Jesus. He says about Jesus, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). The baptizer doesn’t care if you remember him, he just wants to point everyone to Jesus, so they could have a life-changing encounter with HIM, and follow HIM.
I think this is what Charlie wants for everyone he meets. I know he wanted this for me, and he showed it by always pointing me toward Christ. You see, Charlie Walker was one of my teachers in school, and I learned about his love for Christ by the way he lives his life, the way he cares for his students, and the way he loves and serves those who have a difficult life.
Charlie Walker was my teacher 40 years ago, and since then, I have had many teachers and mentors in my life that have shown me what it looks like to trust and serve Christ, and to follow Him with passion and zeal.
Over the next several weeks, I would like to share more about those who impacted my spiritual journey, my life as a disciple of Jesus, and some of the people and events that God used to lead me to Covenant Bible Seminary. And I hope to hear from you, and learn about your journey with Christ, also.
Do you have teachers or mentors in your life that point you to Jesus, and inspire you to follow Him?
What kind of person do you think would put the quote above on their business card?
What would it take to become the kind of person who has the humility and confidence to be genuinely willing to be forgotten for the sake of Jesus?
Yours in Christ,
John Golling
Here are a few pictures of me and my family.
Right: my daughter, Rebekah and her husband Pat.
