In the summer of 2019, I embarked on a pilgrimage to attend Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. As a long-time admirer of Carter for his faith and service leadership, participating in his class was a big must-do on my bucket list. Due to his age, opportunities to soak in this experience were quickly fading.
After driving most of the day and half the night while taking a few wrong turns and buying a bucket of sweet peaches and a bag of pecans to eat along the way, I finally arrived at the church around midnight.
My car was number 23 in the parking lot. Luckily, this number ensured the 630 miles I had driven were not in vain. I would have a spot in the approximately 300-seat sanctuary.
After a few hours of spiritual tailgating, the crowd settled into our respective vehicles to catch a bit of shut-eye before the big event.
The rising sun brought new friends to my car window, offering coffee, doughnuts, warm smiles, and, most importantly, directions on where and how to line up.
Some folks in the large crowd had been there many times; others, like myself, were rookies. Nevertheless, we all shared a sense of belonging and fellowship as we made our way through the Secret Service checkpoints and into the sanctuary.
Once everyone was settled, Ms. Jan, Amy Carter’s former fourth-grade teacher, used her teacher’s voice to give concise but good-humored directions and advice: the Secret Service does not appreciate sudden movements, do not stand or clap when President Carter enters the sanctuary, no pictures once the lesson starts, and stay after to have your photo taken with the Carters.
In addition, Jana Carter, daughter of Carter’s brother, Billy, pointed out items Carter had handcrafted.
He made the huge wooden cross anchored above the choir loft. He made the mahogany offering plates inscribed with his initials on the back. While Jana continued talking, it was the cross that I could not take my eyes and attention off of as tears streamed down my face. I imagined the former president pouring his woodworking skills, heart and prayers into the beautiful creation.
Next, the charming yet humble pastor of the church, the Rev. Tony Lowden, came in and told a few stories about Carter. The one that particularly resonated with me was that after a recent health scare of a broken hip, the Secret Service unsuccessfully discouraged Carter from continuing to teach Sunday school and requested Lowden to step in and reason with Carter. Lowden could not do any better than the Secret Service, and three weeks later, Carter was back sharing the gospel.
When Carter entered the sanctuary, walking slowly but faithfully to the podium, Ms. Jan’s rules were adhered to.
As he sat down and smiled that famous smile, Carter’s first words were, “Are there any visitors here today?” The audience laughed, and then folks piped up about where they were from. Numerous states and several countries were represented. I was glad to say, “Kentucky.”
He then recognized any missionaries and pastors. He also shared his and Rosalynn’s current health updates and humanitarian activities.
The themes of the finest things in life — peace, the environment, equality, justice, human rights and loving thy neighbor echoed throughout his lesson. As only he could in his gentle voice, he pointed out those were all teachings of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the lesson, he focused on the essence of The President Carter Challenge (https://mbcplains.org/president-carter-challenge), “How many of you think if you did one good thing for another person over the next month that it would make America a better country? The world a better place?” He encouraged the crowd to find someone who might be lonely, destitute, poverty-stricken, hungry or somehow in need. Then, as a gesture of love, visit them and ease their pain, not as a superior, but as an equal.
The 39th president, 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Bible teacher since the age of 18 ended his lesson by saying, “To do one good thing for one other person will make America a better nation.” Those words have stuck with me.
A quote by political author Kai Bird on Jimmy Carter sums him up perfectly, “Carter was the only president to use the White House as a stepping stone to greater things.”
True, Mr. Bird, so true.
Instead of retreating from public life after his 1980 presidential loss, through prayer and contemplation, Carter put into motion a vision for serving others. The world is a better place because of his actions and influence.
In his honor, each of us can help make America a better nation by following his example of loving our fellow man.
This commentary was originally published by the Kentucky Lantern
