Harold Gooley volunteered to teach a handful of Junior High boys, which is as close to herding cats as you can get.
Mr Gooley
Having a name like “Gooley” and working with Jr Hi boys is not a good mix. I was one of his students. He was, “Mr. Goooooulee!!” There was a tone of Halloween freakishness and just loud enough to be overheard. Classes were held in a dimly lit, musty smelling balcony of an aging facility.
Mr Gooley was in his 50’s, single and hunchbacked.
I’ll never know for sure if Mr. Gooley was merely arm-twisted into teaching this tough to reach age group, however my experiences with him would indicate that he was more than just a warm body filling a volunteer role. He gave homework assignments. To Junior High boys. Read that again.
One assignment was to write an essay on the Life of Paul. Memory tells me I was the only one to hand in an essay.
He gave me the gift of a New Testament for completing a Junior High essay assignment. It was his way of encouraging me to grow my faith in Jesus.
Reach Out
The New Testament I received was a Living Bible translation written especially for teens. It was the “Reach Out” version.
The cover was in colour, not the typical fake black leather covers of other Bibles in my possession. It had pictures and teen related commentary.
Mr Gooley wrote a personal note to me on the inside cover. His words had a profound effect on me; far greater than he could have ever imagined.
“This Bible comes with the fervent prayer that it will increase your knowledge of the things of God and create a desire to ‘reach out’ to others in your own age group.”
“This also comes to show my own gratefulness for the encouragement you have given to continue my work among young people especially in the field of teaching Sunday School.”
INVALUABLE ENCOURAGEMENT
I was hard pressed to imagine what encouragement it was that Mr. Gooley got from me. However, he said he was encouraged by me.
That felt good.
He encouraged me to count the “things of God” as valuable. His was an important adult voice in addition to my parents’ voices.
PRAYER
Mr. Gooley was praying for me… fervently. He wanted to me to know God.
I think Mr Gooley got a lot of mileage out of his prayers.
Who knew then that 45 years later I would become a pastor, reaching out to thousands each month.
He had no way of knowing that I would get to lead purposeful and devoted believers from North Pointe who are engaged in reaching out to hundreds of people in our local communities.
His generosity, intentionality, influence and prayers rippled a long way into the future.
Mr Gooley has long ago passed away. His “Reach Out” Bible sits on my office bookshelf.
A Pattern
Mr Gooley’s New Testament gave me a effective pattern to follow since I was a teen:
1. Read the New Testament.
2. Allow your mind to be expanded by the God behind these words.
3. Let Him reach out to your thoughts, your emotions, your will.
4. As He fills you with Himself, reach out to others with the fantastic good news.
I thank God for Mr. Gooley.
I pray I am having the same measure of influence on others as he had on me.
APPLICATION: Who is your “Mr Gooley?” Who poured into your life? Post their name and role in your life below. Thank you.
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I have been so fortunate to meet and have 3 Mr Gooleys in my life. Men of God who inspire me to be a better person and live a better life everyday. Men who give of themselves selflessly. Men who are so passionate about serving God and others. My Mr Gooleys are Pastor Bob Jones, Dr Greg Raymond and Papa Leonard Howell. God bless these amazing Fathers of mine 🙂
Humbled and honoured to be one of your “Mr Gooley’s.” Thank you Blessing.
Pastor Kenn Gill was my Mr. Gooley in my teen years and still is in my life over 30 years later.He would take us teenagers out to play football on Monday nights right by his house. I never wanted to play as I was not athletic like the other boys, but he would ensure every person had a chance with the ball even me. As a senior pastor, he was a busy man trying to balance ministry life and home life but he always took the time to spend time with me…either on the steps of his home to encourage my faith as a struggling teen, or pray for me at the altar at the church. or even a friendly hi if he saw me at a restaurant and such. 30 plus years later he is still cheering me on….from writing the forward of my first published book, to ministering with him in various churches and places to just doing life together.. Now I am in my 40’s finding a chance to encourage Kenn’s grandchildren the same way he encouraged me and other young people.
You also influenced my life when i was really young at Lakeshore, Bob. Forever grateful for the many spiritual leaders that have graced my life.
So good to read your story about Kenn. I am sure his influence in your life was as rewarding to him. Pastors are like that. Thanks for joining the conversation, Mike! Always good memories. Lakeshore and a Flames playoff game.