Yes, I love basketball. No, this post has nothing to do with the NCAA. Don’t get me wrong but the “FINAL FOUR” (despite in sports vernacular) one of the most exciting times for a sports enthusiast; I’m talking about something much more significant, substantial and spiritual. For starters, since the first day of this year I have been blessed to travel and speak in three countries and 13 states! Thank God for open doors and yes, the first 82 days have been wild but the last 10 days have been emotional, exciting and exhausting.

My wife, Ruth’s grandfather died two weeks ago on Friday, March 6 and thanks to a pastor friend who works for an airline was able to scramble and help her get a ticket to fly to El Salvador to attend the funeral. I was home with the kids all week and over 1,500 attended her grand-daddy’s funeral and Ruth returned the following Saturday after missing four “stand-by” flights and I was scheduled to preach four times in three days to a United Methodist Church Men’s Retreat at the beautiful WEST RIVER Conference Center (near Annapolis, MD) on March 12-14.

Running on empty and out of time – my parents (once again) graciously stepped in and I met mom half way to Ocean City, MD to drop off Baby Andrew and then drive 100 miles back to be at the conference center and preached on Friday night, twice on Saturday and then drove another 247 miles (round-trip) to reunite with my wife and parents to attend the GAITHER HOMECOMING CONCERT and was able to film a “Frank & Friends” video with Lynda Tait-Randle. Her brother is Michael Tait from NEWSBOYS. After the concert drove back to West River and got in after midnight (plus, losing the hour for Daylight Savings) and then preached Sunday morning and out the door at lunch. Only to come home, pack and depart the house at 3 AM on Monday, March 15 for a 6 AM flight to Houston, TX to connect with the team from COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL as we boarded an 11 AM flight to Guatemala City, Guatemala. Hence, one of the reasons for the “MARCH MADNESS” title. Just to make the plane, I had to drive 604 miles in 72 hours, preach four times and as Ruth was landing from El Salvador (like Elvis) I was leaving the building for Guatemala.

Honestly, this recent trip was one of the most moving experiences of my life. It is an honor to be a featured speaker/artist with COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL and fellow speakers Justin Lookadoo and ZORO (arguably, one of the world’s best drummers) and I had the honor to love on the hurting, hungry and homeless. As always, I went to give and gained in the process. One thing that blessed me was the fact that the folks who have the least are the most grateful. We visited two schools that are linked with COMPASSION and it was so refreshing to see the great work they’re doing.

Presently, 1.2 Million children are being sponsored by Compassion and last year over 133,000 came to faith in Jesus Christ! Poverty comes in many shapes and sizes. Famine is not just the absence of food but absence of faith in Jesus. I noticed a trend that those that had Christ had JOY but those in the same surroundings had no hope in their heart and their eyes seemed dark. It has been said “the eye is the window to the soul” and those walking with God had HOPE even in difficult situations. I visited two “homes” and one was less than 300 square feet, made with makeshift walls, tin roof with a hole that leaked when it rained, a dirt floor and housed 9 people!! Yet, when I left they loved on me and wanted to give me a gift as a token of their appreciation. In life, I have had friends give me some pretty amazing gifts but nothing comes close to the generous gifts offered from these fine folks in Guatemala.

We had lunch with one group and the folks who in our standards had “nothing” paused and prayed for our meal and they praised God and prayed to the Lord thanking Him for their food the longest. Tears welled up in my eyes and they really blessed and convicted me. Only 2% of those who sponsor a child ever have the privilege to meet them personally and I thank God for all those who have sponsored a child(ren) over the years. My mom has been sponsoring two children for over a decade and weeps every time she receives correspondence from the priceless children. At one school we visited, they had 200 students but only four were without sponsors. Yes, I am talking about the FINAL FOUR (two boys and two girls).

One was named Jose (age 5) with white tennis shoes, blue jeans, a white shirt and a white cowboy hat. Ruth’s father is named Jose and I thought maybe we would sponsor him. He was so cute! Another girl that touched me was Margurita (age 5) and looked like Dora the Explorer in a denim jean skirt. I was with a married couple from Kentucky who are on staff at ICHTHUS and put on the longest running Christian outdoor festivals. We both were staring at the four children (wishing we could either adopt them all, bring them home or sponsor them). Trying to think of others before myself, I told them to pick first and I would go from there. They prayed about it and selected Jose. It was down to three and I felt God leading me to pick Margurita.

The Compassion team introduced me to her and she immediately ran into my arms, kissed me on the cheek and smiled as wide as Washington, DC. I found out that (at age 5) she was no longer living with her parents, they had split up and now living in a “home” with her Aunt. When I saw her transcripts I learned her birthday is April 30, 2005. Exactly, the same birthday as my daughter, Hannah Grace (almost 10)! God spoke to my heart and He showed Himself over and over on this trip to me as we tried to be the extended Hands of Jesus, the compassionate heart of Christ and the ears and mouth of our Lord. For less than six Starbucks coffee’s per month you can sponsor a child and they help not only provide food, clothing, medical care but the children learn the love of our Lord, find faith in Christ and begin to dream. Folks who are starving and unsure of their next meal are not daydreaming about tomorrow because they are too busy trying to live through today.

However, when we provide for their physical needs they can begin to dream and I met a young woman who was sponsored at age five (by a 13 year old) who was touched by the presentation of a COMPASSION speaker. He paid $28 every single month for 13 years and that same girl is now enrolled in Compassion’s Leadership Program and she wrote at age seven that she would like to be a doctor. PATCH ADAMS (the doctor played by Robin Williams) flew to Guatemala recently and met her and her peers to encourage them. Well, in two years she will receive her doctorate and she is 24 months from seeing her dream become a reality! Go God!! I have always said: “Those that come the furthest tend to go the farthest.”

If you would like to sponsor a child visit www.Compassion.com or email directly at Frankmotiv8s@aol.com for more info. It’s tax deductible and one of the greatest things you can do in life. Yes, this month with planes, trains and automoblies my life has resembled MARCH MADNESS but the “real players” are not those crowned this month as National Champions that last a single season in basketball but those who take the time to sponsor a child and watch them flourish to become healthy, productive citizens in society. This gesture lasts longer than a season but a lifetime and those finding faith in Christ will live for eternity thanks to the generous love and support by caring people like you. The “real winners” are the children who benefit and escape poverty from sacrificial giving and meeting these treasures in person has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

At the end of every MARCH MADNESS the legendary Luther Vandross closes with one of my favorite songs of all time “One Shining Moment.” Don’t get me wrong – I love sports as much as almost anyone but the game I watch on tv doesn’t seem as “big” to me as it once did. Today, my eyes are on a bigger stage and much more is at stake than a national championship and its no longer a game to me. Over 160,000 people die daily and over half are not ready to stand before a Holy God. My sole mission in life is for lost souls, to reach as many hungry, hurting people as humanly possible, love on my family, befriend strangers, point people to a personal relationship with Jesus and both live and leave a legacy. My “ONE SHINING MOMENT” will not be when I scored 31 in a basketball game, played football at Texas Stadium, shot hoops with the Harlem Globetrotters on a NBA court, played three on three with CASTING CROWNS, hit a game winning, 360 jumper with two guys draped on me at Cole Field House in a tournament and carried off the court by teammates on same floor that LEN BIAS played ball, smashed a homerun over the fence in a game at Riverdale Baptist, crowned “Prom King” in high school or dined with powerful politicians or celebrities but by God’s grace; regardless if on tv, radio, newspaper, concerts, city-wide revivals, cruises, mega and country churches and/or sharing Jesus one on one along the way because He is “The Way, The Truth and The Life (no man can get to the Father but by Him).”

Yes, my road to the FINAL FOUR was filled with faith, fun and fortitude. We flew a couple thousand miles to get to Guatemala but pales in comparison that Christ would leave Heaven to come to Earth. He is worshipped above but would be rejected below. Divinity became humanity, took off His studded crown to carry my splintered cross. He wore Royal Robes in Heaven and adorned my ripped rags on Earth. Born in Bethlehem but departed Bulah Land to be the “bruised and battered Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world.” The Son became sin and was laid in a wooden crib and died on a wooden cross and because of His temporal death we could receive eternal life “by faith” in Jesus.

“Don’t delay – Sponsor a child and help save a life TODAY!”