Speaker Lee Ayers
Larry Gleason
At the February 4 meeting of the Men’s Christian Fellowship Lee Ayers shared The Holy Trinity and Me, a touching account about significant events and challenges in his life and his walk with the Lord. Born to an unwed mother and placed in an orphanage, Lee was adopted by the Ayers at age six months. At age four, Mrs. Ayers shared she was not his real mother. This resulted in concern and questions in Lee’s mind as to why his birth parents didn’t want him. Eventually this led to feelings of “I’m no good” which would continue most of his life. Over time Lee began to block out the love the Ayers’ showed him, feeling eventually they may not want him either. By the time he was in high school, he had shut out both parents in his life. While his parents had successful careers, as a child Lee never felt he would amount to much. However, he did enjoy success in school as well as in baseball and football. A significant event occurred for Lee when at 14 he was invited to play semi-professional baseball which he played for nine years. Despite the success in his teen years, the long-time feelings he carried continued and at age 15 depression resulted in Lee being hospitalized after losing 30 pounds in three weeks. A turning point in his life occurred on a hunting trip in early August 1950, when a high school football teammate introduced Lee to the Lord and explained the Lord had a purpose for him. Lee went on to obtain BA and MA degrees and professional success in teaching, coaching and administration. Throughout his adult life he has been active in many Christian organizations and has led others to the Lord, despite lingering feelings if the Lord really wanted him. Lee shared that many strong Christians in his life have helped him in overcoming his feelings of unworthiness. A few years ago a strong Christian friend helped him understand it was Satan working on him all these years to cause his feeling of unworthiness. This led to a breakthrough for Lee to finally overcome the negative thoughts about himself. As a committed Christian, Lee feels the Christian conscience is the Holy Spirit speaking to true believers in Christ. He encouraged Fellowship members to carry out the “Great Commission” of sharing how to come to Christ, as well as telling others of Christ’s love and the importance of forgiveness of others.
At the Fellowship’s March 4 meeting, Don Callaghan, curator at The Bible Museum in Goodyear, will be speaking. For more than 25 years Don has been restoring, buying and selling ancient Bibles as well as teaching the history of The Bible. The meeting will be held in the Tuscany Falls Chianti Room starting at 7:30 a.m. Coffee and pastries will be available at 7:00 a.m. at the Tuscany Falls Coffee Bar. All PebbleCreek men are welcome to attend.