At the Foot of the Cross: A Story You Haven’t Heard

Breakpoint ^ | 6 Jan 04 | Chuck Colson

[Mr. Silverback]

Angel Tree, our Prison Fellowship program for prisoners’ children, is one of the great unheralded volunteer outreaches in America. Over the Christmas holidays these past few weeks, approximately 100,000 volunteers delivered Angel Tree gifts to more than 525,000 children of inmates.

You didn’t read about this in the newspapers, nor would I expect that you should. It’s not really that newsworthy that Christians help people in need. But there are two of our volunteers, who delivered forty presents, that I think you should have read about but didn’t. For reasons best known to themselves, the media ignored the fact that two of the volunteers were President and Mrs. George Bush. And they delivered gifts to forty inner-city kids in a church basement three days before Christmas.

President and Mrs. Bush arrived at three-o’clock, Monday, December 22, at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Now, presidents don’t move anywhere without a great deal of fuss. The police were out, the roads blocked, and Secret Service were roaming around the church. And when the president arrived, he was accompanied not only by his own team, but also by a pool of reporters, forty or so members of the press. For ten minutes they popped their flashbulbs, scribbled their notes, and then were ushered out.

I remember from my days with President Nixon what photo opportunities are: Get the picture and leave. So I thought the Bushes would shortly depart, but they didn’t. They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child, to have their picture taken with them, their mothers, and their grandmothers, to talk with them, and to ask questions. Though the press didn’t report it, I noticed that both the president and Mrs. Bush talked to the Hispanic children in Spanish.

Just before the president left, I introduced him to Al Lawrence, a member of our staff. I told the president that I had met Al more than twenty years ago in a prison. Jesus had got hold of Al’s life, and he’s been working for us ever since. Then I told the president that Al’s son was now a freshman at Yale. At that point the president stopped, exclaimed, “We’re both Yale parents,” and threw his arms around Al Lawrence—an African-American ex-offender being embraced by the president of the United States in a church basement. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross.

I tell you this story because it’s a wonderful Christmas story, and you probably haven’t heard it. With all those reporters who crowded into that basement, the visit resulted in almost universal media silence.

I suppose there are many explanations for this, but I’ll offer mine. The president is a Christian who really cares for “the least of these,” who does this not for photo ops, but because he’s genuine. That is something that his detractors in the media simply can’t handle. Conservatives caring for the poor? Never. It dashes the stereotypes.

But surely Christians ought to be rejoicing that the most powerful man in the world and his wife, a couple of days before Christmas, had a wonderful visit with the most powerless people in our society.

After all, that echoes the Christmas message, doesn’t it? The most powerful came to be with the least powerful to give us hope.

[Drawsing]

I don't believe the president has much choice about publicity while he is in office. It takes more resources to keep something secret than not. He does what he can with what he has.

[Tax-chick]

You don't have many kind things to say about your President, do you Tax-chick?

I beg your pardon? I have not said one word about President Bush, but only expressed an opinion on the good taste of Mr. Colson's publishing this article.

I'm sorry you're not feeling well.

[EdReform]

Bump & Ping!

[NormsRevenge]

Bump

[nothingnew]

You don't have many kind things to say about your President, do you Tax-chick?

That was unfair and unkind of me and I apologize.

The rest of my reply stands.

I feel fine, thanks.

FMCDH

[Johnny Gage]

I luv Dubya PING

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[Johnny Gage]

Forgot the ping list.

[SAMWolf]

Thank for the ping, Johnny. Why do I get the feeling if this was Hillary there would have been live coverage.

[stainlessbanner]

He really stressed the point that Bush is "multicultural" too.

[Pippin]

Thanks for the ping, Johnny!

I love reading stories like this one about two wonderful people like these!

And I als=ways liked Chuck Colson!

[ohioWfan]

You're making quite a fuss about this 'disappointment' that you feel, aren't you?

Who was Chuck Colson telling this to? The media? No. He was sharing it with fellow believers whom he felt ought to know what kind of President and First Lady we have. And I, for one, am glad he did.

btw, your Scripture reference does not apply, since Chuck was not seeking the self aggrandizement the passage refers to. It would have to be the President and First Lady's 'trumpeting' that would make the Scripture applicable.

THANKS, Mr Silverback for posting this, and THANKS mamaduck for the ping.

Those of us who have been observing the actions of our President are not one bit surprised by his Christ-like behavior, but are always thankful that God has been merciful to this nation and given us this wonderful couple to lead us.

[Pippin]

Because Hillary would've demanded live coverage or else she would not do it at all.

[Pippin]

Ditto!

[r9etb]

They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child

The true measure of a man is how he relates to children.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[colorado tanker]

Thanks for posting this. Chuck Colson definitely walks the walk.

It's so nice to have a President who doesn't believe faith is measured by the size of one's Bible.

[Tax-chick]

I feel awful, all day every day (see my tag line!), so I had to go back and make sure I hadn't inadvertently said something uncharitable about President Bush! I think it's outstanding that the Bushes spent time showing genuine Christian love for the unfortunate, and I don't believe they had any other motive for their visit to Prison Fellowship (unlike some other Presidents that might occur to us :-). I also believe Mr. Bush went to Iraq at Thanksgiving simply because he wanted to be with the troops and encourage them. AND I think they're both sharp dressers with terrific haircuts, and I'm delighted that I've been able to vote for him for governor AND president!

There, all kind statements about my President, which I mean sincerely, and thank you for the reminder to say something nice ... it's not hard to think of nice things to say about the Bushes!

[kitkat]

The Angeltree group NEEDS the publicity, so the press was notified.

As for Colson saying, "You didn’t read about this in the newspapers, nor would I expect that you should," he was saying that the President and First Lady did NOT stay after the media left in order to make themselves look good.

But, if Colson wanted to talk about, there's no reason why he shouldn't.

[kitkat]

When the President and First Lady endorse a charity which has given 525,000 thousand gifts to children, there is NO amount of publicity that is too much. The charity will thrive because of it. More children will benefit.

[Tax-chick]

Excellent point. If I was hasty and hadn't thought the situation through completely, it wouldn't be the first time.