DO RIGHT IN THE CHURCH

March 15, 2026

Lauren Chapin, at 9 years old, portrayed the youngest daughter, Kathy Anderson, a sensitive tomboy with pigtails, in the TV series, “Father Knows Best.”  For six seasons she appeared in living rooms all over America.

In real life her father physically abused her and her mother was an alcoholic who pushed her children into acting careers.

When the series ended Lauren was a 14-year-old has-been.  She spent decades in crises, addicted to heroin, working as a call girl, in prison for check forgery and experiencing stints in psychiatric facilities.  While in jail a priest befriended her and pointed her towards Christ.  When she got out of jail, her 5-year-old son invited her to church.  He was staying with her church-going aunt and uncle.

Lauren came to Christ through the love of that church, and became a minister, raising millions of dollars to help abused children while giving testimonies of how Christ saved her.  She said, “If Christ can love a person like I was, he can love anyone.”

Lauren was helped by her son who was in a church, and the people of that church who did right.  Sunday I’m preaching on “Do Right in the Church” from 1 Timothy 3:1-13.  We’ll talk about “Have Good Leaders,” verses 1-7; and “Have Good Deacons,” verses 8-13.

During the invitation time, we’ll ordain Al Thiel.  Our ordained attendees are invited to lay hands on Al and pray for him.  This is a sacred and wonderful time, so please come!  Also, bring desserts.  You can drop them off in the foyer on the way into the service, and we’ll eat them after church in the foyer.

Love,

Jim Meek