By Danny Minton

Some of the most significant impacts on people’s faith come not from the pulpit but from the people sitting in the pews. We often don’t realize how much of an impression we can have on people by simply living like Christ. Each of us has the potential to be the light of Jesus to someone who is in need, either physically or spiritually.

I recently officiated at the memorial service for a lady who had been involved in mission work all her life. She and her husband spent years spreading the Gospel and doing good works in various locations in Latin America. When her husband passed away a few years ago, she continued to serve. Most of those who read this won’t know her. You won’t read about her in books or see a movie based on her life. However, her imprint on many people’s lives will spread in various ways. She was born Forestine Hagan. We all knew her as Frosty Sumner. 

After her husband passed, Frosty and several other ladies began working with the Bhutanese refugees brought to Abilene. The group of volunteers taught English as a Second Language classes and helped them fit into the way of life in their new country and home. As a result, over 45 of them came to know the Lord. Most have now moved to other states to be with relatives, but the impact Frosty and the others had lives on in their lives. 

Below is a letter that I read at Frosty’s memorial. It reflects the impact of Frosty’s care and love for one of the Bhutanese. She had moved to Ohio several years ago, but they had kept up with each other. Like so many others, Frosty had made them her children. The letter is being posted as it was written, in broken English and with a great heart.

“Hi Mom this is your Daughter Ganga . Here is now the time is around 12pm I start writing ✍️ a story up my life and my sweet mom Frostiana.  🙏🙏 When I come to USA I have no one relative there in Taxes. I went to southern hills church. After I started to went church I saw there was lots of people who helped us by every angle, specially I founded frostiana mom ,patsy mom Carolina mom , preesyla and so many others mom who helped all Bhutanese families. They all did help us lots as like their own kids and family members. I want to tell that’s Thank you so much all our southern hills members who help us as a volunteer and protect us as good way. Thanks lots again all and that’s time I have 2 kids my first daughter was 4 years old and son was 14 months only they are so small I don’t know how to talk English and I am worried lots about move to USA. I think I am not able to do anything here always I crying after that time frosty mom Came and start helping me. I am really happy after that I said you are my mom from today  and frosty mom said okay. Then from that day we loving each other. Some time I went my mom house and some time mom comes. We went lots up place and hospital mom and patsy mom helped me to drive for take out sitizenship. We went Dallas Taxes, We saw beautiful places we eating together and enjoy lots. Mom helps us lots and loves us lots. I never forget that mom helped us. We stayed 10 years there. I never miss my own family but I really loved frosty mom. I like to stay in Texas but some reason I come to Ohio. But then also I really miss my mom and I went to meet her in Abilene Taxes and last year mom came and meet me. We did planning to meet again in this coming may but I can’t believe mom left me alone that much faster. You know mom now I’m alone. I will prying for you love you so much love you so much forever. If that’s time if I not get help from mom I am not alive till now. But when mom needs help and pain I am not able to do anything. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏I am really sorry mom I really miss you mom I really love you I know you left me alone in this big world but I never feel you are so far mom. You’re stayed in my inner my heart I promise I never forget you till my death 💀 love you mom love you so much 💋💋💋💋❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍and I will promise you today if I got another life in next world I want to be your daughter again. Hope we meet again in next world as like same now you’re my mom and I am your daughter. Again 😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️ mom see I feel really lonly because you left me. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭Mom if you know the way to meet you fast tell me i like be with you know one knows me and more than you did mom. Love you and Thank you so much for being my mom, mom. 💋💋💋💋💋💋💋Stay in peace always mom. Stay with God with Father and have a good morning mom. Now the time was 1:10.  I will say again,  bye mom.😍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”

We often don’t realize how the lives of those around us are changed by how we treat them. When the apostles spoke on Pentecost, three thousand or more became Christians. When those three thousand went home, they carried with them the good news of Jesus Christ in their minds and hearts. Through sharing the good news by ordinary men and women, Christianity spread to the lives of millions. 

You don’t have to be a preacher to be an influence on the lives of others. You don’t have to be a foreign missionary to change the world. You can be a “Frosty Mom” and be there for those who live in your hometown, neighborhood, street, and even next door. 

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ