Pastor Darren Parker of Covenant Church welcomed his second sermon illustration on Thursday, a baby girl named Allie May who weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and promises to provide years of funny anecdotes for her father’s weekly messages.
“I am so overjoyed at little Allie May’s arrival and can’t wait to use every detail of her life in stories I tell from the pulpit,” says Parker sitting next to his wife’s bed. “What an awesome privilege.”
As with their first daughter Lauren, whatever Allie does or says will now provide a rich resource for Parker’s ministry. The Parkers even chose the name “Allie May” because it flows so well off the tongue.
Parker often brings along a scratch pad to take notes on each of his children’s actions and utterances which might support a point in his messages. He then delves into the meaning of even the most minute word or gesture. Recently, while out to ice cream with Lauren, Parker jotted extensive observations about her decision-making.
“She was conflicted about ordering orange sherbet or rocky road, and she stood there pondering the choice for quite some time,” he says. “In the end she chose rocky road not for the flavor but because there’s ‘more stuff in it.’ What a powerful lesson for all of us.”
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