Michael Jacobs had every reason not to believe that God is good. Growing up without a dad was tough. Michael’s mom Kathy, an immigrant from Vietnam, struggled to learn English, hold down a job and raise Michael and his four sisters on her own. With little money and few supportive friends, the odds were stacked against the family from the beginning.
Chrys Mundy noticed that Michael and his sister, Melissa, needed help. At the time, Chrys was Melissa’s sixth grade teacher, and she saw just how tough life was for her. “Kathy was dealing with a lot of pressures and pain as a single mom, and life wasn’t always stable. I invited the family to Watermark, and Michael and two of his sisters began attending regularly. That was the beginning of a great relationship between the kids and me, and the start of an ongoing effort by many people at Watermark to love and serve the Jacobs family.”
As Michael came to Watermark’s Student Ministries and plugged in to a junior high small group, the transition couldn’t have been easy. Michael’s life looked a lot different from the middle-class kids in his small group. But in spite of the differences, the relationships began to grow. “The guys accepted me as a friend, took me in and encouraged me,” said Michael. “God knew that in some ways, I was on my own, and that I had to find encouragement.”
One of Michael’s small group leaders was Braun Brown, director of Watermark Student Ministries. Over time, Braun saw some-thing unique about Michael. “Michael was taking steps toward Christ when few others were going with him,” said Braun. “He didn’t have Christian friends at school or the support of a father. So several other guys and I had the chance to both disciple Michael and talk to him about what it really means to be a man.”
Men and women throughout the Watermark family poured into Michael and his family over the years and provided practical assistance as well. But Michael’s journey continued to be an uphill climb. “Michael had so many obstacles to overcome, and I sometimes wondered if what he learned about Christ was sinking in,” said Braun. “He had every reason to rebel, but Michael didn’t let adversity become an excuse to turn away from the Lord.”
Then last December, Michael and his family were dealt a devastating blow when Kathy was killed in a fatal car crash. Friends from Watermark quickly organized a memorial service and rallied around the family. “All the men who’d invested in Michael’s life showed up and poured their lives into him again,” said Chrys. “Michael was so broken and confused about where he was going without his mom. But everyone came around and loved him. It was an amazing picture of the body of Christ at work.”
After their mother’s death, the siblings moved to different places, and Michael left Dallas to live with his older sister in Virginia. It was tough being so far away from the friends he knew, and Michael felt like his life was going nowhere. But several months later, Michael decided to enlist in the Air Force so he could continue his education and start a career. It was a decision that would give Michael greater self-discipline and leadership skills but also challenge the roots of his faith.
“Over the years, Michael and I talked a lot aboutknowing God’s Word and hiding it in his heart,” said Braun. “Serving in the Air Force was an opportunity to see if the discipleship Michael had experienced was going to bear fruit.”
When Michael sent Braun the note below from basic training, it was a fresh reminder of God’s power and faithfulness. “Michael’s words were evidence of God’s work in his life. Michael allowed the Lord to teach him through every circumstance so that God’s story could be told through his life. And as a result, Michael has become a missionary of sorts in the Air Force. Michael is a great reminder that consistently serving and caring for someone can be tangible evidence of God’s love that may change a life forever.”
My Brother Braun,
I have greatly missed you and your family. As for me, life has been amazing. God has His plans and he has been using me in great ways. I have been working on becoming a Chapel Guide Student Leader here at Air Force Technical Training. We are men and women that guide others who are in need of Christ.
I have recently realized that God is ultimately in control of my life. I just make the choices. And yet He knows that I choose to do the right things. On another note, Tech School is sweet. Its like college and the rules are strict, but nothing compared to Basic Training. As of these last two weeks, I have been training to become a Tactical Aircraft Crew Chief. The aircraft frame that I am working on is the F15 fighter. It is so awesome. I want to thank you for everything that you have taught me. You have done so much and invested much of your time to shape me into the man I am today. God is great.
I love you brother,
Michael
