I preached at my church on June 26, talking about “hearing from God” or “The Living Word” as I wrote in a 3-blog series back in April. My pastor, who asked me to speak because he would be out of the country on a mission trip, asked me to throw in the story of Jim Downing and Dianne Derby, which I have never told in this blog.

I’ve written about Jim before: “Navigator #6,” Jim served 24 years in the Navy – he was a Pearl Harbor survivor – then 27 years on staff with The Navigators and another 35 or so years “retired” while accepting speaking engagements around the world. He passed away in February 2018 at the age of 104. Here’s a picture taken at his 100th birthday celebration:

Jim is posing with Dianne Derby one of Colorado Springs’ television news anchors. She told a story that went something like this:

I had just moved to Colorado Springs a few months ago, and I was covering a function when someone said, “That man over there is Jim Downing, a Pearl Harbor survivor.” So I went over to talk with him. The next day he sent me an email – it’s not every day you get an email from someone 99 years old! Jim said, “Dianne have you seen Glen Eyrie?” I said that I hadn’t and so he took me on a tour of the castle and grounds. Then he said, “Dianne, would you do Bible study with me?” I was raised in church, but I had never studied the Bible. I checked with my husband, and since Jim was 99, we thought he would be harmless. So we started meeting. I’ve always believed, but I became a real believer on March 31 (2013). – Dianne Derby at Jim Downing’s 100th birthday celebration, August 2013.

Jim was 100 years old, and he was still investing in the lives of people! Dianne and Jim met for more than 4 years, and she has written a book about what she learned: Two Hundred Tuesdays: What a Pearl Harbor Survivor Taught Me about Life, Love, and Faith. So Dianne is also passing on what she learned.

Relational disciple-making is something anyone can do…at any age!

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2.2, NIV)