We have dear lifetime mentors and the closest of friends, named Bill and Dorothy Jean Ligon. They pastor a church in Brunswick, Georgia called Christian Renewal Center, and have impacted leaders across the nation.
Tony and I first met Pastor Bill when he was teaching at a training center in Crystal River, Florida, where we served one summer before we were married. Immediately when we met Bill, he said, “You both are coming to my house and church.” The rest is history, and we have known them all of our married lives. Our friendship has grown to feeling like family around them after all these 35 years.
Bill and Dorothy Jean are one class act. They are gracious, wise, insightful and loving. Though they have taught us many things over the years, the best gift of all was teaching us the importance of the blessing. It is a lifestyle for them as it is for us now. The spoken blessing is similar to the one the Jewish Rabbi would pronounce from Numbers 6:24-26. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Literally, the scriptures indicate that when you speak this over someone, you invoke the name of God over their lives.
Bill has taught the blessing to his community of church members and to anyone else who would listen. His model reminds me of 1 Peter 3:9, which says, “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
Bill Ligon founded the ministry called, “The Father’s Blessing,” with its timeless lessons. He tells of examples of people who needed a breakthrough, and it came by way of the blessing. One young man was troubled in school and failing, until his parents began to bless him before he left for school. His confidence, self-esteem, and grades drastically improved, simply by the power of the blessing. I wonder just how powerful the spoken blessing can be in a life. I personally have spoken the blessing over thousands. It is a lifestyle to me and is perfect for every occasion. Our family frequently recites the blessing together in one voice, and we have added some more verses to the Numbers six passage.
I love the story of when the Ligon’s son, William, was elected to the Georgia State Senate. Shortly after he was inaugurated, Bill was given the privilege of opening one of the sessions with prayer and the spoken blessing. The Atlanta Capitol and fellow congressional members had never before enjoyed God’s name invoked over their day and activities, like they did that day. I find that speaking the blessing over people is like a word of encouragement—everyone needs one.
Thank you, Bill and Dorothy Jean Ligon, for loving us and showing us by example that the blessing is more powerful than insults and criticism. Your lives have impacted our family, and now the tradition of the blessing is carried on to our grandchildren.
Our lives are truly blessed to know you.
When you choose to look past the horizon… the sky is the limit!