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| Photo: Getty Images |
Ann B. Davis, the actress who played the lovable housekeeper Alice on The Brady Bunch, passed away this week at the age of 88.
Alice was one of the more memorable characters on television. Perpetually clad in a blue uniform and white apron, she had a cheerful attitude, a big smile, and could whip up a meatloaf in a moment’s notice. If Bobby needed help with his science project, Greg was having girl troubles, or Marsha got hit in the face with a football, Alice was there to save the day -- usually with a plate of cookies and accompanying words of comfort and humor. And all while keeping those bright orange countertops sparkling clean.
In real life, Davis was just as endearing as her TV character, and became known for her strong Christian faith. Although she continued to act after The Brady Bunch ended in 1974, she preferred to instead travel and speak to groups about Christ.
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| one of my favorite episodes: Alice weighs in on Jan's new do |
One article said, “Davis no doubt drew great crowds when she witnessed to those church groups. Even those unsure of their faith would go to see Alice from The Brady Bunch. After all, she was funny, quick witted, and she had that famous smile that would draw people in–and Davis knew that. Once she had them she shared her strong beliefs with them.”
Davis used her celebrity as a platform for ministry. Because she was a well-known actor people were eager to hear what she had to say, and she leveraged this influence for the furtherance of the gospel.
We may not be full-blown celebrities, but each of us has an area of influence that can be used as a platform for ministry. My mom is a great example: gifted in the areas of decorating and flower arranging, she is often invited by garden clubs and other organizations to come and share her expertise. So she used those gifts to create an Easter program that teaches people about the resurrection through flowers.
And here’s another example: a man in the Dallas area who owns a large aerospace company offers Bible study and even a Sunday morning church service at his huge warehouse. He and his son, who co-owns the company, meet regularly and pray for each of their employees.
These individuals inspire me because they have taken their respective areas of influence and creatively used them as vehicles for sharing the gospel.
The Great Commission in Matthew 28 commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” My pastor once said that a more accurate translation of that verse is “As you go.” As we go throughout life just being ourselves, we can take our positions of leadership – a PTA position, board member, team captain, grandparent – and use it as a springboard for ministry.
Ann B. Davis lived out the Great Commission by creatively using her influence for the cause of Christ, and has me thinking about how I might do the same in a more intentional way.
I couldn't resist adding this video...
http://youtu.be/SgqDpLyXsg0
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