Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award

It was a privilege last night to honor my great friend, Mike Fechner, with the 2nd Annual Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award. Prestonwood Christian Academy and Prestonwood Foundation created this award to honor those who exhibit the servant heart of longtime Prestonwood member and dear friend Zig Ziglar. Last year the honoree was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The incredible thing about this dinner event is that it not only honors Zig and the year’s recipient, but it also benefits a wonderful cause, Sponsor-A-Child, PCA’s scholarship program. Since 2005, more than $2.5 million has been given to help provide a Kingdom Education for more than 1,200 students. This past year more than 300 students received tuition assistance, and the goal is to raise $1.6 million for next school year.

The dinner last night was very special as it honored a true servant leader. I’ve known Mike and his wife, Laura, for more than 20 years, since I first arrived here. Mike was a young businessman. I remember training him and Laura in Evangelism Explosion. And even then I saw in Mike a deep passion for evangelism. It wasn’t long before he sold his business and began a ministry to the inner city, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders. What this ministry has become is such a beautiful thing to witness.

For the Fechners, it is truly a family ministry. His parents and brother are involved in San Antonio, and it’s been amazing to see his children—Michael, Daniel, Jonathan and Grace—all grow up through the ministry, loving people and serving them as much as their parents. And when I say “family ministry,” it really expands beyond the Fechners. Our church family has embraced BridgeBuilders as has the Bon Ton community in south Dallas.

As Mike has often said, his recent battle with lung cancer has allowed him to see even more clearly the urgency to reach the hurting and the lost. Mike is not only a great friend and a great servant ... he’s also a great man of God.