Community cheerleader passes away
Scott Manley, executive director of Cornerstone Assistance Network and coordinator of ShareFest OKC, died early today.
Manley had recently been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
The news of his illness and then his death came as quite a shock to me.
I have worked with him for several years as I covered ShareFest OKC, a day when Oklahoma City metro area churches spread out into the community to conduct a wide range of community service projects.
Manley made an impression on me because he always said ShareFest was a way to bring the churches together for a cause that is and should be near and dear to their hearts: providing aid to their communities. About 82 churches participated in last year’s ShareFest.
News of Manley’s passing brought to mind a statement he made during our interview right before last year’s ShareFest. I quoted him on it:
“You have to show the ‘good news’ before you preach the ‘good news,’” he said. “If people can see Jesus, if they can see the love demonstrated, then they can better understand when you start talking about it.”
Inspirational words from someone who always seemed to be full of the “good news.”
His passionate efforts on behalf of ShareFest and the community as a whole inspired many clergy and lay leaders fulfilling the mission of their local churches.
He will be missed.
For more information about ShareFest, visit the ShareFest Web site at www.Sharefestokc.org.
(STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL Scott Manley, director of the Cornerstone Assistance Network, shows some ShareFest OKC materials April 7, 2008.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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