Not just good things, great things. They fairly gushed about Manley, who was a longtime Oklahoma ministry leader and founder of Cornerstone Assistance Network. 

He was very passionate about ministry and thus he nurtured ShareFest OKC accordingly.

Manley passed away in January but ShareFest, area churches’  one-day community service blitz, continues on today.

He’s surely smiling as he sees thousands of church volunteers fan out into the metro area to perform service projects in the surrounding community (See www.ShareFestOKC.org).

I don’t think it’s a stretch of imagination for me to say that. I only have to think about Manley’s comments during previous interviews to know that he was proud of churches participating in the annual community service effort.  He said it was a way for churches to show the love of Jesus in many, many ways.

Here’s what he said:

Manley speaking of ShareFest in 2008: “You have to show the ‘good news’ before you preach the ‘good news. If people can see Jesus, if they can see the love demonstrated, then they can better understand when you start talking about it.”

In 2007:  ”The Gospel has two components — word and deed. The mandate is on the church to touch the people who are on Christ’s heart, which I think would be the widows, the orphans and poor and afflicted.”

In 2005:  It’s a way, I think, of highlighting what the churches in the area are doing, so it’s like everyone getting their lights together to shine in the darkness.”

I doubt anyone could have said it any better than that.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

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