Chuck Miller is a longtime member of the Church of the Redeemer. He is the Lay Leader for the XXXX pillar of the Taking Your Place initiative at Redeemer. The personal story below is the text from the talk Chuck gave at the potluck Take Your Place dinner on the night of the 2009 Parish Meeting.
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Good evening everyone. Thank you Fr. Robinson (I think?) for allowing me this part in the parish’s implementation of the Strategic Plan. Due to my vocational background in the pharmaceutical industry, I am familiar with the strategic planning process, and committed to it. The Vestry and the SP Committee have put a lot of preparation into the formation of the plan, it is now time to get things started or “implemented” as folks in the corporate world would say.

Helping others is what I had learned to do in Sunday School as a young child. My parents reinforced that concept by their example. Since my early teens, I have had a need to help others. I can remember when a severe hurricane hit Connecticut in 1955, causing flooding in many parts of the state. Just a few blocks from our house the Park River overflowed its banks, flooding many houses. The water rose during the night, and people woke up to find the first floors and basements of their homes filled with water. My teenage buddies and I volunteered to help people get out of their homes and onto higher ground. But let me jump ahead.

In the early 90′s I had had resurgence in my career at Merck & Co. I had been promoted to the position of Director of Management and Sales Development. It was the perfect job for me. Building on my experience in sales management, in hiring and training new sales associates and their managers. My realization that I should be doing more for others came during a a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to attend a divisional budget meeting.

It was about 11:00 pm when the United 757 took off from LAX. I had upgraded my seat to first class in hopes of getting a few hours of sleep before the 6:00 am arrival in Philadelphia. We were in the steep climb of the initial take-off when there was a very loud “boom”. Suddenly the cabin was bright from the flames from the port engine and on the wing. The engine had malfunctioned, and jet fuel had been ignited. Although it seemed like several minutes, in just a few seconds the emergency fire suppression system put out the fire. With the engine no longer functioning, the rate of climb flattened out immediately. It was a scary few seconds, and I said several prayers. The screams and shouts calmed down. About a minute later, there was another loud boom, and the engine and wing were again on fire. It seemed to take longer for the fire suppression system to control the fire the second time, and we seemed to be loosing altitude rapidly. At the same time the roar of the starboard engine was almost deafening as the pilot pushed to full power to regain control of the aircraft. While all this was happening, I was busy too – praying like “there was no tomorrow”! It is amazing in just those few seconds your whole life flashes in front of you. You think of not seeing your wife and children again. But then I was in a serene calm. God was there! Everything would be all right!

The crew regained control and the plain leveled out over the Pacific Ocean. The plane turned to the south and we could see the whole Los Angeles basin, the whole metropolitan area lit by the many streetlights and other building illumination. It was a spectacular. My talk with God continued as we made a big circle in preparation for returning to LAX. I was a very appreciative fellow at that point. Twenty-five minutes later we landed at LAX. Back on firm ground! I would not be at that morning’s budget meeting!

After that night I reflected that I needed to do more for other people, as so much had been given to me. I was happily married to a beautiful wife, and had three children well on their way to establishing successful careers. I was set; it was time to refocus myself. And the Lord did just that!

Shortly afterward, our parish in Chestnut Hill, PA, St. Paul’s, started a Habitat affiliate in the Germantown section of the Philadelphia. We participated every other Saturday clearing trash and other debris from future home sights. Shortly afterward I was “retired” from my position at Merck, and became a “consultant”. We lived in the Philadelphia are for about a year, before relocating to Sarasota and Church of the Redeemer.

On our first or second Sunday here, Doris Schweppe, the then President of the local Habitat affiliate, announced that they were having a building blitz the next weekend and needed volunteers. Flo and I worked that Friday and Saturday on the “Redeemer House”. It was a blessing for us because we met many parishioners in the informal work environment. I went on to chair the construction committee, join the Habitat board and become the president of the affiliate. You have to go to a Habitat house dedication; to see the happy, tear streaked faces of family members to get your reward for the volunteer labor and talent you have contributed.

Doris was doing God’s work again when she and Bob Stevens of the Dominican Development Group told the parish at a coffee hour presentation about opportunities to work on new churches and schools for the Dominican Episcopal Church. After the presentation was over we all went to lunch, and the first Redeemer Construction Mission to the Dominican Republic was scoped out on the back of a Sunday bulletin. There have been many mission trips since. Many of you have gone on these trips.

The trips have offered many great rewards and memories to the missioners. Staying at the Hotel Americano with Lazarro, Martha, and Mary. Chris Lindsay working with students at a church elementary school in Santiago during breaks from our construction activities in the church building. The kids’ faces tell the story of why Chris was so involved with them. In fact, a DR Construction Team leaves on Feb. 17th. Come join us. We are pew building specialists!

You don’t need to travel to the Dominican Republic to help others. There are lots of opportunities her at the church and right outside our doors. You can help homeless individuals and families by volunteering at Resurrection House. You can volunteer at the Caritas Food Pantry. You can volunteers at Habitat in order to help a low-income family purchase a home. You can be a construction volunteer or work on one of the many committees that manage the affiliate and recruit and support potential homeowners.

There are opportunities to use your experiences and knowledge to serve on committees here in the parish. There are opportunities in volunteering at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Get involved. You will get rewards far greater than the effort you put into your task!

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If you would like to contact Chuck Miller directly to discuss your own journey with Christ or ask him questions about his, consult your Parish Directory or contact the Parish Receptionist for assistance.