Greetings! I am so thankful you stopped by!
Please, check out the YouTube link to view the dvd celebrating our 1st Anniversary!
And, be sure to enjoy the "photo book" below, which was created to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Ronnie's Life Ministry!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eILVU1Ijb4g
Karen Lindsey: Founding Angel of Ronnie’s Life Ministry
For Karen Lindsey, the call to serve wouldn’t go away. As a busy mother involved in the lives of her children Abby, 13, and Miles, 5, and as helpmate to husband Tim, Karen’s plate was already full. Add to that the untimely deaths of her parents eight weeks apart, the diagnosis of cancer in her brother, Ronnie, as well as the survivor’s guilt she carried from being spared the wrath of Katrina, and there is no doubt she was “maxed out” in time and emotion.
After Karen attended a weekend retreat where she experienced God as never before, she left that spiritual oasis willing to follow God’s lead, but not sure where he wanted her to go. “I drove around with a notebook and wrote down ideas as they came to me,” she explains. It was her concern for the well-being of her cancer-stricken brother that brought to light the ministry God had chosen for her, “Ronnie’s Life Ministry.”
Karen describes this ministry as a simple service designed to encourage others in time of need. Through prayer and personal notes of love and support, participants reach out to those who are hurting. Karen took the idea to the pastors of St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Mandeville, who saw its merit and invited Karen to present Ronnie’s Life Ministry to the congregation.
One Sunday last fall, Karen invited friends and family to St. Timothy’s to listen as she shared her idea with fellow church members. She prayed for God to work through her; the idea was well received by those in attendance. Karen’s brother, Ronnie, knew a little about the ministry, but was caught off guard by the scope of it. “Tears filled my eyes and I was glad that I didn’t have to speak after her, as I wouldn’t have been able to. I felt proud to be her inspiration for RLM, and that I had a special place in her heart and in God’s plan. I think she is an angel.”
Within 10 months, 73 people had joined RLM, all as intercessory “pray-ers” and most as note writers. As word of RLM spread, people called requesting that their loved ones be placed on the intention list. Karen added others whose stories she’d read in the newspaper. As of August, 155 people have benefited from Ronnie’s Life Ministry.
While every one of the 155 stories bears telling, two in particular show RLM’s worth. Let us begin with Spencer, who flew to Memphis on Erin Patrick Pierce’s Angel Flight. Karen learned of Spencer from a friend and kept up with his condition through caringbridge.org, a website used by parents of hospitalized children to update family and friends on their child’s progress. The heart-filled entries of Spencer’s mother, Joan, were of special interest to Karen. She learned that the 13-year-old northshore boy, who was in Memphis at St. Jude Children’s Hospital battling terminal ALL leukemia, had a passion for baseball.
That bit of information shared with her sister, Gladys Edward, was the catalyst for Gladys to contact Marucci Bat Company, a Baton Rouge business that makes personalized bats for the pros. Hearing about Spencer and his love of baseball, they agreed to make a “Spencer Boyer” bat for the terminally ill boy. Not only did the company make the bat at no cost, they also had it specially signed by pros. Gladys shipped the bat to Spencer with a letter of encouragement from Ronnie’s Life Ministry. Joan told Karen that Spencer treasured the bat, sleeping with it at the hospital until his death on June 12, 2007.
The second testimony to the power of RLM comes in the story of little Sam Seidel. This precious 2-year-old had fallen into a swimming pool and was under water for 15 minutes. Karen learned of the toddler’s plight from her sister in Baton Rouge. After checking out Sam’s website on caringbridge.org, Karen fell in love with him. She put his name on RLM and followed his story day by day. Wanting to reach out to Sam, Karen planned to pay him a visit while on an upcoming trip to Baton Rouge with her family. At the last minute, she grabbed two stuffed turtles that her children had recently won at Universal Studios. Abby offered to give her turtle to the comatose boy, but Miles couldn’t quite part with his, a decision that would have positive impact later.
In Baton Rouge, Abby and Karen both went into Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. On the way to Sam’s room in PICU, they encountered two ladies walking down the hall. Spying the turtle in Abby’s arms, they asked her where she got it. When they heard it came from Universal Studios, they were disappointed. One woman explained that her son was using a turtle like that one to support his little legs. She was hoping to find a local source for the toy for other children in the hospital.
As soon as she heard that, Karen said, “Are you Kahne?” pronouncing phonetically the name she often read on Sam’s website.
The woman responded that her name was Kahne (pronounced “Connie”).
“This turtle is for Sam!” Karen effused.
“Who are you?” questioned Kahne.
As soon as Kahne heard Karen say, “I’m from Madisonville…” she made the connection.
“Madisonville? Ronnie’s Life Ministry? Thank you for all of your cards,” she said as the two hugged.
Karen relates the rest of the story in staccato phrases. “…in a sedated coma… on life support…lifeless little body….blonde hair…no shirt….horrible sound of the machine breathing for him...” And then adds, “When his mother pulled back the blankets, there was the exact turtle, just like ours from Universal Studios, supporting Sam’s little legs.”
Karen knew at that moment that she had to find more turtles for the children at the hospital. She and Kahne checked the stuffed animals but found no identifying tags. When Karen and Abby returned to the car, Karen looked at Miles’ turtle, the one he wouldn’t give up, and found just what she needed—the KellyToyUSA, Inc. tag fastened to it.
That night, Karen went home and wrote the story of “Precious Sam and the Turtle.” Then she went to the website of KellyToyUSA and located the turtle.
Its name was Sam.
And Karen was in awe of the goodness of God.
At the time of this interview, Sam was home receiving therapy, making progress, smiling and interacting with other kids. And the turtles? They’re on duty at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge as well as at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Karen has one case of Sam turtles in reserve to send to other children on behalf of Ronnie’s Life Ministry.
Delivering box of Tigers For Christ T-shirts to Ciron's Family. All XL, XXL and XXL's. Those are some BIG Tigers!
Just spreading the word around Tiger Stadium that we love Jackson McCall!
Abby, Mike and Courtney share the love!
Marucci Bats made this pro model bat just for Spencer! Thanks Joe & Kurt
James bat
Football signed by the starters of National Champions LSU Tigers! Sent with love to Ethan and Ben!
ethan
My mom and dad! I miss you guys!
We want to help!
You may email me at karenklindsey@bellsouth.net
Thank you! 
Please continue to pray for the family of Angelle Ulfers and her precious friends who miss her dearly!
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Galatians 6:2
Pray for the Vinturella and Battle Families as they navigate their life after losing Samantha. Be inspired, be introduced to a marvelous extension of The Body of Christ! AMEN
RLM thanks Joe, Kurt and all of Marucci Bats for their help in blessing children in the name of CHRIST by providing personalized BATS to them.
Spencer Boyer, James Duvall, Luke Romano, Jackson McCall, Adam Stafford
Way to go MARUCCI!
B -elieve
A -ll
T -hings
All things are possible through Christ! Check out the photos on the site!
Lessons on following your heart...