God Doesn’t Make Any Junk. “I just want you to know that God loves me just as much as God loves you. I can’t walk right, talk right, or eat right…but God loves me. God gave me the body I have. I don’t know what he wants me to do with it, but I’m giving it back to him.
Founder of Echoing Hills, Cordell Brown writes the quote above on page seventy-two of his book, I am what I am by the grace of God. The book is a testimony to his journey with cerebral palsy and inspired by 1 Corinthians 15:10 – “But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Cordell has congenital cerebral palsy, being born with the condition. He tells of his challenges and learns people don’t outgrow them but overcome them. From being the class clown to accepting Jesus, he discovered his disability was not a barrier but a hindrance. “People with disabilities are just like everyone else. Once any of us feels valued, self-esteem and self-love can grow. With the knowledge that God loves us, there isn’t any barrier that can’t be overcome.” (pg. 51).
After two broken legs, Cordell found himself questioning his life and purpose. This circumstance made him realize God was calling him to a time out, returning to the issue of discovering himself. Cordell began questioning the behavior that had landed him in disciplinary and academic trouble. Through the trial, he learned, “I would always be different, but so were many other people.” (pg. 57). Moving forward, he decided to fully live for the Lord and influence his community to do the same.
In May 1965, Cordell encountered the Lord while working on his family’s farm. The day that began as lonely was redeemed through prayer and surrender. A new dream had been planted as he prayed, “Lord I know what you want me to do. I don’t have any money to do it with, no college education. I can’t write so people can read it… but you know all that. I’ll do what you want me to do.” (pg. 79). The encounter brought the most important healing – spiritual healing.
On that small farm in Coshocton County, Cordell prayed, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.” He began to accept his physical appearance as the first step in loving himself. “We must be careful as a society to continue to place value on human life instead of putting a price on it. God doesn’t make any junk.” (pg. 137). That farm would be the beginning of Camp Echoing Hills – a camp dedicated to helping individuals experience the love of Jesus through recreation.
With two hundred dollars and a dream, Cordell’s testimony continues to impact the lives of “his people,” (pg. 94). Camp Echoing Hills has revolutionized the lives of individuals, counselors, and volunteers every year as they experience the love of Christ.
Resources
https://www.amazon.com/Am-What-Grace-God-ebook/dp/B0731VD4K8
https://ehvi.org/cerebral-palsy/
https://ehvi.org/recreation-2/
