The Life Givers Network® can trace its beginning back to the summer of 1972. In the spring of 1971 I returned to the United States having completed three years of military duty in Europe while Vietnam was still in full swing. After six months of frustration trying to find work as an engineer I took a job with Northwestern Mutual Life. I had no idea how my life was about to change.

One day in July of 1972, while participating in a sales training meeting, I noticed that our presenter was just not himself. Eli seemed to be carrying some kind of burden and it appeared that no one else was concerned or even noticing. Everyone was too wrapped up in the meeting.

When Eli concluded the meeting I asked if he could come into my office, which was more like a walk-in closet, for a few moments. I told him that I felt like something was really troubling him and offered to listen if he wanted to share. The next words out of his mouth were socking to say the least.

Eli began relating to me that his five year old Matthew was back in the children’s hospital in Boston and that he was not expected to live. It took my breath away. I listened as the story unfolded and I learned that this time around family, friends, church leaders, and all who were close to Eli and his family had chosen to stay away. They felt there was nothing they could do and now the situation was in the hands of the hospital staff. Eli and Nancy were being left totally on their own with Matthew. I felt as though my heart would break and wondered how this could be happening.

We talked for about twenty minutes and then Eli said he needed to go because he needed to rejoin his wife and son at the hospital. I closed the door, sat down at my desk, and wondered what if anything I could do for this family. This July will mark 37 years since those events occurred. That day in July and the events which occurred throughout the afternoon and evening would forever change the course of my life.

If you go back and read the roughly 370 words prior to this paragraph, you will find included the primary issues which I have felt called to tackle and help others deal with for the balance of my life. I venture to say that many of you who will read this page will identify with some or all of what I have written. The journey of my life has been to find solutions to the problems that presented themselves that day and find ways to help others deal boldly and courageously with the same.

Keep checking this page for more “history” about our development.