CHICAGO, IL (December 24, 2002) – The Department of Communication of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) receives more than 200 local church newsletters each month, some of them containing interesting stories of God’s work through people associated with local congregations.
An associate pastor of Good Samaritan Community Covenant Church in Valley Springs, California, recently wrote about one young person he met at a church he previously served. In 1993, the girl convinced the City Council of Eureka, California, to put lights on the city’s water tower one Christmas season. Here is the associate pastor’s version of the story and an update on the young woman today.
By Lon Johnson
When Angela Younger was 10 years old she wanted to do something special. She wasn’t sure what that special something would be, but she knew when she wanted it to be. You see, Angela loved Christmas and she wanted the whole city to know how special Christmas is.
The thing you need to know about Angela is that she wasn’t sure how many Christmases she would live to enjoy. She has a rare disease (Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome) that causes her body to overproduce blood vessels on one side of the body, thus minimizing the amount of blood flowing through her system to her vital organs and brain. It depletes them of necessary oxygen and nourishment, while leaving far too long the harmful waste of carbon dioxide.
The thing you need to know about Angela is that she wasn’t sure how many Christmases she would live to enjoy. She has a rare disease (Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome) that causes her body to overproduce blood vessels on one side of the body, thus minimizing the amount of blood flowing through her system to her vital organs and brain. It depletes them of necessary oxygen and nourishment, while leaving far too long the harmful waste of carbon dioxide.
Angela had a great measure of faith given to her. Twice each year she went to a specialist who would surgically remove the excess blood vessels from her body. She would thank the church for praying for her family and ask her friends to especially pray for her mom and dad who had a hard time with these surgeries. Angela had a very difficult surgery in the spring of 1994 as her kidneys shut down and she had to go on dialysis for a short time.
By then, however, Angela had a purpose for living – a few months earlier she had taken on a project that had lit up the entire town. Angela had made a decision to show Eureka, California, how special Christmas is and how much it means to the world.
Angela petitioned the City Council to put up Christmas lights on the city’s water tower, the tallest structure in Eureka. Once she gained permission to put up the lights (from the owner of the tower), the City Council granted a permit for the lights to shine from December 1 to 29. Angela was able to raise $2,000 for one-time electrical installation fees, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals. Then Angela, her dad (Kevin), mom (Rebecca), brother (Jay) and sister (Jennifer), along with a few volunteers, set to work on ideas for the lights and getting the equipment they would need. They also considered light designs and colors and prayed for one month about how to “light up Eureka for Christmas.”
By Thanksgiving, Angela’s work was getting noticed with an article in theEureka Times-Standard. And on December 1, 1993, with a large crowd and (local television) news cameras on hand, Angela plugged in the lights and the south end of Eureka witnessed a darkened water tower become (at least in physical appearance) a crown of light.
“Jesus came into the world on Christmas, a King, without any celebration,” Angela said during the ceremony. “Today, I want the world to see and know that God so loved the world He gave his only son, and these simple lights remind us that He is the King of Kings.”
(Editor’s note: The city of Eureka doesn’t light the water tower anymore, but the miracle in Angela’s life continues. She is now 19 years old, a sophomore marketing major at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts (accompanying photo shows Angela with Lon Johnson). Her mother calls Angie’s faith “an awesome thing.” In another miraculous twist, the doctor who worked with Angela during her childhood took a job in Massachusetts. He lives near the college Angela attends and operates on Angela’s left side two or three times annually to keep her alive. Angela thanks God for every day she has, reminding all who know her that in all circumstances – and especially at Christmas – “the King has come into the world.”
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