“Everyone has a story,” said Sue Coffman, who writes the weekly “I Am Wilshire” feature that highlights the life of someone who is active at Wilshire.

She finds every story a pleasure to hear and to tell.

“Sometimes,” she added, “ there’s an added dimension to the sharing of these life stories”—and an added reason why more people might say yes to the telephone interview for the article.

Recently the “I Am Wilshire” article featured Dave Donaldson, who graduated from Allen Military Academy. When Stan Bullock read that, he quickly contacted Dave because that was his alma mater as well. And so a friendship has developed between the two because of that common bond.

A little more complicated is what unfolded after the publication of Jenyce Gush’s story.

Jenyce is director of survivors’ programs for the Suicide and Crisis Center of Dallas, and when another Wilshire member read this, she called a friend (not a Wilshire member) who was grieving the recent suicide of a family member.

This phone call led to a contact with Tiffany Wright, and this connection led to a match-up with a Stephen Minister. “God truly works in mysterious ways,” Sue said.

“Some people, even longtime members,” have turned the opportunity down when I asked if they’d be willing to be featured,” she said. Maybe they’re a bit shy or private, or “they say their life is not interesting enough or they haven’t done anything significant.

“That’s not the main reason we do ‘I Am Wilshire’ every week. Our goal at Wilshire is to become more of a community of faith, and what easier way than to learn about each other week by week? There’s no telling what connections may be made or how someone’s life may be changed.”

So when Sue calls, please consider saying yes. You may enrich another life in the process, and it’s certain that the Wilshire community will be enriched.

Past I Am Wilshire articles from 2004 to the present are available on the Wilshire website.