What started happening next is what is amazing. Only a God-thing. The next day the front page of the local paper had a picture of Frank's sisters wearing the "God's Grace" t-shirts he had made for them. Teenagers had their own "God's Grace" t-shirts made. And in the chain-linked fence in front of Gar-Field High School, two seniors took styrofoam cups and spelled out "God's Grace RIP 21." Not "Frank RIP." Frank has become known as "God's Grace." This made the front page of the local paper, again. Gar-Field High School has been marked by "God's Grace."

The viewing was the worst I had ever been to. Hundreds of youth congregated in front of the casket. Lots of crying. Some wailed so loud they had to be removed from the room. That set off a chain reaction to the rest of the mourners. Some did not have the strength to stand. Some passed out. Most would come and look, leave the room, go outside and scream and yell, only to come back in again and start the cycle over.

The screams and wails were "Why Frank?" "Why not drug dealers?" "Why not criminals?" "Why Frank? He was so good." "That's not Frank (open casket). He's not smiling." "I don't want to leave him."

Hundreds of teenagers devastated by Frank's untimely death. Hundreds of teenagers having to face their own mortality. Hundreds of teenagers facing death in such a personal way for the first time. Hundreds of teenagers wearing "God's Grace" t-shirts.

After the questions and the wailing, we would start to hear and overhear stories about Frank which brought laughter and joy (a breakthrough from the intense mourning). The stories always included his smile. From the stories we would hear, "I'm going to live my life like Frank did." It was an undercurrent from all the grief, but it was starting.

The family borrowed a church to have the funeral at. It seated 1400. Around 1300 streamed in to the funeral. Lines and lines of teenagers dressed up (a very untypical look for the student body) crossed the street from Gar-Field High School to this church to attend the funeral. More than there were for the viewing.

Everyone was seated for the funeral. You could hear the muffled cries and the occasional wail. Joy had not come in the morning yet for these students.

To start off the funeral, the pastor decided to play the song, "God's Grace." A song Frank played over and over again. The wails erupted. Students poured out the church doors to get out of the sanctuary. Some students fainted again. For a long moment, it looked like the mourning would never end.

But then the preaching started. And was it anointed! The challenge was sent out clearly and directly, "If Frank could come down from heaven and talk to you all one last time, he would tell you all to get saved...God's Grace. What a better legacy to leave behind...You all need to pick up your lives and win like Frank did. You need to carry on and live your life with God's Grace."

A very specific and clear altar call was given and before the pastor was even done, James stood up. James was one of Frank's friends. Others stood up following James. In less than a minute, over 1200 people stood up to commit their lives to Christ. The spirit of death lifted and joy came rushing in.

Now we will see how these commitments are lived out. James is committed to living his life changed. Some will fall along the path and be eaten by the birds. Some will fall among rocky places and spring to life quickly but not have much soil. Some will fall among thorns. And some fell on good soil and will grow and multiply. (Mark 4:3-8). If what fell on good soil grows, that is 300 students of a 2500 population at Gar-Field High School.

Frank's short life of 18-years, his shorter life as a Christian and his 13-month life as a Gar- Field student influenced 1200--for starters. What is most interesting is how he did it. He didn't preach. He didn't hand out tracts. He didn't start a Bible club. He didn't use a high-tech audio visual production.

He was a good student. He was polite in class and didn't push his limits, even if it was a substitute. He worked and got good grades. He played with that little extra on the football field. He smiled at everyone. He talked to everyone. And he wore a simple t-shirt that gave witness to his life.

A definition of grace is being accepted before you are acceptable. Frank received that and never forgot it. Now hopefully 1200 others will never forget about it.