Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16, KJV

In late 2013, J.C. (John Cecil) Stroble passed away at the age of 71. For 57 years, beginning at the young age of 14, Stroble worked at The Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, South Carolina. For much of that time, Stroble was a huge part of The Beacon experience, taking orders from customers with his signature “Call it!” and passing them along to the cooks with a bark that was loud, entertaining, and often intimidating. For example (via The Spartanburg Herald-Journal),

Bishop Charles J.J. Jackson III of Cornerstone Baptist Church said he remembered his first experience at the Beacon, as a young pastor from out-of-state. He gave Stroble his order at the counter — a hot dog with mustard and relish.

“And he said, ‘Give me a dog, let it run through the woods and make it stink,’” Jackson said, as peals of laughter came from the pews. “I was scared to death. But I did what people do when they’re unsure. I faked it. I smiled, went through the line and got my hot dog, and I prayed that it was right.”

Like Jackson, Dr. Kirk H. Neely, pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, remembered an early ordering experience with Stroble. His wife wanted a club sandwich — on whole wheat.

“I said, ‘Oh, I don’t know about the whole wheat,’” Neely said, as those in the church laughed in anticipation.

Neely ordered a club sandwich — on whole wheat — for his wife. Stroble replied, “Look, this ain’t no delicatessen.”

Stroble’s style made a huge impact on people, but it wasn’t just the way he performed his job that made him an influencer. It was the way he lived his life in general. Stroble was legally blind from glaucoma, and in his later years he suffered with diabetes, high blood pressure and the aftermath of several surgeries. Throughout much of his career he worked 6 days a week for 12 hours or more per day, and after work he labored hard at home to raise his four children. Underlying his efforts both at work and at home was his faith. J.C. knew Jesus Christ as his Savior, and as Leon Russ, a former journalist now with the J.C. Stroble Glaucoma Awareness Foundation, said Stroble lived a “Christ-like life,” treating everyone with dignity and respect and serving others all the time.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or what obstacles you have to overcome. You have the potential to make a huge impact on the world around you by simply living a faithful, servant-minded life for the honor and glory of God. So, choose to live in a godly manner wherever you are and in whatsoever state you find yourself. As you do so, you will draw people to your Savior simply by living well.