"Rebuild My Church"

Nearly eight centuries ago in the Italian town of Assisi, 80 miles north of Rome, a young man named Francis prayed in the crumbling little church of San Damiano.

As Francis knelt before the crucifix, he heard Christ speak: "Francis, go and rebuild my church, which is falling down." Soon, Francis understood that the voice called him to rebuild not the physical structure, but the church—the body of believers.