It is Wednesday, July 14, at 8:53 am, and I am in my office at the church getting ready to begin decorating the stage area which will result in the entire church being set up and made ready for this year’s Vacation Bible School event. I am praising the Lord this morning and rejoicing in the strong recovery of our church from one of the most difficult year’s I can remember in my 52 years of ministry. We have been through 2 separate shutdowns in our on-campus worship and work since the beginning of the pandemic. We have endured a national debate and disruption over mask wearing and shot taking. People have been at odds over presidential politics, fake news, and conspiracy theories. There has been a general feeling of negativity, fear, and anger in the air throughout the land. Our people have endured sickness, loss of jobs, and economic hardships that have taken their toll. It’s like our church has been under siege from an outside enemy which has sought to bring us down.
BUT NOT TODAY!
Sunday 91 of our folks worshiped in-house here on our campus. There were guests present along with several families returning that we have not seen in a while. Robbie commented to me after the service that the people were happy to be back with a spirit of joy and excitement permeating the service. Then, today we are putting up decorations and getting everything ready for a return to Vacation Bible School. We are coming out of a dark time. We are on the road to recovery.
Last week I learned that a dear widow lady, well into her eighties, posted on Facebook that she was being evicted from her apartment. The complex had changed hands and she was a part of the new owner’s plans to renovate the property. She only had a month to find a new home and move all her possessions. She was desperate.
This lady had attended our church in the past a couple of times. One of our members saw the post she made and felt a strong tug from the Holy Spirit to get involved in helping her. Sandra Pace began immediately to reach out to the lady and make contacts throughout Hall County and our church family to find ways and resources to help. Through Sandra’s loving ministry, the lady now has a new home in which to live made available by one of our own church families. Men of our church have volunteered to help move her. Our church members have visited, in her apartment, offering encouragement, love, and support. Folks from Grace have helped her get rid of old unwanted items from her home. She now has a church family loving on her and helping with her needs all because one member saw her post on Facebook and became active in her life.
This is just one example of the presence of our Savior, or redeemer and our Lord Jesus among us. God never gives in. He never gives up. The Lord is always working and using His people to do His work. Praise God, Grace is back and is on its way to full recovery. We are going to be better because we have endured hardship together and we have made it through. Listen to God’s word: “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
I praise God today for a church family that has persevered through a year of trials and is now in position to reap the “crown of life” which God has promised.
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