On May 1st I stood in the pulpit at the Ephesus SDA church with a broken body but a faithful spirit and preached to you, "Resurrection is a reality." At that time all I had was faith in God. Having viewed the mass destruction in the community, having viewed the destruction to the Lords house of worship, knowing the limitation of my body after having undergone two surgeries, and seeing the only the surface of the task that lay ahead of me and the people of Antioch. I spoke to you strictly in faith. Believing that the Lord would make a way but not having a clue as to how he would do it. All I had was faith, but I've learned as this victorious journey has revealed itself, that all I needed was faith in God.
The theme that I gave to you on January 1, 2011 was divinely ordained. Striving to please God, Hebrews 11:6. I had no idea of what would happen on April 27th, but God knew and wanted me to equip you for what would take place. He must have been pleased with our level of faith. We have discovered that God keeps his word. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The reward came in many ways:
1. God opened the hearts of people all over this nation to send money, clothes, appliances, gift cards, etc. To help us in our time of need. Because of their kindness we were able as a church to financially assist our members who were affected by the storm with over $50,000 in collective assistance. And those gifts also helped us to pay for improvements to the buildings of over $135,000. We left this building with no mortgage on it, we return to a better building with no mortgage on it.
2. God sent us Pastor Keith Stanley and The Church at Brook Hills to give us a priceless amount of help to our families, clearing property, helping with clearing the building, being a resource to our care ministry in helping our members get the things they needed, helping members to secure housing and helping them financially. They have done so much I can't tell it all.
3. God touched the heart of Pastor Alex Horton of the Ephesus SDA church to offer us a place to worship and equip the saints. As well as Pastor George Robinson, the First Baptist Church ET, to give us daily office space. When we needed our sister churches in the neighborhood they always came through for us. God is a rewarder.
4. God gave us favor with All-state insurance company and they gave a gracious settlement and other assistance that we needed.
5. God directed me to Moore Corporation to rebuild the house to his glory.
6. God sent us an Army of volunteers too numerous to name who have helped us to experience this resurrection. To God be the glory!
7. But most of all, He kept us together as a family, taught us that our church is greater than a building, it is a body. We stayed together, prayed together and payed together. We helped ourselves in this process.
I want to thank my Administrative Assistant Jackie Nash for her timeless service, ministers, deacons, and last but certainly not least the Trustee Ministry. The Care ministry is continuing the work in helping our storm survivors to a renewed life.
Then Saints I thank God for directing me. Every move made was bathed in prayer and done by God's direction. His word is true, if we acknowledge him in all our ways he will direct our paths. I shared with you in the past that I felt God had chosen us to lead in community re-development. I had envisioned the building of new houses in North Pratt City. I had no idea that the Lord would send a wind through the community and hasten the necessity of development. Today as we celebrate this victory, let us not forget our calling to elevate the savior, equip the saints and evangelize the sinner. Antioch I love you more today than I did yesterday.
