|
We've made so much progress! Loyal members of New Generation Faith Ministries are building the church. Men, women and children come out on Saturdays and during the week after work to complete the building. Contractors who have volunteered their services and donated building materials have also been a blessing to the ministry. When this church is completed, it will truly belong to God, and not the bank.
June 2, 2006
It's been awhile since I last wrote an update, but all the pictures are now current! We've worked so hard and made many sacrifices but it's all been worth it. We've had many set backs, but we have preserved through it all under the leadership of our Pastor, Patricia Daniel. In the beginning it seemed ludicrous for such a small congregation to take on the huge task of building a church debt free, but as I walked thru the church sanctuary on Memorial Day 2006, I could see that all things are possible through God.
We still have that core group of people that have supported the ministry through good as well as tough times. It?s truly amazing to see all the work that's been completed with such a small group of people. God touched the hearts of a family that doesn't even attend our church to furnish the church kitchen with very nice appliances. Sister Becky, Pastor John's wife met a lady on her job over the phone that lives in Texas that sends regular offerings to help complete the building. They have never met in person. It has been almost 4 years since we started building and we're so close to moving in. We still have a lot of work to do. The church still needs to be completed on the inside, outside and then there's the furniture.
A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. The most shocking thing was Pastor became very ill. On a Sunday evening back in May of 2005, I received a very serious call from sister Nora saying, something is wrong with Pastor. We need to start praying. I didn't ask any questions. I just hung up the phone, grabbed my husband and started praying. I called other members of the church and told them the same thing, just pray. Later that night another sister called me and told me that Pastor had a stroke. I cannot lie. I was scared. My own mother had a debilitating stroke that left her with slurred speech and bouts of dementia back in the spring of 2001. My mom had to be put in a nursing home and died later that year of a massive heart attack. Pastor had a what??? A stroke??? Pastor had a stroke! That just didn't?t sound right. I was in shock. I later found out that Pastor was at home refusing to go to a hospital. It took nearly 24 hours before anyone could convince her to go to the hospital. Needless to say, this really frightened me. She was admitted 24 hours or so after her stroke with doctors and nurses admonishing Pastor and her husband for not coming in sooner?but God is soooo good! By Sunday Pastor was back in church sitting on the pulpit. She looked tired, but she fought her way in. She thanked us for our prayers and asked that we keep praying. She believed with all her heart that God would heal her, and He did. That?s a true woman of faith! At the onset of a stroke or any serious illness my first words would have been help me Jesus and somebody call 911! Her decision not to go to the hospital is not for everyone.
I am very happy to inform you that today you cannot tell that she had a stroke. She's still teaching and correcting us just like she used to. She has a little weakness on her right side, but her recovery is nothing short of a miracle. We're so looking forward to moving in and possessing the land before fall 2006, but we all know how deadlines work. So how bout I just say,We'll move in God's timing not ours.
Daphne
|
 |
| Click here for photos of our progress. |
|
|