Right Before God

Tonight, our church celebrated an annual Thanksgiving pie fellowship night when we all come together for worship, praise, and testimonies.  This one was a little different than other years because we recently had a couple in our church decide they really wanted to make some things right before God.  They both had accepted Christ earlier and had taken a class to learn more about foundations of faith.  They had also been participating in one of our Life Groups and were being mentored by some members at our church.  A few weeks ago a different couple had been baptized and shared their testimony and their story had inspired this couple to take the leap of faith to be baptized and get married.  Tonight, our church was in for a special surprise when we celebrated their wedding as well as their baptisms during our testimony service :)  When they shared their story about how God had led them to this place in their lives and had been working in their hearts for over 10 years, they mentioned a few key moments where God had spoken to them through people at our church.  I am not saying my church is perfect, but it is so affirming to see a church function together as a family and God use these faithful witnesses to speak to a couple like this who now want to be ALL IN FOR CHRIST....it is humbling and thrilling to know you have been a part of that!  That is the most awesome kind of teamwork ever!

An added blessing for me was that this couple had been our neighbors for a few years before we moved to Parma.  We developed a friendship with them over the fence and largely due to their extremely lovable Saint Bernard, Zoro....who Kenna and Kassi could never wait to pet when we returned home from any errands around town and who seemed to have the same fondness for them as he would always gently lean against the fence when he saw them coming :).  We had invited them to church several times, but they did not accept any invitations at that time.  Life went on and some hardships came into their lives....deaths in the family and relationship issues.  They knew Brad was a pastor, so they called on him in these times of need.  He was a large part of showing them Jesus as he was able to minister to them and their extended family on several occasions and God blessed him by giving him the opportunity to lead them to the Lord.  It is not everyday that we get to be part of the planting, the watering, and the harvesting :)  How exciting to see God working in this close-up way and over a period of time!