Article by Mary
Photos by Bryan (Click Here for More Photos)
 
This year our churches gathered at a local city park because the creek banks were too high to gather at the Owen's Ranch this year.  Some of us worried this couldn't be as spiritual as it was last year but we know God smiled and yes; it was even more spiritual than last year which we really didn't know would be possible.
    The churches taking part are The Assembly of God with pastor Terry Bess, The Azalea Faith Center with Dan Fleming as pastor and The Olivet Presbyterian Church with Buck Tohill.
    The music was familiar to almost all of us and everyone sang with gusto and so much praise to God.  Even if one couldn't sing a note, they joined in and added to the adoration of our Lord.
    Starting with Standing on The Promises, we need to remember this every moment of our lives as we are always standing on the promises we have been given.
    The second song was Are You Washed in the Blood.
One of my favorites was Trading My Sorrows and also Open Up the Sky.  We aren't sure how many people gathered but somewhere between l50 - 300 people, as accurate as we could count.
    Terry Bess spoke of last year the dove which landed in a branch of a tree close by the baptism site and after that everyone has observed so many more doves in town.  Surely, this is God's promise and message to all of us. Terry also spoke of seeing doves and the deep meaning it gave to Terry and his wife, Carolyn on a trip to Africa.
    We sang How Great is Our God and soon Buck spoke.  Buck always speaks directly from his heart and his own life.  He spoke of some very dark times and dark areas in his life and how his very own son helped him see how wrong he was living and what a cleansing the entire family had after Buck realized he needed to make life changing decisions.  He spoke on the biblical promises which God had given him throughout his life and most especially this morning.
    Now the most wonderful thing I heard from his sermon was when about 4 or 5 people from various churches came to me and said, he was speaking directly to me about my own life.  The mark of a truly life changing sermon for all of us.
    We also sang The Old Rugged Cross with feeling and then celebrated birthdays and anniversary of people in the crowd and quickly moved to our long and I mean long line of tables, laden with more food than even 300 people could possibly consume but we all gave it our very best.
    The food was absolutely wonderful, a joint effort from the 3 churches with 3 ladies from each church chosen to serve.  I asked a new member to our church, Patty to serve and she did a remarkable job of meeting many new people, dishing out food, talking etc. and it was kind of a baptism of sorts.  I also thank all the men who set up tables, moved tables to a shady spot, listened to many nicely (?) given instructions from women and after the women cleaned up the men carted chairs, tables etc. back to their own churches.  Everyone there helped in so many ways, it would be impossible to give a name to everyone who was involved and how graciously everyone wanted to help.  Yes, this was a Christian Communal gathering at its deepest and soul changing event.
    Everyone agreed this was a fantastic day and we look forward to the gathering next year again.  Yes, God abides in us.