YouJust Never Know...

I got this story from one of our Deacons, Roby Hale:

Ashley,
I was on call last weekend. I was at St. Francis Downtown when I received a call from my wife. She told me that one of our friends from church had called looking for me. She asked Paula would I come visit someone at the nursing homes she worked.
The gentlemen is terminally ill with cancer and is in his last days. My friend had told Paula that he was telling her how he was afraid to die. The crazy thing is that she had no idea I was on call but felt that I should come see him.
I arrived and started talking to our fellow church member. She told me that Charlie was very sick and was continuously telling her he was afraid to die. I told her I was on call and it was a blessing that she called me. She said that God had put it on her heart that I should come talk to Charlie.
When I first met him he was very guarded. I talked to him about himself and he began to be comfortable with me. I told him that Nanette had told me he was afraid to die. He said he was and that his mother had died from cancer.
I asked him could I share with him about not having anymore fear about dying. I began to share about Jesus and how He is the way, the truth, and the life. I also shared with him John 3:16 and after sharing with him I asked him would he like to not fear anymore. He accepted Jesus and immediately I could see a change in him.
When I left he asked me to come back and see him. It was just amazing how God put me in a place I was not suppose to be that day. We should all be mindful that God presents us with opportunities everyday to change someones life. I received the blessing and the honor of sharing with Charlie and now I know where he is going and I will see him again.
I pray that we are all bold and just do something like Nanatte Skewes did to help change someones life. Sometimes it only takes a phone call to make a difference.
To see the joy on his face when I left is one of those precious God moments. What a blessing it is to serve a God and a Savior that love and care for us as they do.

Your Brother in Christ,
Roby Hale

Construction Ministry Opportunity

This week we had a chance to minister in a way that was unexpected but exciting. A Verizon Telephone specialist who was installing the telephone wiring for the new building stopped by to ask prayer for one of his wife's co-workers. The gentleman told us that the young man has cancer, is only in his 20's. and the doctors told him he only has 2 months to live. The young man's name is Craig and is at Spartanburg regional. What an example of how God can work and use us in any situation for a Kingdom Cause. Please keep this young man in your prayers and all of our workers on the construction site. God is active even as the building is going up. It doesn't take a building, only a willing people.

Submitted by Cindy Smith.

Building Progress

Here are a couple of pictures from the construction site. This past week the elevator shaft began to go up. Things are progressing quickly. More pictures to come soon.

Courtyard Conversation

The movement of the Holy Spirit does not end with the benediction each Sunday. Sunday (7-1) I was thrilled to find two different families waiting for me to discuss salvation with their sons.

Sitting on the brick riser together, it became apparent in both cases that God had revealed Himself in such a way that the only thing left to do was accept God’s gift of a transformed life.

Both boys bowed to pray then and there, and soon we will be celebrating baptism with both families.

I look forward each Sunday to meeting your guests and family members!

R. Harling

A Kingdom Cause @ Beach Camp

Last month I had the privilege of meeting Debbie Webster. Debbie and her husband currently have 2 foster children. Ben Prince, a rising 11th grader at Mauldin High School is one of her foster children. He has been attending our Youth Sunday School classes on Sunday mornings and I recently had a better opportunity of getting to know him through a small group devotion time we had in June.
Several youth workers including Jeff Lyda, Spunky Chandler, and Lee Barnett have also had the privilege of ministering to Ben. Two weeks ago, they learned that Ben was very interested in attending our high school beach camp this year but was financially unable to. They took up money that sent Ben to high school beach camp last week.
On the 2nd night of camp, Ben gave his life over to Jesus Christ. It was an awesome privilege see Ben broken as we both knelt to our knees and prayed together. Seeing him grow just in one week has been such an awesome God thing. I love how the Holy Spirit has just taken over his life in 7 days and it thrills my soul to see Ben completely surrender to HIS control and authority.

Submitted by A. J. Jeffcoat