A Saving Grace
Some years ago, an Ohio woman named Grace Smith was
at worship listening to the sermon. Suddenly, she thought she heard
a voice. Not an audible voice, but an insistent voice whispering
in her mind. Then an address popped up into her head: 1522 Spring
Street. She knew no one at that address in her small city. Yet she
could not get it out of her mind. Leaving the church, she decided
to drive down Spring Street and look for the house numbered 1522.
When she found it, she felt compelled to walk to the front door
of the home and knock. She heard someone slowly shuffling towaM
the door. When the door finally opened, Grace saw a bent-over elderly
man. A frail and obviously ill woman stood behind him. They invited
her in. She was not there long before she discovered that they were
out of food and in need of medicine.
The couple had no neighbors who checked on them and no family members
to care for them. They were sick, hungry and lonely. They needed
help immediately!
Grace took charge and saw that they received help as fast as she
could provide it. The condition of that poor old couple would not
leave Grace's mind. How many other people in her city needed food,
health care and friendship, she wondered?
Grace began to speak to pastors and other concerned Christians in
her community. She began to spread the word about meeting the needs
of those in desperate conditions. The response was so favorable
that a Community Christian Service was formed. And though Grace
has long since died, the works of mercy she started still continue
throughout her community.
Mexican Mission
May 2, 2004
by Morgann Doup
Five members of the church and I have plane tickets
purchased and will soon be getting out our work gloves, work boots,
and sunscreen. We will be dusting off our suitcases and getting
them packed for an eightday mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. Our
plane leaves Columbus, Ohio at 1 l:55 a.m., on Saturday, June
19th and returns home June 26th.
The six individuals going from our church are: Mike
Morris, Joyce Morris, Ben Doup, Savannah Shurelds (Millie Pealer's
granddaughter), and Mike Phillips along with myself. Eight members
from the Colonial City Baptist Church in Bangs will join us. This
trip will be full of adventure, excitement, emotion, and love.
I am extremely pumped to see what God has in store for us while
there and how our hearts and lives will be impacted when we return.
Having gone on two mission trips in the past, we
give thanks to many of you for support and for God's amazing ways
of working, I know that prayer is a vital part for any mission
trip in order for it to be successful. The six people from Amity
and those from Colonial City are only following the call God has
placed on their hearts. We are all God's servants being sent to
do His will.
Therefore, I ask you to be in prayer for this group,
for the kids we will be with, for those in Mexico that are organizing
everything, and also for safety. Encourage and financially support
the team as God prepares their hearts to do His work. This group
will be the hands and feet of Amity going to Mexico to share the
wondrous love God has for every person no matter what kind of
situation they are in.
Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's
team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat the score
was tied zero to zero, and it:was the bottom of the 9th inning with
two outs. They confinued to watch as a batter stepped up to the
plate named 'Love.'
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because "Love never
fails."
The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faithworks
with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw
the first pitch. Godly Wisdoml looked it over and let it Pass: Ball
one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never
swings at what Satan throws.
The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told
him He was now going to bring in his star player. Up to the plate
stepped Grace. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had
won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock
of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen!
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit
him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground. The roaring
crowds went wild as the batt continued over the fence.., for ahome
run!
The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly
Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game? Freddy answered
that he didn't know why.
The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the
game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and
Wisdom will get you on base but only my Grace can get you home:
'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God;not of works, lest
any man should boast.'"
Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will
give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from those
who walk uprightly"