Now, we had the choice of whether to go and be a pastor of a little ,rural church in Louisiana or an associate pastor of a church in an urban setting. We visited both and finally came to the decision that the urban church was the place God wanted us. we did not know that He was going to send us through the fire when we got there but that was the case. I was associate pastor of Education and Youth. There was a youth event going on in a neighboring church. It was well-known so I invited the youth to go. That evening seven people went, four adults and three youth. I was devastated because of the lack of interest. I called Sandra, who was finishing up her teaching assignment and she said ,"Well, there is only one way to go- UP!" This began a journey of prayer and faith."
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We were in Seminary, still struggling with work, school, and so on. But we had the sweetest friends in the trailer park. They were Eddie and Helen and Ken and Diane. They were treasures and Tammi was the community baby. We idn't have a problem with a baby sitter but we had no money to go anywhere. But graduation was coming up in December and we had no where to go. Nothing had open up to go and serve. One day I was walking through the Rotunda of Southwestern and there was a man at a table enlisting people to go to Ohio to start churches. I stopped and talked with him. He asked me a few questions and told me of a place where we could go and start a church. This frightened me to death. I went home and told Sandra and she was not at all excited about that prospect of ministry. Still no one called about a church position. Finally, in desperation I knelt down and told God, if this is where you want us to go(Ohio) we would go. we surrender to Him that night. The next day, we received two phone calls from churches inquiring about us. It went from famine to feat over night. Surrender it the key.
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) " Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Jehovah-jireh- the Lord provides, we know all about this. For He has provided for us so many times, in the past and now in the present.. While in Seminary, even though we were both working, money was very tight. One of our few luxuries was going to a Tex-Mex restaurant on Wednesdays where it was two for one enchilada plate. Of course, we drank water which was free.. But when the food got low, when we had money or very little money to make the month. Either family would visit us, Mom and Dad, Dot and Joe and they always brought a couple of sacks full of groceries. They would even take us out to eat. Sometimes I would get a speaking engagement that would help us through. One month we had no money, we had little food and we did not know what to do but ask the Lord to provide. So one day I went to the mail ox and in the mailbox was a plain envelope, no name or address and inside that envelope was 20 dollars, enough to buy groceries for the week. Jehovah-jireh- the Lord does provide.
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What we Learned on Sunday? Insights, ideas and InspirationWritten by Pastor Chris Hudson Archives
April 2024
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