Been Blessed since Watch Nite Service
Dear Bishop and Elder Brown:
I have just left bible study tonight and I just really want to encourage you and THANK you! I am not a member, nor have i ever been a member of a Baptist church. I say that because I have heard your story about your nephew and his discussion in Seminary. It is funny to realize how we grow up believing certain things. I was born and raised in the COGIC church. It was nothing to see people shout, or slain in the spirit. But growing up I was just taught and led to believe that “Baptist folk” were not as saved as us “COGIC folk”. Every church I have ever belonged to has been pentecostal until I graduated from high school. The pastor whom I loved dearly and was a dynamic preacher was stricken with an illness. I have not been a member of any church since then (for over 6 years). I have attended a baptist church for years because it is my in-laws church, but I never joined. I was a “pew member” Came every sunday, sat on the back row, and always left the same-no change-no growth. But Glory Be God, because He has the master plan! It is ironic because a few years ago, I applied for a secretary position @ your church. Pastor Valerie interviewed me. I didn’t understand back then, but God know why I wasn’t hired. In no way was I ready for the power and annointing that you all have in your lives and ministry at that time in my life. All the while I was a pew member at the other church I have been searching for a church home. Even considering going back to a COGIC church. I left church so hurt one evening after attending a COGIC convocation service, I vowed never to go back again. Here I am pressing my way at a night service with 2 little kids with me, needing and wanting a breakthrough in my life, and treated so meanly by “church people”. I really had given up. But the end of last year I was led to attend your watch nite service. Thank God I listened! This is just the 20th day of the new year and I have attended every sunday service and wednesday bible study service since jan.1st. I’m determined not to be a pew member anymore, but to be all that I can be in Christ this year. You have evidence that God’s power and annointing is over your lives because of the awesome growth of the church. But I said all this to say, if no one ever tells you, let it be known from my testimony that you all are doing a GREAT WORK!! BE ENCOURAGED to keep following God’s plan for your life. It is the God in you that is CHANGING people’s lives!!! I know that from 1/1/10 my life will NEVER be the same. Continue to use annointed people in your ministry. Sometimes leaders don’t realize that people in office of the church are actually hurting people and pushing them away from the church. The pastor of that COGIC church that I went to has no idea that a usher prevented me from ever attending his church again. I praise God for you two, and pray God’s continued favor upon your lives. So much has happened in the first 20 days of the year, and I am EXPECTING even more from God this year. From the bottom of my heart, BE BLESSED and DON’T GIVE UP! I know what you do is not easy, but it’s definitely WORTH IT! Keep on doing what God has called you to do!!!!! O and by the way..I don’t know if its done purposely or not, but the sign on the church simply saying “the mount” helps people like me not to worry about the denomination of the church, but to just come looking for GOD!!!