...at the County Fair

                 When the carnival for the annual Powhatan County Fair came to town, Pastor Tim saw a possible  chance to sell his truck and camper.  What happened instead was a very special opportunity. 

             Several days before the opening of the fair, Mr. Harris, President of the County Fair, fell off the back of his pickup truck and broke his arm.  This created some havoc, and workers were busy trying to complete setup in time for the opening.  Tim offered to help, and in less than two hours lined up a crew to set up tires around the go-cart track the next day. Debbie Vaughn rounded up some ladies to make lots of homemade cookies.  For several days Debbie, Frank, and Tim went back to the fairgrounds and served ice water and cookies in Jesus’ name and handed out tracts  to the fair and carnival workers.  They were well received and very much appreciated.

One special meeting for Tim was with two carnival workers from Eastern Europe.  The man from Ukraine was Russian Orthodox, and the man from Belarus, whose family had been staunch communists, didn’t believe in anything. It was so special for Tim to be able to communicate in Russian, and it seemed to mean so much to the men.

For years Tim has been receiving Christian  magazines in Russian and has saved some of them.  On Sunday afternoon  he and Bev went back to the fair and gave them to the men.  Very grateful for something to read in their own language, they thanked him over and over again. 

Simply a cup of cold water?

Just maybe it will open the door to Jesus, a fountain of living water, springing up to everlasting life.

...at the County Courthouse

             Are you serious about sharing your faith? If you are, God will open unique doors of opportunity.  Pastor Tim has walked through one of those open doors.

             After a local shooting in the community, Tim realized his neglect in not sharing the gospel with our broken community.  He decided to call two of his local pastor friends, and, together  with several persons from our church, they met on the courthouse lawn Saturday morning, July 19,  to pray for healing in the community.  As they prayed, they confessed their own sin of not reaching out to the community.

Pastor Russell Cress noted that the courthouse was a place where people gather.  Court days are Wednesdays and Fridays, so Tim and Russell have decided to use the opportunity to be available to pray with persons coming to court.  On August 1 they met in front of the courthouse, and Russell planted a sign that read, “Christian Community Prayer Station. Do you need prayer?  We will pray for you.”  As they handed out ice-water, they were able to talk and pray with people. They also handed out tracts and  church cards.

One man said he was an alcoholic and asked for prayer.  A lady grabbed both their hands and said, “I need prayer.”  Another lady shared about a situation close to her heart.

Ice water given in Jesus’ name opened the door to share His love.

I am reminded of the song… Little Is Much When God Is in It.

1. In the harvest field now ripened there is work for all to do.  Hark! the voice of God is calling, to the harvest calling you.

2.  Does the place you’re called to labor seem so small and little known?  It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own.

 Chorus: Little is much when God is in it.......  if you go in Jesus’ name.