Words cannot express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the hospitality that was shown to me and the Macedonia Church family as we experienced southern hospitality courtesy of Pastor E. J. Tyson and the New Hope Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, OK. As host, Pastor Tyson and his church put on the big pot and the little pot for us.
The Lord allowed safe passage through the air, car and our "coach passenger van" (God be praised) from Indiana to Oklahoma and back. An unrealized side benefit to this trip was not only the fellowship of two "kindred" churches but the fellowship between our own members, 12 hours in a car, or 17 hours on a coach van will make people get to know each other real quick.
Although we attend the same churches, serve in ministries together and "know" each other in a general sense of the word, many of our churches don't share an intimate fellowship. We eat, we have programs, we come together but for the most part it's the same people sitting in the same seats on the same pews talking to the same people about the same stuff.
This trip brought together different groups, economically, socially, gender, educational and allowed each to see Macedonia from someone else's point of view. I pray this fellowship that started on this trip will blossom into a healthy and vibrant church that is welcoming to all people regardless of who they are or what they drive or how much money they make.
I am overwhelmed that a church would think enough of their Pastor to travel over 900 miles to spend several days with him in revival. In addition, I am grateful that when I arrived back home here in South Bend, I still found a church family that loved me; the key still worked to the door, and they still allow me to grow into becoming their Pastor.
While thanking Pastor Tyson for the invitation this year (and next) and thanking Macedonia for coming, I also want to thank my Pastor Rev. A. Glenn Woodberry for allowing my brother Pastor K.D. Witherspoon to preach at my home church, Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and the official record is, the Lord used him to destroy and tear down everything that did not look like Christ and then rebuild it in His image and for His Glory. I look forward to unleashing Pastor McGhee on OKC in the near future as well as showing Indiana the preaching prowess of Pastors Tony Rhone, Teron Gaddis and others just to name a few.
Sunday service was great and I was humbled by people who although they just got of the bus at 2:00am, they were back for morning worship and a full day of running. I thank God that he allowed my body to endure the wear and tear of preaching and for this process my spirit has been rejuvenated to run on a little while longer to see what the end will be.
Owens
The Lord allowed safe passage through the air, car and our "coach passenger van" (God be praised) from Indiana to Oklahoma and back. An unrealized side benefit to this trip was not only the fellowship of two "kindred" churches but the fellowship between our own members, 12 hours in a car, or 17 hours on a coach van will make people get to know each other real quick.
Although we attend the same churches, serve in ministries together and "know" each other in a general sense of the word, many of our churches don't share an intimate fellowship. We eat, we have programs, we come together but for the most part it's the same people sitting in the same seats on the same pews talking to the same people about the same stuff.
This trip brought together different groups, economically, socially, gender, educational and allowed each to see Macedonia from someone else's point of view. I pray this fellowship that started on this trip will blossom into a healthy and vibrant church that is welcoming to all people regardless of who they are or what they drive or how much money they make.
I am overwhelmed that a church would think enough of their Pastor to travel over 900 miles to spend several days with him in revival. In addition, I am grateful that when I arrived back home here in South Bend, I still found a church family that loved me; the key still worked to the door, and they still allow me to grow into becoming their Pastor.
While thanking Pastor Tyson for the invitation this year (and next) and thanking Macedonia for coming, I also want to thank my Pastor Rev. A. Glenn Woodberry for allowing my brother Pastor K.D. Witherspoon to preach at my home church, Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and the official record is, the Lord used him to destroy and tear down everything that did not look like Christ and then rebuild it in His image and for His Glory. I look forward to unleashing Pastor McGhee on OKC in the near future as well as showing Indiana the preaching prowess of Pastors Tony Rhone, Teron Gaddis and others just to name a few.
Sunday service was great and I was humbled by people who although they just got of the bus at 2:00am, they were back for morning worship and a full day of running. I thank God that he allowed my body to endure the wear and tear of preaching and for this process my spirit has been rejuvenated to run on a little while longer to see what the end will be.
Owens
3 comments:
First of all, let me thank you for the telephone message you left for me on Friday. The fact that you would take the time just before preaching to check on me out of genuine concern for my well-being, touched me in a way too deep for words. I will never forget what you said and what it meant to me at the time. Thanks.
Secondly, let me commend you for exposing the Macedonia Church to your roots and a dose of good ole southern hospitality. That they would travel that far to be with their pastor, speaks volumes regarding your leadership and is a testament to greater things in the future.
Lastly, let me say it is good to have you back and once you've had a chance to catch your breath, let catch up.
Thanks for sharing the photo. Looks like a whole lot of power in those pews.
Pastor Owens thank you for sharing snippets from your week in revival and sharing the Pastors/Preachers photo. It is always good to hear and witness a strong Pastor leading a strong church. With your Pastoral heart and Preaching, prowess and your churches commitment to you and to Christ There is no telling what God will do. God may send you to the ends of the earth to save one lost soul.
May God continue to bless you and the Macedonia Church family.
Ron
Revun, let me thank you for introducing me to OKC! Preaching at the Greater Mt. Olive Church has truly been one of the greatest preaching experiences of my life and I am forever in your debt for opening the door!
I truly enjoyed you at the New Hope Church. You are a super preacher and a wonderful brother!!
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