TITLE: A Symphony of Miracles Book 2 Chapter 25 Into the Deep 11/12/14 By Richard McCaw 11/12/14 |
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A Symphony of Miracles Book 2
Chapter 25 Into the Deep
Here is how the Lord thrust me out into the mission fields of ministry among the lost of this earth, especially with a ministry to young men, whom he would later shape into leaders of His people.
I had become a member of Rehoboth Gospel Assembly on Constant Spring Road in Kingston, Jamaica at the age of twenty three. This thriving church was shepherded by Henry White, a very warm and humble, approachable Christian brother. In doctrine, the denomination resembled the Brethren Church, where I had been nurtured in the early years of my Christian experience. Whereas the Brethren were governed by an eldership, this church admitted an eldership with a single pastor. Henry White was definitely different from many other pastors. He willingly trusted God and delegated others to demonstrate their responsibility before the Lord.
One o’clock one Sunday afternoon, with the bright Jamaican sun shining overhead, a familiar voice floated above the buzz of the dispersing congregation near the back exit door of the church building, “Brother McCaw! Brother McCaw!” Church had just finished some fifteen minutes before. People were scattered everywhere, greeting each other. While some laughed or hugged, others shook hands. Still others were trying to make their way through the crowded churchyard to their cars parked along the fence.
Hearing the voice, I turned and recognized the pastor some distance away and saw his hands beckoning me. When I approached him, he said, “I’m going to St. Mary to preach tonight. A fine young man like you should come along and see what the Lord is doing in those parts!”
Going to the country parts with the pastor was an opportunity I did not want to miss! I anticipated meeting brothers and sisters in the Lord with some excitement. Later that evening, from the back of his car, I enjoyed the twilight scenery as we traveled on our way. Suddenly, he calmly said, “There are two churches, Brother McCaw, I’ll preach in one church and you’ll take the other.”
“I never preached in my life before!” I thought. “The only thing I’ve been doing since the age of fifteen has been telling stories to ten to twelve year old boys.” Nervously, I remember turning pages of the Bible, thinking of what to say. When we arrived in St. Mary, we parked before this very little church building. Outside, he introduced me to some of the leading brothers.
“Beloved,” he addressed them. “Praise the Lord!” They shook hands. “This is Brother McCaw. He’s a faithful brother with us. He’s going to be our speaker tonight!” After a few more words, he took off to the other congregation some distance away. The hum of the engine grew fainter and fainter as it disappeared in the darkness down the country road.
I was soon ushered inside the church hall where I saw about five long wooden benches on either side of an aisle, and realized that the building could possibly hold only fifty people when filled.
People had already begun to gather. A poor, humble congregation, they had walked several miles from the surrounding neighborhoods. There was no electricity, and as darkness crept steadily over the nearby hills, one of the brothers tried to light a lamp. Wind from a window seemed to snuff out his first attempts, but eventually as the match lit, the entire room shone with its flickering light. Meanwhile, someone else placed hymn books on the long brown wooden benches.
The night service began with singing of simple, tuneful choruses, and then two or three hymns, after which I addressed the congregation of five or six adults, and a few children who sat on the back benches. After it was over, I realized that preaching was not so difficult after all.
Not too long after, the chug-chug-chug of a car echoed its way up the hill, signaling the return of Brother White. When the car came to a stop and he came out, a pleasant smile greeted me and he asked, “How did it go, Brother McCaw?”
I smiled, and nodded. “Praise the Lord, Brother White,” I assured him,. “Everything went fine!”
In a short time, after he had bid the leading brothers farewell, we were on our way back to Kingston. I was a new man, God’s preacher. Years before, I had preached in my home church to boys, ten to twelve years old, I had visited the sick in hospitals, and told people on the streets and buses of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Now, I could stand boldly before a congregation, turn the pages of the Bible, and spice up my messages with stories, just as I had done in my Sunday School class. I remember how everyone eagerly listened and watched during the simple message I had given. I leaned back in the back seat of the car, thankful.
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