My daughter and her family are just beginning to participate with such a fledgling church, geared to the needs of the congregants. They are forming home groups to interact more personally, and educate and share more often than just attending Sunday School and services.
She related this the day after my surgery when she was here, and in the afternoon her daughter - the older of my two granddaughters - called to talk with me.
She independently gave a glowing report of the new church. Aubrey will be 21 in November, is a Junior at The University of South Carolina in Columbia, and has worked since she was 15.
She also simultaneously took seven Advanced Courses in High School, and will be able to graduate in fewer than four years with those credits.
Her goal is to become a Clinical Pharmacist - a new approach where a Pharmacist is part of a Hospital Medical Team, acting with the physicians to guide the treatment of the patients, rather than just fill prescriptions.
Early in the summer, her 5th grade teacher saw her in a grocery store and they talked. This teacher saw her way back then as exceptional, and has kept in touch with her ever since.
When Aubrey mentioned she was holding two waitress jobs as well as full-time college, and her interest is in Clinical Pharmacy, the teacher perked up.
Seems she has a good friend who is on the Board of Baptist Hospital in Columbia, and would she like her to have him call her?!
He did, and met and talked with Aubrey more than an hour, explaining he would love to have her in the Pharmacy Program, but it would be May of 2004 before she could enter.
Soon after, though, he called to tell her she could begin at once! She now has a steady schedule of working at Baptist Hospital every third day and every third holiday, delivering medications from the Pharmacy to the floors, at a very good wage.
She loves it, the atmosphere, and being able to learn firsthand about the nedications and their purposes and uses. That will be a great advantage as she goes for her Pharmacy Doctorate.
It was so gratifying to hear the delight in her voice, and enthusiasm!
Added to that, she spoke of having joined at the new church a Single Adults Group - AND (be still, my heart!) has joined a Young Republican Group that meets twice a month....
Claiming Full Grandmother Bragging Rghts this October Day !!!
I have succeeded in warping another generation, as well as my three children,,:))
Life is good - - - amend that to GOD IS GOOD !!!
Yes it is and it is very gratifying.
There was more than one reason why we left NY and went to Va.
My wife and I left our Church a full year before the big ball started to fall. There were a few others but we all as good Christians didn't gossip and told no tales, we just waited and started attending a Baptist Church. When we moved it took only a few months before the Deacons started calling me and saying they were sorry. Sorry for what ? All that mattered top me is that they saw the light. They told me that my help was needed in NY and all I could do was tell them I would support them from my new home and when it was time for a vote in the church I would come up. Well it came to a vote and as soon as I found out I received a letter from the Pastor that our voting rights had been suspended. I won't get into all the details.
The vote went the way the Pastor had forced it to go, he would stay on. Well at that point all the others left and started at our new building and now our new place of Worship.
When we moved back we were welcome with open arms at our new Church and are on the roles with the founders. I Love it there and stay active with the services, saying Prayers in front of the whole congregation and enjoy our Thursday night mens Prayer and Bible study.
My wife said that we had to leave here cause that was the only way for her to know if the church split because of me or despite me. Well it wasn't because of me, the whole thing was a battle till the end, the elders and the pastor canceling peoples voting rights, bringing the Deacons up in front of the sinate on charges of sin. Just incredible how the Lord has been working in our lives.
Praise God for he is good and merciful till the end.