Be a Blessing | Stories from the Home Front 8

Ecclesiastes 3 teaches us that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” While no one could have predicted that we would be sheltering at home to avoid a virus only a few months into 2020, it didn’t surprise the Lord. He is using and moving in His church to bring hope and impact lives for the Kingdom, and we love sharing stories of what God is doing.

A Time to Connect

Causby is a retired US Army veteran of over 36 years and previous Chaplain Assistant. After retiring from the military, he began looking for more ministry opportunities but nothing seemed to fit. After four combat tours and challenges figuring out next steps, he fell away from the Lord. Then came the coronavirus. With more time on his hands, he began reading Christian books he had in storage and began watching Sunday services on television, especially Pathway to Victory. After contact with one of our staff members and continuing to tune in to PTV, Causby plans to be at the doors of his local church as soon as they reopen. He is thankful for the solid biblical teaching of PTV and the ministry of our church.

Our Awana Ministry for ages two through sixth grade has had a strong finish to the year from home. They’ve met weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays with over 100 attending each week. The children have completed 695 handbook sections from home the past couple months. Each section includes at least one Bible verse to memorize, as well as Bible devotional questions for the preteen ages. This year our children, leaders, and even parents have been challenged to memorize God’s Word and apply it to their lives. With 695 sections completed with at least one memory verse each, our kids and leaders have diligently practiced hiding God’s Word in their hearts. Praise God!

A Time to Minister

Recently, one of our Sunday School classes gathered via Zoom, many coming with heavy burdens—one with COVID-19 who didn’t want to miss; three with serious struggles in their marriages; two with recent divorces; a couple with lost jobs; one with a new baby due that day and the death of a cousin in a car accident; and a whole host of others who stood ready to minister to them, having learned much through their own past experiences and God’s very present help in times of need. This is the very definition of a Sunday School class that is working. Praise God for the gift of His people, even when we can’t gather in person.

Gloria works in our Kids Cove Preschool Ministry. She has been making calls to check on members and recently called one of our widows and talked for an hour and half. She shared that shortly after she started working at First Dallas, her grandson was diagnosed with leukemia. Although she was somewhat new and a stranger to most people, our church ministered to her and her family—calls, notes, Pastoral Care staff visiting them in the hospital. That experience changed her life and perspective of what a church family is supposed to be, and that is why she is enjoying phone calls with members, especially the hour and half phone call with a widow. She loves doing ministry!