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As the joyful celebration of Stone and Josie’s wedding
started to wind down, Pastor Tom took a moment to congratulate the newlyweds
again and to invite people to tomorrow’s Sunday morning service.
“I know some of you haven’t been to church in a while, and
that’s okay. God still loves you. We’d love for you to come join us in the
mornin’. We’re goin’ to be worshippin’ the Lord and growin’ in the
Word. Everyone’s welcome!” Pastor Tom said enthusiastically.
And though his speech had been simple and heartfelt, nothing
could’ve prepared him for the response the town gave the next morning. By the
time service started, the Ash Falls Community Church was holding its biggest
crowd ever, including a gentleman that no one recognized. The
stranger’s singing voice was strong and passionate, and he was one of the
best-dressed men in the place.
Pastor Tom delivered another rousing service, and conviction
reigned so heavily in the place that the altar was bursting with a harvest of
souls. The neatly dressed stranger was the first to abandon his pride and fall
on his knees. Even Elizabeth Johnson shamed the devil by making her way to the
front and rededicating her life. An outsider might have mistaken the scene for a
funeral as sobs of joy quietly filled the building. Families were restored,
lives were changed and hope was re-birthed; every need was met by the love,
grace and mercy of Jesus.
After the service was concluded, the crowd slowly funneled out,
drunken by the generous presence of the Holy Spirit. Tom and Constance shook
hands with everyone, and received a bounty of thanks from folks for a service
like nothing they’d ever known before.
“That was an amazin’ sermon, preacher,” said the
unfamiliar man as he firmly gripped Pastor Tom’s hand. “I’ll never be the
same,” he said boldly, confidently.
Pastor Tom was struck with awe as he realized who the stranger
was.
“Gus. Gus Wilson, is that you?” Tom asked, squinting his
eyes as though he was trying to see through Gus’ well-groomed, clean-shaven
disguise.
Gus merely answered with a wink, and walked on.
Once the church was empty, Pastor Tom’s work still wasn’t
over; he had the incredible privilege of remarrying Brock and Elizabeth Johnson.
Tom was in a stupor of wonderment of God’s love for people, and the beautiful
change that only His power was capable of bringing about.
©2004 StoriesByEmail.com
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