One More major event!

Back in October 2003 when we began our journey at First Baptist Mauldin, we were thrilled to be permitted to participate in 40 DAYS OF PURPOSE! After ONE week of involvement, I said to myself and most importantly to God, "Myself, and above all God, how in the world can we EVER leave this place?!?!" I prayed "God, if there's anyway, could you please give us the opportunity to be here when they have the BIG PARTY to end 40 DAYS?" God answered our prayer and gave us the joy of being involved in the most incredible CELEBRATION of a JESUS EVENT than I've ever had the opportunity to experience. As the preparations began for FBCM's 100th Anniversary Celebration, I once again prayed that same prayer to my Father! "Please God, if there's any way, would you please give us the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful Celebration of 100 years?" And here I am today, the day has finished and what an incredible day it was! Everything from remembrances of THE PAST with the choir singing a song that was the first song sung by the choir in the original building and memorials to past staff members that had passed away. (The memorial to Tom Smith, former Minister of Music and dear dear friend of many including us! was very emotional!)...Then there was the PRESENT with a song that our organist wrote and was really great to THE FUTURE which included Clay Smith (son of the Minister of Music I spoke of earlier) who is now a student at SouthWestern Seminary and intern or some staff person at Prestonwood in Dallas. Clay had some very challenging words about How God is Raising us Up as a church...and then he sang in his FABULOUS tenor voice (like his dad!) the Josh Groban piece YOU RAISE ME UP. We had great music for worship led by Russ Lee from TRUTH and NEWSONG and he also did a concert during our lunch. There was so much that happened...

After the events were over and I waited for Tom, I sat on the steps and once again prayed to ask God "How much longer will you let us stay here and bask in the beauty of this place?" It has been such a Refuge for us, a place of healing of hurts and brokenness. It has been a place or restoration. But will this be a stepping stone to something better or will it become a part of our life???

My prayer God remains the same
To lead our steps and meet our needs
Please keep us safe and provide for us
Make us ready, willing and able to serve you!
Open the door and let us see you at work in our life!