Chapter
30

Shortly after the accident, our family tried to re-enter many of our old routines. I think we were longing for the old way of doing things. We thought our old routine would somehow help us to hold on to our old family dynamics. In the years before the accident, we spent a lot of time at the church. Our small group time was extremely important to our growth in Christ. Martha had challenged our small group to get out there and serve. She is the one that had pointed Elna and I and many others to go serve in the children’s ministry. Several people in our adult Sunday School class had challenged Martha back. If we had taken her direction and gone to serve in the children’s ministry, that would have normally meant that we would have to give up our own adult Sunday School time each week. We all didn’t want to give that up. Therefore, several couples approached Martha and said, “We will go and serve in the kids’ ministry, but we want you to do something for us.”

                                                                                                               

At that time, FBC Covington had two worship services each Sunday morning. We would normally go to the first service and then have our adult Sunday School class right after that first service. Our proposal to Martha was that we wanted her to come in an hour and a half before that first service when the church was normally closed. We wanted her to teach us and a few other couples in a new small group time that would be just for those that served in the kids’ ministry. That way, we would have it all. We would be taught by Martha at 8:00 am, have the worship service at 9:30, and then have our time of serving in the children’s ministry at 11:00. She agreed, and this went on for over a year before the accident. In looking back, God used this time to put us on an expedited time of growth in Him.

 

Isaiah 55 NIV

 

10 As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.