We moved our family to Cleveland so I could be closer to work. The first piece of mail I received was from a local non-denominational church which I had heard about. I thought, “Do I throw this out or share it with my wife?” I gave it to her, BUT I DID NOT want to go to a non-denominational church! I thought, “There’s no way I’m going there.” My wife and daughter attended, but I would not go. Then one Sunday my wife was really sick, so I took our daughter to church. As I observed, I thought, “There’s too much music and the pastor doesn’t even wear a robe; I’m not coming back.” Long story short, my wife got me to go to this church again and I got saved.
Then came the new member’s class for joining this church. I said, “I’m not going to join,” but I did. In the membership application, there was a page to choose which ministries I would be interested in. I looked them over and said “Yeah, right!” So, I just checked the one to help around the church. Soon I was helping with cutting grass and the sound ministry. Then came the big one. My wife was going to the nursing home to help with a worship service. I thought, “I’m not going to the nursing home; there are all those old people.” But she got me to go. After a while, I said, “This isn’t so bad.” It was actually a blessing. Then our friends who went to another nursing home asked if we would go visit one-on-one with them. I didn’t really want to go; but I couldn’t say no. On the way there, I prayed, “God if you want me to do this, please help me because I don’t really know what to say to those people.” What I found was the residents just wanted someone to CARE for them and to JUST LISTEN to what they had to say. I started to visit more often and it turned out to be a real BLESSING. I felt God had something else for me, but I did not know what was next.
One day I told my wife, “I HOPE nothing happens to the guy who gives the sermon at the nursing home, since I could never do that”. Well the next month, the guy told me that he couldn’t do this anymore, and I would have to do it. I thought, “Oh no, I can’t do this! I can’t talk to a group of people.” I prayed and prayed, and asked others to pray for me, even the pastor. Well, at a Tuesday Bible study the leader asked a question; I opened my Bible right to the verse that said, “I will never leave you or forsake you”. Then I realized that God does not pick the qualified, but he qualifies the one he picks. I thought, “If God could use Moses to lead all those people, He could help me lead a Bible study. So, I prayed, “God I need your help – BIG time!” He gave me a message to preach, and while short, it was sufficient. Later that year, I attended a training workshop with God Cares Ministry. I have been giving the sermons for a year now. The residents really like what I’m doing. I am so grateful! ~ Drew H., OH