On Sunday January 14^th, we experienced a day that was totally orchestrated by God from beginning to end. From the time the first person turned the key to open the door that morning it was obvious this day was a special day for Word of Life Church.

 

During our worship time before Pastor ever spoke a word, God began to move in a very powerful way. Some were led by God to the altar for a time of prayer at the beginning of the service.

 

After the powerful praise and worship time Pastor spoke of names. He told us all we may need a name change and God can do that. He can rename us and we can begin to walk a different walk, live a different life, and be who He created us to be in the first place. He spoke of Abraham and Sarah changing generations after God changed their names. His text came from Genesis and he read many scriptures about Abraham and Sarah and the generations of their family that followed after them.

 

At the conclusion of the message many came to the altar and prayed for God to give them a new name. Many received those new names from God and are most likely now walking different walks, living different lives and being the people God created them to be in the first place.

 

In the afternoon at 2:30 Sister Candi and the praise team joined the Temple of Compassion and Deliverance Unity Choir at the Civic Auditorium for the Martin Luther King celebration. Sister Candi led the group in singing How Great Is Our God. She and the other choir directors did a magnificent job. The Spirit of our great God was there. Many dignitaries and government officials praised the choir and seemed to be genuinely awestruck not only by their talent, but also by the anointing of God that was on the choir and in the building.

 

As it came time for the evening service it might have seemed time for the day to wind down, but God wasn't done. He was only beginning to show us miracles, signs and wonders. Those who prayed before services prepared their hearts and minds for God to continue to move and do great things in our midst.

 

There was joy and excitement in the air as the congregation of TCD joined the congregation of WOLC. Everyone seemed to fit perfectly as the sanctuary quickly filled. The Unity Choir crowded on the platform shoulder to shoulder. There was standing room only, but no one seemed to mind. They once again sang How Great Is Our God as well as Hallelujah. It was truly a time of celebration and unity of the body of Christ.

 

Bishop Parks came to the pulpit and expressed his genuine desire to befriend our Pastor and our church body. He promised never to do anything against us. He expressed his belief that God orchestrated the connection between these two congregations.

 

Bishop Parks began his message by having an elder read from the Book of Genesis. Those of us at Word of Life recalled that Pastor had read from Genesis that morning. As Bishop began to speak about Abraham and Sarah receiving new names we began to smile. As Bishop asked the same question Pastor had asked in the morning message, "Do you need a new name?" we all wanted to stand up and cheer. God is truly amazing and we were all truly amazed that God had given two men from two different churches the same message to preach on the day God brought their two congregations together.

 

Bishop Parks' message was powerful as he continuously reinforced the idea that God had connected us for such a time as this. As he concluded the message, his altar call was very simple and straight forward, "If you need prayer come up here now." The altar was full, people standing shoulder to shoulder, again standing room only, but no one seemed to mind.

 

God moved among us. We saw miracles. People received new names. People were delivered. We were all connected. January 14^th was a day that many dreams came true and promises came to pass. How great is our God!