Showing the love of Christ can make more of a difference than you realize.
In early August, I met David who lived in one of the neighborhoods that City on a Hill Church has adopted. David was in his 50's. He had spent most of his life living on the street in unthinkable conditions and indulging in all kinds of sin activities, including drugs.
At least one family in Warrenton looked past all of that and decided that they would do everything they could to show the practical love of Christ in David's life. After introducing him to the Bible and who Jesus is, they helped him find an apartment in Culpeper. And that's when I met him.
After inviting David to COAHC, he began to come and worship with us. We helped him with some of the material needs - eg, groceries, kitchen ware, etc. He was living in a bare apartment with no furniture. He was lonely, but he was getting his life pointed in the right direction.
Through this experience, David met friends who were kind to him. He was shown unconditional love and acceptance. And for the first time in his life, he said, "I've found a place to worship God in my own way, and I've found peace, love and joy." On many occassions, David would weep over what God had done for him and the love he was experiencing.
After knowing David for only a short period of time, I was told that he passed away in his apartment last week. He went peacefully. He went home to be with the Lord after receiving the two greatest gifts in his entire life: peace from a relationship with God through Jesus and authentic love offered by the body of Christ.
What a joy it is to know our sovereign God orchestrated the opportunity for David to experience His powerful love, peace and joy in his last days on earth. Now David is spending eternity with our Lord in heaven above. Hallelujah!
I'll be performing David's graveside service on Thursday, October 1 @ 1pm at Forest Grove Baptist Church in Viewtown (near Amissville). If you knew David, please join us to celebrate his life with Christ.
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