A Healing Church

The month of June has a very special meaning to Genesis Bible Fellowship Church. We celebrate the founding of this ministry and this year we celebrate forty years of Pastoral and Church Ministry. Join us as we receive encouragement from one another as we read about the when and the how the Lord led each writer to Genesis Bible Fellowship Church! Enjoy today's devotional and may it remind you of when you were led to this branch of Zion!

SCRIPTURE: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 

Pastor Cockrell has made the statement that Genesis Bible Fellowship Church is a healing church and it seems as if God sends people to GBFC to be healed, especially from “church hurt”. I count myself in that number. At my former church I was worship leader, choir director, and for five years I was employed on staff as Youth and Young Adult Pastor. Through God’s plan and leadership, the ministry grew from 6-10 kids on Friday night to approximately 25-35 teens every Friday. The ministry was vibrant. The kids and their parents were reaching out to relatives, friends, and neighbors, letting them know about this great ministry. They agreed that it was a place to help their kids grow and it was a safe place for their teens to be on Friday nights.

It happened one year when we took the kids to the annual Youth for Christ Teen Conference in Ocean City, MD, that an incident occurred between a pair of teens. As per protocol, I always kept one chaperone in each room with 5 teens. However, even with chaperones in the room this incident occurred and upon  my investigation I discovered the truth and told the Pastor, elders, and parents of the teens. The angry parents of one of the teens involved demanded action-my removal from ministry and firing from church staff. Though I did everything I was supposed to do, I was released from ministry and fired. I was collateral damage. Other parents and teens, who knew the truth was totally different from the story told by the teen, came to my defense and advised me to obtain a lawyer and fight, because I did nothing wrong. This started to divide the church. I wanted no part in dividing God’s people, so I thanked my supporters, thanked the leadership, and left the church. It was very painful to leave my ministry, children, and families I had come to love. It really crushed me knowing I did nothing wrong, followed protocols correctly, and was still fired. I even protected the teen who lied and didn’t pursue exposing them. I didn’t want all who were involved to experience a lingering hurt and pain. I didn’t want the division that was starting to get worse.
 
Desiring not to keep my young family without a church home for too long, my wife and I prayed decided on which churches we wanted to visit. After all, Kim and I were members and married in a church that preached the Word! The pastor didn’t do all that whooping and show. He exegesed the Word of God. He not only preached it, but he also taught it. He emphasized Bible study and outreach. We were also big watchers of minster like Tony Evans, David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley, so we knew what real preaching and teaching looked like. We had both gone to Bible college, so we knew what we were looking for. After a few months of visiting churches, we came to Genesis Bible Fellowship Church. Wow, the preaching and teaching were just what we liked and knew we needed. There was also great children’s ministry going on, too. This was very important to us because we had two teenagers, and kids eleven, four, and a newborn. There was even a nursery was in place, and my wife could be relieved of the baby and could enjoy the sermon. But what really did it for me was I looked around and saw men working! They were even teaching primary church. After a couple visits, we knew this was the place for our family.

God has said in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Through our Christian walk we will go through valley experiences, but remember God has a plan for you. God leading us to Genesis restored my faith in Him. Over time He healed my pain and restored my ministry. To God be the glory for the great things He has done!

PRAYER: Lord God, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for Your grace and forgiveness. Thank You for saving my soul. Lord, I pray for souls who are lost and lives who are in pain. May they come to know You as savior that You may heal them as You have done for me. Thank You for Pastor Cockrell and the ministry of GBFC. To God be the glory for the great things He has done!

Would you like to share your testimony? Follow the Devotional format above and email your devotional to paula1028smith@gmail.com.