CHURCH OF THE WEEK
Grace Center Exhibits "Love Thy Neighbor"
By Mia Evans
The 700 Club
CBN.com
– The historic sanctuary of Fernvale Community Church was ripped apart by a tornado that touched down in Tennessee four months ago. The swirling winds left behind only memories, a wooden cross, and a portrait of Jesus. Pastor Gene Vincent wanders the empty lot in Williamson county where the building once stood for 120 years.
"Our congregation was devastated, they were broken hearted," Pastor Gene Vincent said. "I felt like, 'This is sad, but this is gonna be wonderful because God is going to take this and make something wonderful out of it.'"
Pastor Jeff Dollar heads up a near-by church called Grace Center. He says during a church conference on giving, the conference speaker told him, "Somebody is crying out for relief. You need to ask god to connect the two of you."
After Pastor Dollar prayed, it was clear that Fernvale Community Church needed their support. Even though Grace Center needs a new building of their own, the church took up a generous offering to help rebuild Fernvale Community Church.
"We were actually sowing a seed of something that we expect a return back on," Pastor Dollar said. "We just felt like that it was the heart of God to give to someone else. We have a building. They don’t have a building."
The grand total surprised everyone at Grace Center. Hundreds of members went to personally present the check to Fernvale Community Church.
Pastor Vincent of Fernvale Community Church said it was a shock to anybody to see 500 people entering and standing in their church the day Grace Center's members arrived.
"We present you with a check for $203,000," Pastor Dollar said.
Members and worship leaders shed tears as they absorbed the magnitude of what God had done.
"Just to see the expressions on these people’s faces and just to be able to just give instead of receiving - it was just phenomenal," Grace Center member Jeann Marie Williams said.
"We plan on dedicating our church building to God," Pastor Vincent said. "This is holy ground."
Ferndale Community Church plans to honor God's provision by naming their fellowship hall Grace Center Fellowship Hall.
"There is a piece of the kingdom that you tap into when you help someone who is completely helpless," Pastor Dollar said.
For supporting a sister church in a time of disaster, congratulations Grace Center! You are "America’s Church of the Week."
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