Miracles! We are surrounded by them. This Sunday I will be talking about the miracles of life and how a day does not go by without us experiencing the miraculous. But today I want to tell you about a modern day miracle and how God used it to touch our church and community.
The story was told to me this morning by Mike, one of the assistant directors for Crisis Response International (CRI). The story involves a man named Sean who is the executive director for CRI. About three weeks before Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas, Sean was prompted by the Lord with this message: Contact a pastor by the name of Steve. He pastors an Assemblies of God church somewhere on the west coast of Florida. His church sits inland about 3 miles. (See the picture of the sticky note where Sean quickly wrote)
That was it. Sean had no idea who Pastor Steve was, where he pastored, or why he should contact him. When Hurricane Irma formed and began tracking toward Florida it all made sense. So Sean put his people to work. They soon found an Assemblies of God pastor in Venice, Florida named Steve Bradshaw. It just so happens his church sits 3 1/2 miles inland. In the meantime, Pastor Steve knew the hurricane was approaching. Not knowing where to turn, he was in prayer asking God for guidance. In answer to his prayer, Crisis Response International called and plans were made to go to Venice.
After hitting the Florida Keys, Irma made landfall on Marco Island as a category 3 hurricane. It dropped to a category 2 as it worked its way north. When it was all said and done, Venice escaped much of the damage at first anticipated. So Pastor Steve called Sean and told him the good news. And yet the prompting was still there for Crisis Response International to go to SW Florida. That’s when Pastor Steve remembered some friends from Bible College days. They pastored a church in SW Florida. The name of the church? River of Life Assembly of God in Estero.
That is how Sheri and I received the called from our friends Steve and Mary Beth Bradshaw. And that is how God sent help to us in the form of Crisis Response International. The words of Isaiah 65:24 come to mind, "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"
We are still in hurricane season, and as you know, other hurricanes are forming in the Atlantic. One sister shared with me after Sunday’s service that the Lord impressed on her heart that He would protect us from further harm. Amen, so be it! This I know, we have experienced a modern day miracle. To God be the glory!
Pastor Todd Weston
The story was told to me this morning by Mike, one of the assistant directors for Crisis Response International (CRI). The story involves a man named Sean who is the executive director for CRI. About three weeks before Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas, Sean was prompted by the Lord with this message: Contact a pastor by the name of Steve. He pastors an Assemblies of God church somewhere on the west coast of Florida. His church sits inland about 3 miles. (See the picture of the sticky note where Sean quickly wrote)
That was it. Sean had no idea who Pastor Steve was, where he pastored, or why he should contact him. When Hurricane Irma formed and began tracking toward Florida it all made sense. So Sean put his people to work. They soon found an Assemblies of God pastor in Venice, Florida named Steve Bradshaw. It just so happens his church sits 3 1/2 miles inland. In the meantime, Pastor Steve knew the hurricane was approaching. Not knowing where to turn, he was in prayer asking God for guidance. In answer to his prayer, Crisis Response International called and plans were made to go to Venice.
After hitting the Florida Keys, Irma made landfall on Marco Island as a category 3 hurricane. It dropped to a category 2 as it worked its way north. When it was all said and done, Venice escaped much of the damage at first anticipated. So Pastor Steve called Sean and told him the good news. And yet the prompting was still there for Crisis Response International to go to SW Florida. That’s when Pastor Steve remembered some friends from Bible College days. They pastored a church in SW Florida. The name of the church? River of Life Assembly of God in Estero.
That is how Sheri and I received the called from our friends Steve and Mary Beth Bradshaw. And that is how God sent help to us in the form of Crisis Response International. The words of Isaiah 65:24 come to mind, "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"
We are still in hurricane season, and as you know, other hurricanes are forming in the Atlantic. One sister shared with me after Sunday’s service that the Lord impressed on her heart that He would protect us from further harm. Amen, so be it! This I know, we have experienced a modern day miracle. To God be the glory!
Pastor Todd Weston
