The People Pastor Bill Fix
It happens in small churches. Church size has never stopped the Lord from using small churches to do amazing things. I was a Pastor blessed to observe the many ways that Jesus is personified in all the people serving Him. His kingdom does come in these churches as people live out their faith. Like the faith of Daysia.
She was a twelve years old girl, and was not bashful about her faith. She invited her neighbors and friends to church. She told them that Jesus had changed her life. It was no surprise when her friend Amanda began attending our church. Daysia influenced and eternally impacted her life. Daysia was elated the day when Amanda became a believer in Jesus.
Amanda, also twelve years old, soon had her mother, Sherry, and her two brothers attending church. It was the coolest thing to watch as one by one, Amanda’s family became followers of Jesus. Her mother became a church office volunteer.
One day Amanda became ill. We all thought it was the flu or food poisoning, but none of us thought it could be cancer. Soon she was hospitalized and then air-lifted to Shand’s Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. The doctors diagnosed Amanda with a rare form of cancer.
For the next thirty days, I traveled back and forth to the hospital to visit with Amanda. She introduced me to beautiful twelve year old Amy, and her Mother Carol. I took a puppet to the hospital and at first Amy would not talk to me, but she would talk to my puppet.
Amanda had been talking to Amy and Carol about Jesus. As Amanda led the way, I was able to pray with them as they became Christ followers. Amy had cancer too and her Mother told me that the Doctors were saying the cancer was stage four. It was very hard to watch as Amanda and Amy battled each day to live. When Amy died, all of us were thankful that Amy’s battle was over and she was in heaven. I sat with Carol, Amy’s mom, and she said her only comfort was knowing her child was not suffering and was with Jesus.
Sherry, her ex-husband, Amanda’s grandparents and I was with Amanda when they removed all of the tubes and machines. Finally, she could sip some water. About two hours later, Amanda took her last earthly breath. This was a very difficult and emotional loss. Two twelve year old girls had died in just a few days of each other. Although grief was real, hope was in order too. Amy and Amanda were now with the Lord.
When I met with Daysia, I told her she was a hero of the faith. She had shared her faith with a friend, Amanda and she became a Jesus follower. Then Amanda, shared her faith with her friend, Amy. Today, two little girls are with Jesus. It all began with Daysia sharing her faith with her friends and all this happened as part of the ministry of a small church.