What needs to burn down in your world?
I have to pinch myself from time to time to believe the events of September 20, 1998. It appeared to be a Sunday morning like any other. As I drove to the building, I was in deep thought about the morning sermon on forgiveness. The church was in spiritual decline and there were several people at odds with each other – which affected all of us. You could feel the tension when you walked into the building and I knew something had to change. My bulletin article that week said, “There is a warmth that comes even during the most bitter cold, but only Jesus Christ can provide that fire. Look inside yourself and see if that fire is burning – if not, you too may be in danger of succumbing to the cold within. There is a way to rekindle that fire and Sunday I want to talk to you about it.” I asked our Shepherds a few days before that Sunday morning if they would pray that this sermon would touch people in such a way that the “demons of the past” could finally be exorcised, or at least take a step in that direction. Throughout the service, you could almost feel the presence of God as we hugged and loved on each other. During a baptism that morning, I knew God had done something remarkable, but I had no idea what He was about to do! The last words that were spoken that morning before we went to our homes were, “Today will be a day the 4th and Elm Church never forget!” Two hours later, that grand old building of fifty years caught fire and burned to the ground – right in front of our eyes! I saw people, who just a few hours before the fire were at odds with each other, hug and cry and talk about their children who were baptized there, or their mother whose funeral was there, or their daughter who was married there. God was using a fire, actively or passively, to change us – and change us He did. Two years later, we were in a brand new building that is beyond what any of us ever believed we could build. One year after that, these good people had that 2.5 million dollar building paid for – and all of that during a seven-year drought, which saw this community decline at an incredible rate! That’s the power of God’s fire! It’s been almost seven years since the fire. I’m still amazed at what has happened here. You can’t walk into this building without feeling the presence of God radiating in the lives of the people of 4th and Elm. Those old “demons of the past” have been exorcised and the peace of God rules. Now if God is able to do that for 300 people, don’t you think He is able to do that in your life? Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do just that! But you must believe and pray for the fire – and be ready, for it will come you know!
About the author: Joe Bagby has been preaching for thirty years. He and his wife Paula were missionaries to Thailand in the 80’s for eight years where they adopted twin girls, Hope and Joy. Joe receive his masters degree in Congregational Ministry from Abilene Christian University with a BS in Education from University of North Texas. He is now serving as Pulpit Minister for the 4th and Elm Church of Christ in Sweetwater, Texas.