Texas Testimony

A week ago Tuesday, Larry Bowles took his Dad, who is 84, down to Texas to see his brother James in Dallas, Texas. His Report follows:

We went down Monday night and stayed in Denton, Texas. Then about 12:00 we checked in at the Lewisville Nursing Center to see Uncle James. After a while I visited the activity director there and said she would be happy to host a church service that afternoon at 3:00. We were in!

My wife and I set up about 2:30, amps, cords and microphones. Then about 2:50, the folks started moving in. Many walked on their own power while some were wheeling and scooting in wheel chairs, others were walking with walkers. The lunch room became more and more packed. There were in excess of 50 residents present. I had thought maybe 15 would show up so I had to get out my loose leaf song sheets and make piles on the table near the podium. I'm glad Sis. Johnson made those extra copies! Sis Johnson helps in many areas.

Prayer is a big part of our services. We began the service with a brief greeting and a word of prayer, inviting the LORD to "rise up in our midst". This is an old Hebrew custom from the wilderness desert days. This prayer is very effectual by letting the people know we mean business.

The participants enjoyed receiving their personal copies of the songs. My wife and my daddy handed out the song sheets. 50 sheets per song are a lot to hand out 10 different times. But who or what could we leave out? We leaned on GOD and he provided the increase.

Amazing Grace, Because He Lives, In the Garden and On the Wings of a Dove, were a few we sang that day. The preaching was short, only about 5 minutes. The comments made during the singing make up the rest of the time.

One sister testified from her wheel chair and said, "I am just so full, I can hardly speak. Thank God I know he's real."

The preacher nodding in agreement says, "We do too sister. We do too."

The closing prayer acknowledged, Jesus, as the great healer and deliverer. Many were touched that day. The director invited us to move to Texas and become the regular preachers there. Declining was tough. Obeying would have been a pleasure if not for the services we would miss here in the OKC area.

LLB