Gallatin C.A.R.E.S. Worship Service:
The most miraculous things are happening, as a result of us starting the C.A.R.E.S. Worship Service. Who would have ever imagined establishing a church in a Thrift Store sorting room? Or, should I say, how did we ever get so far away from that basic and important concept to begin with?
John Wesley had it right by going to the people in the mines and saloons. Wesley certainly must have understood the mighty acts of Jesus who walked past the self-righteous and pious to minister to the people “where they were”. I am reminded of the woman at the well; the houses of the sick; the fishermen on the shore; the tomb of a friend; and, even the synagogues – to name a few. It seemed that Jesus met people where they felt safe and open.
As you know, we started the C.A.R.E.S. Worship Service out of a sense of destiny. For years we felt the Holy Spirit telling us this needed to be done here. But as you also are aware, the busy schedules of the local ministries were such that we just couldn’t get anyone to commit to performing our worship services on a regular basis. That is, until Rev. Pat Smith stepped up and suggested it almost like she was reading our mind (or, maybe, being prompted by the Holy Spirit).
Our advertising campaign consisted of word of mouth and a small sign telling folks about our Sunday afternoon worship service. We have steadily welcomed an average of 28 souls until where we had over 100 people – praising the Lord – in the middle of the donation area – with no air conditioning or heaters. Can you believe it! We have had 10-12 children at Sunday School. Monica Frost has stepped up with her love of children. She is such an inspired and talented teacher and we feel blessed to have her.
Never, have anyone of us seen individuals take the Lord Supper in tearful hugs with each other. Tears of joy for our Savior. The feelings are so overwhelming; you just can't explain them adequately. The Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”
We have people from Kentucky, Portland, Hendersonville, and Gallatin. We have indigent persons without means of transportation who walk in the summer heat or the cold of winter, a woman who came in her wheelchair from DeMoss street, and another woman with four little ones ( 4-8 years of age) who walk down the railroad tracks from their mobile home to be there every Sunday. We have people in treatment and rehabilitation facilities and half-way houses, as well as people with means, all in search of the spirit and word of God. It is just an amazing thing to witness and behold – a level of spirituality and thirst that most of us in the “churched community” have forgotten, or never knew even existed.