A Night for Praise!

Posted on January 18, 2016 Updated on January 18, 2016

What a night! …one last opportunity to say a public, worshipful thanks to the Lord for allowing Cathy and me to be part of the Providence family all these years!  When we agreed to have a farewell evening to say our last farewell as pastor of Providence, I frankly had no idea what that would mean.

Last night as friends gathered for a time of glorious worship, Cathy and I got to see and hug people we have loved from across four decades of Christ-centered relationships.  One surprise after another awaited us as first one then another and another would walk in–some having traveled many, many hours from many states to come celebrate with us.  To say it was overwhelming only begins to touch on what it was like for us!

Not knowing what was planned, Cathy and I had prayed that we would be able to take it all in while at the same time deflect all praise to the Lord.  We need not have been concerned because those who planned the day had made sure that each song, each testimony, each greeting, would give first place to the adoration of a gracious and generous Savior.

When the video of the evening goes online on http://www.pray.org, I will post that link so that those who could not come will be able to experience in part that evening of amazing worship!  Music from a wide range of styles led by dear friends and great musicians stirred all of our hearts  to lift high the name of Jesus!

For those looking for more information about our new ministry, Equipped for Life, there are a couple of posts here on this blog (December 3, July 7 and 10) that give a brief explanation of what we hope to see the Lord do.  Two primary emphases of EFL will be equipping–teaching, training and encouraging ministry leaders, and missions–bringing together missions needs with missions giving.

Hopefully within the next couple of months we will be launching the Equipped for Life website, but in the meantime this blog will post progress as the details develop more fully.

If you are interested in helping us in this new endeavor, you can contribute by making checks payable to “Equipped for Life” and sending them to Equipped for Life, 6339 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612 or to 1820 Albacore Lane, Raleigh, NC 27612.  Since EFL is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization, all gifts are tax deductible.  If you prefer, you can also make checks payable to Providence Baptist Church and note EFL on the “for” line of the check.  When the website launches, there will be a provision for online giving.  So whether you want to become a ministry partner with us, or just make a one-time contribution, please know how grateful we will be!

For more details about the ministry itself, please contact me via my new ministry email (dhorner.efl@gmail.com) and I will be very glad to fill you in on all the dimensions planned for this new and exciting phase of our calling to equip the saints for the work of ministry and connect missions needs with missions giving.

As far as last night is concerned, THANKS!…thanks to all of you for once again making us feel so blessed by a people we love so deeply!