The following testimonies were submitted for our 2020 Year-End service and demonstrate the great things God is doing in people’s lives in our community and beyond.

• Sis. April Nealey’s cousin, Shelby:

  As a small child, Sundays and Wednesdays were for church. When I wasn’t in church, it was reminders to pray before meals, before bedtime, or whenever I was scared or afraid. The older I got, I was no longer in church because of things that happened between family members that I had gone with and their places of worship.
  
  That’s when the distance began to grow. I was around 4 years old, and no longer had the same instruction I once did to talk to God and spend that personal time with Him. My young mind went on about my days playing and going to school. Just kid things. Fast forward several years to middle school, the same was true until I began going to church with a friend and her family; although this was different than the previous idea I had of going to church. We weren’t in youth classes. Instead we sat in the sanctuary and drew or colored during the service. I began to notice that when my attention was broken from whatever my focus was upon, the singing and praising that was happening around me gave me a feeling of unease, and I couldn’t figure out why.
  
  Even after I had been going with them for several years, nothing really ever changed. I found myself joining them less and less, until I eventually stopped going all together. The only churches I ever remember being in we’re all Baptist churches, in fact when I was 6 years old, I was dedicated at a church in Calhoun, GA where I had gone for three years.
  
  Upon entering high school, I found myself signing up for classes with the CLC, or Christian Learning Center. It’s a nonprofit organization located off the high school campus in which students can go to daily during one of their elective classes. Their curriculum is mostly nondenominational, but the staff progressively grows relationships with students who seek prayer, answers to their questions, etc. I was able to take the maximum of one class per year, for three of my four years in high school. My senior year was the only one in which I was unable to take those classes, and I missed it so much. It was an escape for me. High school was so stressful, and a time of so much uncertainty, and I definitely felt the effects of not having that time away from chaos. In the three semesters that I spent in CLC, I had grown a lot closer to Jesus through prayer and being in the Word.
  
  I spent a lot of personal time seeking His guidance for my life and for answers to so many questions that I began to have. I searched in scripture and through prayer for these answers, but everything always seemed so confusing. I asked person after person, and listened to sermon after sermon. Yet somehow I couldn’t ever find any explanation that made sense to me.
  
  My best friend since middle school was someone who I often turned to when it came to these things, and we had been going to youth together in the church that she had grown up in. I had also recently started dating a guy from the same church. I called them many times asking about things, just hoping that one of them may be able to finally get it through to me. They were both on fire for God, and spent any and every bit of free time they had in church and with God. They both gave me scripture and continuously made countless attempts to help me understand. We got into topics such as the trinity, salvation, and baptism just to name a few. These are things that I grew up gaining more and more knowledge of their importance.
  
  The whole time I had been dating this guy, we had been in church every week with his family up until this year when COVID hit. At that point, services went to online streaming, but that wasn’t something that we took part in. We allowed ourselves to gain much distance from the Lord. The bigger that wedge got, the more issues arose in our relationship. We had been together for a while, and there were now things that we found we couldn’t agree on. Things progressively got worse and worse to a point where we were both very distant from God. In my heart I knew that was the root of most of our issues, however neither of us were willing to do what it took to fix it. I no longer felt the need for prayer or church or conversation with God. I had turned my attention to worldly things, and completely neglected pretty much anything to do with my faith. I just lived day by day, hoping that everything would go well.
  
  That mindset continued through the end of September when my family had made plans to take a beach vacation. We had searched the entire Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama with no luck. We searched the Atlantic Coast of Florida and Georgia with no luck. Then we discussed visiting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for the week… again, to no avail.
  
  It was at this point we knew what we needed to do. My Grandfather’s last living brother was in the end stages of Alzheimer’s, and had recently been brought back home from the memory care facility that he had been in, in St. Louis. We knew that he was now able to have visitors, so the decision was made to take a week-long road trip to visit with him and other family. Because his son and daughter-in-law, Brent and April Nealey, live in Salem, that’s been our stopping place the past several years when we’ve made the trip up to visit.
  
  We made it up to Salem that Saturday, and shortly after drove over to St. Louis. We did the same on Sunday, and Monday through Thursday was an adventure through a few other states. We ended up on Thursday at The Ark Encounter in Kentucky before driving back home that afternoon. This experience alone was a big eye opener, and helped me discover just how far I had run. Little did I know this was only a scratch on the surface of what was about to happen.
  
  After our trip through The Ark, we were getting ready to leave the souvenir shop when April called to let us know that my uncle had passed. We were devastated. The thought of what just happened filled the atmosphere the rest of that day on our 6 hour car ride back to Georgia. We knew that waiting for us when we got back, was other family down from Virginia, and a family reunion to prepare for just 3 days later.
  
  The next couple days were going through the motions until we knew funeral arrangements. As soon as we found out, we repacked and missed the reunion Sunday to travel back up for the funeral. I spent the majority of this trip in prayer and wondering where I had been going wrong my whole life. We arrived fairly late that evening so we got settled in and prepared for the viewing in St. Louis the next day.
  
  It was mentally and emotionally exhausting, and I still found myself drained from not being able to figure out why I had never been able to receive salvation. I was very bothered by the fact that I had hit my hands and knees in prayer countless times, crying so hard I couldn’t speak, just repenting and asking the Lord for forgiveness. I didn’t understand why it felt like God wouldn’t forgive me. I kept replaying sermons in my head from since I was very young. I remembered how I had always been told that I would “just know” when I had been saved. That I would “feel better”. As many times as I completely surrendered everything to Him, I never got the “feeling” that had always been described. Anytime I asked anyone they said, “Keep praying. It will happen. If it already had happened, you wouldn’t have to ask me.” This was one of the many things that I never could grasp.
  
  All of these thoughts had overtaken me by the time of the funeral on Tuesday. I kept feeling the need to go find April and ask her to pray with me. We had already had several conversations in the week leading up to this regarding our mutual heartbreak and being in prayer for one another. I knew that the only way I’d find the peace I needed to get through this could only come from Jesus. I knew more than anything that I needed to go pray, but I tried every way possible to talk myself out of it. Eventually I found a sudden spark of nerve, and walked up front to sit beside April. I asked her if we could go pray, to which of course she responded, “YES!!”
  
  We walked back out into the lobby where we stood for what felt like an hour just hugging, crying, and praying through the tears. During this time, not only did I feel sadness from this death, but a great deal of conviction. That was when it hit me the hardest that I had to get things right! I had to find answers. I was scared, and HAD to find my way back to Jesus! After funeral services were over that day, we made what felt like the longest drive of my life back home. This trip was also filled with prayer, but these prayers were much more urgent. Praise and worship music is all I listened to with my earbuds so I could drown out anything that distracted me from conversation with the Lord.
  
  The next several weeks after getting back, I had been making a lot of personal changes for the better. I knew that it was of utmost importance to get back to where I needed to be. Bible studies became an every day thing. I began watching The Apostolics of Salem live stream on Facebook every Sunday morning, and every Wednesday night. Each week, I noticed things in the messages that finally started making sense. I started understanding things that I had never been able to. I was finally able to see scriptures in a whole new light that resonated with me on a brand new level.
  
  My life slowly began to reflect this. People who were closest to me had noticed that things were looking a little different in many areas. My boyfriend had started asking questions. He told me that I was a lot different since I had gotten back from the funeral. This was the new normal throughout October and into the end of November. We enjoyed a very blessed Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, yet something was a little off. A few days later he decided that his feelings had changed, and after 3 1/2 years together, he wanted to end the relationship. I was heartbroken. I was so confused and had so many questions that I knew would remain unanswered. I didn’t know what to think or how to feel. We had discussed and been praying about our future together. We had talked to our families about it, and they were praying as well. I called April the night it happened, and as always, was given useful advice and was reassured that God has a purpose. I also knew I had her prayers.
  
  As bad as I wanted to lock myself away and stay alone, I woke up everyday praying for strength and God’s guidance. It got easier and easier as time went on. Each Sunday and Wednesday, the messages seemed to feel more and more personal. December 20, the conclusion to the “Do You See?” series forced my eyes wide open. THIS was the message in which I found the answers to questions that I had spent my lifetime asking every person I could think of! THIS was the message that included the truth that no one had ever told me! THIS is what I have spent my whole life trying to figure out!
  
  I was so overjoyed to finally have these missing puzzle pieces! I called April to finally explain the “changes” that I had been telling her about in my life. I told her that this is exactly what I had been praying for and I had to let her know. We began looking for Apostolic churches here in Georgia that I can call home. Christmas Eve she sent me the “Into His Marvelous Light” Bible study. We went through it together over the phone, and I cannot describe the joy and peace I felt knowing that I had finally received the TRUTH that I had been searching for, for 21 years.
  
  Everyday since, I have been so thankful for the way God took situations like the death of someone who was like another grandfather to me, and heartbreak from losing the person I thought I would always be with, to give me such revelation! This year has been trial upon trial, but in every season God’s grace has been enough! His unconditional love that He has shown me through all of my sorrow, distraction, and even distance from Him is overwhelming, and I am eternally grateful for every step of His plan and purpose for my life!
  
  I know He is doing amazing things, and taking me to amazing places! I am so excited to see what He has in store for me!! My prayer for this upcoming new year is most definitely asking Him to lead me to whatever He has for me. All the glory be to God!

• Bro. Cory Hanselman:

  I would like to start off by saying that it is an understatement to say the least that 2020 has been a very off and very strange year. This year, even though we may not like it, or understand it; has gone exactly according to His plan. Because only He knows his plan. Brother Kyle just spoke this past Sunday (12-27-2020) about just that fact. I know our church had amazing plans going into 2020 with different ministries. The church had a plan of revival the likes of which this community has never seen. Personally, I feel like even though things have looked different, at times grim, that does not mean that revival did not happen. Even though the church did not see the revival we would have liked, that does not mean that it did not happen. Brother Jean said at one point that the Word of God was spread more widely than ever in the history of the world this year. I believe that he was right!
  (Joh 10:10)The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
  
  The enemy seeks to confuse us, put us in despair, blind us, make us question His word. We as Christians and Apostolics cannot lose our faith in Jesus. What Jesus has already done for us and what he promised he would do is what we must keep in mind. I would challenge anyone who is a born again, Holy Ghost filled, to think as God does. According to His plan and His time. Not ours.
  
  Family Drama
  
  The year of 2020 was a challenging year for the Hanselman household as well. We at first experienced some car issues, or house issues. None of that is especially challenging or to be frank, unheard of. But the real issues really began going into this year with a spiritual struggle within my family. My mom and siblings had a major rift between us. So much so that the previous year we refused to even celebrate the holidays together. It was bad enough that every time I spoke with my mom or siblings we would argue until there was nothing more to say. This spiritual, and most often difference in morals, bled over into my family within my household. There was tension between Kristin and I, not because we were of differing opinions, but because of the approach of how to fix the issue. The goal between us was the same: mend the relationship with my siblings, mom, and me. And with that in mind, that was something I set out to do in 2020.
  
  (Mat 5:43-44) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
  
  I still consider myself immature in my walk with God. I still struggle at times with the desire to be petty or to say things that I know would really drive the point home and that I should not give in to those temptations. During the times of strife with my family, that was the struggle I dealt with. I am happy to report that this year we all did celebrate the holidays together. My siblings and I can now be in the same room without a feeling of total awkwardness. I still get angry or upset about some things, but where once before I would hold onto that feeling, I don’t anymore. I try to love as Jesus does. To forgive as Jesus does. No matter the case. I give credit of that victory over to God!
  
  The Dreaded Virus!
  
  I remember thinking to myself when Coronavirus was first mentioned back in mid to late November of 2019 “That’s way over in China, it will be taken care of long before it has a chance to make it to our shores.” How wrong was I?! As the threat grew in the weeks before the first shut down fear and panic set in within our community and the world. The massive and often unnecessary buying of goods started happening. I would keep saying to my family and myself that I would not let fear rule over me and my family. We are all baptized and Holy Ghost filled and that would be the shield I would arm to protect myself and my family.
  
  As the shutdown grew increasingly near the threat of furlough started to set in. Then the fear of how we were to pay our bills started looming overhead. We in our household pray every single night as a family before bed. Every night as that threat kept coming, we just kept praying that this virus never touched this community and that whoever was afflicted with it would receive a miraculous healing, leaving no doubt that God has his hand on the wheel so to speak. I cannot speak for everyone that had Covid and was healed whether they give credit to God for their healing, but I know a vast majority of them did. Myself, Kristin, and our kids included.
  
  (Joh 11:38-39)Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
  
  (Joh 11:43-44)And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
  
  The virus is still out there but God is not done yet! The healing is not finished.
  
  Through the grace of God, our bills continued to be paid on time. Food still ended up on our table. We never once had to worry about using leaves instead of toilet paper. We had soap and hand sanitizer. All because God gave wisdom to my family to know not to overspend, over buy, not to be selfish with goods, to be good to complete strangers, and to plan efficiently. Brother and Sister Byers and us frequently checked in on one another and we had plenty of maters for salads and BLT’s thanks to them! I’m so thankful that even though Kristin and I were both furloughed for a short while that because of God’s will, that time off gave us the much needed time to reconnect with all of our children more and grow much closer as a family and a couple. I’m so thankful that I was given more time to delve deeper into the Word. I’m so thankful that even though church couldn’t be live and in person, we have the Rittenhouse’s and the Jean’s and the Kelly’s to continue the spread of the Word over social media with the live broadcasts. I’m so thankful that even though we couldn’t see each other, that during the times where we’d happen upon a church member in Walmart or the gas station that the joy of seeing that person would in a way renew our love for the church.
  
  Some might look at this time with Covid as bleak and dim. I do not. I look at this time as a time to rejoice in what God has done and what He will do. I consider this time of 2020 as a victory and that victory is His!
  Covid 2.0!! Return of the ‘Vid!
  
  With the shutdown over and in person learning allowed to return, things really started to look up. Then it struck!! The (I think) over 30 church members infected with Covid, myself and family included. I remember very clearly the events leading up to this time. Caitlyn working at the daycare and not feeling well for a few days. I texted Sister Traci Burner and let her know that as a precaution that we were going to take Caitlyn to get tested, even though we really didn’t think she had it. She displayed no symptoms other than nauseousness, but I didn’t want to send her to work with the unknown. So, we had her tested. My company had it’s every 60 day mandatory testing around the corner and I was set to be tested September 4th. I had no symptoms at all. Testing time rolled around on that Friday the 4th and all went as planned. Saturday the 5th, we took Sister Cheyann out for her birthday. Sunday the 6th I woke up just very tired and feeling off. Caitlyn still felt nauseous. We didn’t feel right going to church feeling like that and risk getting other people sick, so we opted to just watch it online. Immediately after the service was over I received a call from the health department confirming my fears. I was positive. Kristin immediately started staying away from me as well as Emma. I hadn’t seen my other three kids in close to a month so I knew that I could not have spread it to them thankfully. Caitlyn had been told on Monday the 7th, and Kristin Tuesday the 8th.
  
  The days and weeks that followed were grim for me to say the least. Looking back at this time I’ve often said, and still continue to say, how can a virus affect three people in the same house at the same time so vastly different? We all lost our sense of smell and taste, and all had a temperature, but that was the only similarities. Kristin and Caitlyn got over the virus fairly quickly. Probably around 2-3 days I think. I on the other hand had a bout that lasted around ten days. I would run a temp, then it would go away. Then it would come back and then go away. All the time giving me a false sense of hope that the worst was over. The highest my temp got and maintained was 103.8. It stayed like that for several hours until it finally broke. This was on day 9. I was so short of breath starting from around day 2 that I couldn’t even hold conversations without being completely winded. The exhaustion I experienced cannot be described. I kept almost a daily dialogue with Brother Kyle and Brother Phil. Sister and Brother Byers called and checked on us daily. I expressed my deepest apologies to Sister Rissa and Brother Todd for possibly exposing Cheyann to Covid, and thus them.
  
  I kept seeing Sister Traci Burner, and Sister Sandy Byers sharing on Facebook a video from a Dr in Vandalia named Brian Dosset that was actually treating Covid patients. One of the only doctors that not only treated but didn’t recommend you go to the hospital unless the oxygen level dropped below 90. Kristin kept commenting to me that I looked blue and grey at times and it was probably due to me not getting enough oxygen in my blood. She begged me to go to the hospital but I wouldn’t. After seeing those videos of that doctor, Sister Sandy called me and told me about how he helped Brother Tim Jerrel. She highly recommended that I go immediately to see him. So Kristin drove me, as I couldn’t even drive myself at that time. When he checked me out he said that I didn’t have pneumonia yet but had I not come in when I did that within the next day or so that I would have developed it in my lungs. He also said that had I not come in when I did that my blood oxygen level, which was at 91 at the time, would have warranted me to be admitted directly to the hospital. He prescribed me with a regiment of vitamins, medicine and an inhaler. Even though I got all this stuff, I continued to be blue and grey and out of breath for 2 days. Kristin still begged me to go to the ER but I refused because I felt deep in my bones that had I gone to the hospital that I may not have survived. I needed to be around my family and in my own home. I remember telling Kristin that I made peace a long time ago with death and if it was my time and God called me home that I would welcome it, but I wouldn’t be separated from my family under any circumstance.
  
  I finally managed to get well. I’m so so thankful for the people of the church who prayed for me. For without the grace and mercy of God and the prayers of the saints of God of our church, I know I wouldn’t be alive today. Even little Emma was completely spared from having the virus altogether! I love each and every person in our church family and I consider every single person a brother and sister. Those I’d like to give a special thanks are as follows:
  – Brother Terri and Sister Sandy Byers and family
  – Brother Rob and Sister Faith Barton and family
  – Brother Todd and Sister Rissa Stratton and family
  – Brother Dale and Sister Traci Burner and family
  – Brother and Sister Jean and family
  – Brother and Sister Kelly and family
  – Brother and Sister Rittenhouse and family
  – Brother Lester and Sister Halterman
  – Brother Paul Wilkins
  – Brother and Sister Pate
  – Sister Mariah Adams
  
  All of these families and individuals either called or texted me daily to see how we were doing and expressed their prayers every day for a quick and miraculous healing. I can report that not only is my family recovered, but healed completely. We do not have any residual effects of Covid at all. Our lungs have completely healed.
  
  I give that triumph over sickness to the Lord Jesus! And I give the most sincere, and humble thanks to the people of our church for the prayers that were lifted up for us and the other people afflicted by the virus.
  
  Thank you so much! We love you all!
  
  Covid 3.0… Ugh Again!?
  
  As many of you well know, some of us have experienced not only getting Covid, but losing loved ones to it as well. My wife lost her mother and stepdad to Covid shortly before Thanksgiving. My wife and her mother were not especially close later in life, but their relationship was on the mend before the virus struck them. My wife’s mother (Tammy) passed in the hospital alone on 11/20/2020. Her husband preceding her in death a mere 2 weeks before. Both resided in Georgia. We had to take off work and drive down to Georgia to preside over Tammy’s funeral and arrange for all that goes with it.
  
  We cannot express our thanks and love enough for the love and prayers of our church and the grace and mercy of God. Without any of this, we would have had a much harder time dealing with this loss. I know that through prayer, we were given the wisdom and temperance to get through this hard time.
  
  Even though Kristin and her mother weren’t close, the last conversation that Kristin had with her made me know that not only had they mended things, but Tammy was sure that she would be with her Lord, Jesus! Both Tammy and her husband Ronnie were members of a Pentecostal church in Georgia. This unfortunate and sad event gave me hope in so many ways. I have the hope that no matter the circumstance, that nothing is ever so far gone that it can’t be fixed. It gives me hope that when the Lord calls me home that I won’t be scared, and that Kristin and my children won’t be scared. This event makes me so thankful that I have the love of God any day of the week, any hour of the day and any minute of the hour.
  
  Epilogue… Finally right?
  
  I could go on and on about how God has changed my life and the lives of my family over this past year, but I won’t. I will say this though: God works in a mighty way each and every day. And it never stops. I’ve often told people I’m trying to witness to, or my children that I challenge you to wake up every day and find something to be grateful for. No matter how big or small it is. You can be grateful for bacon, eggs and coffee in the morning. Or the roof over your head, the fact that the alarm woke you up in time, the fact that you woke up at all. For we all know that we are not promised the next breath, let alone the next day and that we are mere pilgrims of this world and we are destined for greater things. Having this outlook has forever and profoundly changed my life. I give all the thanks and glory to God for opening my eyes to view the world like that. I will continue to allow God to shape my life and the lives of my family according to His will and His plans, not ours. And I give thanks to Him for continuing to work on me.
  
  Another thing that I’ve told people is that I want to be a tool that God uses. But not just any tool, one of his favorite tools. No different than the favorite hammer, screwdriver, or knife that we would want to use instead of something brand new out of the package.
  
  Thank you so much God and the Saints of God!!

• Marvin & Mona Owens:

  2020 started off relatively normal. But then COVID-19 arrived and turned our world upside-down. We have never seen church services like these. However, with the wisdom of our pastors, the Church-Without-Walls accomplished more than ever expected. We have co-workers and friends that would not attend church but are now regular attendees on the videos. This has laid foundations all over the world in people’s hearts that we never dreamed of. God is so good.

• Clyde & LaDonna Arnold:

  This year, 2020, has been so very challenging. But through it all, we have learned patience. My family and myself have been greatly blessed. Thank you, Jesus!

• Faith Barton:

  Blessings have taken on a new look for me this year, and some are still yet to be fully known in what they have to offer. All I can say is I trust the Lord in what He’s done and what He’s doing. This world and anything it can offer has become completely unappealing to me over this past year at the cost of many sympathy cards sent and received. I guess you can say the cost was a Blessing. This song sums up my personal experience of 2020. Blessings of this kind have caused me to learn of the Lord in a new way and lean on Him unlike never before. 2020 has been about submission. I’m still learning and discovering but I’ve determined to submit to whatever the Lord has planned.

• Lynn Bloom:

  We survived 2020.

• Sandy Byers:

  A few weeks ago we began having a Zoom family Bible study led by Blake with our 18 year old grandson who lives in Asheville, NC and who has been searching after God. He had been going to a denominal church and was baptized at that church. Two weeks ago Blake taught the “Into His Marvelous Light” Bible study. We had a wonderful time of prayer afterward. The next day Kyle text and said he had been studying the oneness doctrine and it’s so clear he didn’t see why he hadn’t seen it before. He said the trinity is not even biblical. We were so excited that he had the revelation of the Godhead. The he text and said he wanted to be baptized in Jesus name! We were overjoyed. We put him i touch with a church/pastor that would baptize him. This past Sunday he went to church, received the Holy Ghost during the service and was baptized in the beautiful name of Jesus after service. He’s testifying to his co-workers and he is like a sponge soaking up the Word of God!. God is doing marvelous things in our family! For this we give God all the praise!

• Greg & Betsy Willgohs:

  In the whirlwind of 2020, Betsy and I have had a year full of changes! On February 2nd, I got baptized in Jesus name and received the Holy Ghost. We had plans to be married in May, but then the virus hit; plans changed and Pastor Jean married us in April.
  
  In the year that most people feel has been a curse, God has blessed us with more blessings than we could count. Our church family has been loving and supportive; a great example for a new family to follow. Just the other day, as the year draws to a close, God gave us yet another unexpected blessing. Betsy had broken her tooth several months ago and her insurance refused to cover it, even though it was medically necessary. She tried every avenue to get it fixed, but it was going to cost over $1000. We just kept praying, knowing God would provide. Betsy wound up calling her old dentist in Chicago to see if they could help us. They called us back and said, “Merry Christmas, the dentist is going to fix it for free!”
  
  2020 has truly been a year of 20/20 vision for us. We have seen God as our faithful and loving provider. We are learning to live Psalm 46:10 – to be still and know that He is God. He knows all of our needs. Before we even pray, He has already provided for us.

• Paul Wilkins:

  After my wife passed away in 2018, my family turned away from me but God has blessed me with a new church family. The Lord has helped me tear down walls in my life. God has taken anger and shame away from me and given me peace. I have learned to trust Him alone. I have woken up in the middle of the night crying and praising God for all He has done. People have bought me meals and other things. I’ve been able to help others I’ve met on the street, been asked to pray for people in McDonald’s and Denny’s and at church. I’ve been able to help others through CR also. Most importantly, I received the Holy Ghost and was baptized this year.

• Kathy Bowling:

  In spite of the COVID virus this year, my family has been so very blessed. A couple weeks ago, Lonnie had a phone appointment with his pulmonary doctor. When the doctor learned that Lonnie had not only survived the virus but was well, he was surprised and said, “But he had all the risk factors.” We give thanks to our amazing, merciful Savior, who heard and answered the prayers of the saints. When I personally was at my sickest with the same virus, I would lie in my recliner and listen to Gospel music. My prayers seemed so feeble and ineffective, but God ministered to me through songs. One particular hymn spoke into my heart, “The Anchor Holds”. When the ship is battered and the sails are torn, when we face a raging sea, the Anchor holds. Nothing compares to feeling God’s holy presence during days of tribulation.
  
  My brother became very ill with the virus, just a couple of days after cutting down a tree for his neighbor. My sister-in-law rushed him to the ER after noticing his gray color and confusion. His oxygen levels kept dropping in spite of being on high oxygen therapy. Of course, I’m sure it didn’t help that he kept taking the oxygen off. They sent him home with oxygen and then back to the ER where a CAT scan showed he had multiple blood clots in both lungs. Intercessory prayer was made and today he is slowly getting better. How good is our God?
  
  I made a dear friend at Odin Nursing Home. She was in her mid-forties and bed-ridden, paralyzed on one side. I would visit her weekly and together we asked God for a miracle. My friend died a few weeks ago from the COVID virus. The good news is, she was water baptized in Jesus name and had received the Holy Ghost. She received the ultimate healing. I don’t know why God heals some and takes others, but I do know that whatever life brings me, I have an Anchor.