First ‘Reach Out’ blesses Scottdale community
As the citizens of Scottdale went about their busy everyday lives, time seemed to stand still at the gazebo as members of the First Assembly of God Church stood in a circle, hand in hand, heads bowed, praying for the next two hours of their first “Scottdale Reach Out.”
About 30 workers arrived at the gazebo around 2 p.m. Sunday to set up for the day’s events that included praise and worship music, prayer, drama acts from their youth group “Impact,” and refreshments. But the most important thing the church wanted to give the community was hope.
“We felt it was necessary to do this,” said lead singer of the night, Rebecca Luker. “We had workers from age 8 all the way into their eighties.”
One local’s day changed from a simple walk through town to a complete life change when she saw a sign for the church that lead her to attend a Sunday service.
“My life has totally changed since I found this church,” said Patti Kelly, member of First Assembly of God. “They have truly changed my life.”
And she isn’t the only member of the church that has had their life changed. On Sunday afternoon others went in front of the audience to share their own testimonies.
One member, Howard Carpenter, recalled a time when he had to help a friend clean out their house. With the basement and every bedroom being completely filled, he knew the job would take some time. There was one room with a sign on the door that read “condemned” which Carpenter was never allowed into.
Until one day.
There are often areas in one’s own heart that they are embarrassed of or are afraid to reveal to others, but Carpenter thinks if one would allow someone else in to share the load, it won’t be as stressful.
“There may be a room in our hearts that we won’t let anyone into,” said Carpenter. “The experience might have been too horrific, and we don’t think God can forgive us. But there’s no part of your life He can’t heal.”
As songs played ranging from southern gospel to modern music like “God’s Not Dead,” the church’s prayer team was called to the front where the audience was encouraged to step up and receive prayer to “help you in the battle you’re in.”
Other physical resources such as Bibles and Life Books were available for anyone to aid them in their walk with God under a tent with a banner that read, “War Room, Prayer is a powerful weapon, How can we pray for you?”
A representative from the Billy Graham Association was also available with a booth that provided valuable information for those in their daily lives with God.
“We reach out to the churches to empower them to preach the gospel, and we give them resources to do so,” said the representative.
One subject that the speakers emphasized is the importance of taking God to the next level in your life. Just as much as sitting in a garage does not make you a car, neither does going to church make you a Christian.
“A building will not save you, a pastor cannot save you, a tradition cannot save you, and reading a certain book will not save you,” said member of the praise team Jonathan Luker. “The question is do you truly have a relationship with God.”
Many others have created their own relationship with God through the help of this church.
“The minute we walked into this church we felt love instantly. I look forward to going to church every day,” said Kelly. “I definitely found my home here.”
The church would love to have others be able to call First Assembly of God their “home” as well.
Services are every Sunday at 9:30 & 10:30 and youth group every Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Bailey Geehring
"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud"- Maya Angelou
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