Every single week I believe that Pastor Furtick brings a powerful message that impacts people in profound ways. This week was no exception. if you have not heard the Message from this past Sunday check it out here.
During the 10:00 service at our Providence Campus, Pastor Furtick picks up a boy from the crowd to play the part of Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9. The point of his picking up the boy was to illustrate that even when we are crippled in both feet God comes to us and carries us.
Read the excerpt from an email written to us from the boy's mother that was used in the illustration in this message. The go back and watch the message again from the time stamps 24:30 - 32:40 with this excerpt in mind:
My son is physically disabled. He acquired polio from the vaccination when he was an infant in a Russian orphanage. We adopted him when he was 7 months old from Kirov, Russia. He has very limited muscle in his left lower extremity and left buttocks. He also has weak abdominal muscles. Although he has received the best medical care(I am a physician), there is little that can be done. He will walk with a limp the rest of his life. He cannot jump or run or do many of the things the other boys do. However, he is known to so many people because he still tries everything--with a smile on his face.
When Pastor Furtick was describing characteristics of people at the end of the sermon--he was literally describing my son. He looks fine from the waist up--you would never know(and Pastor did not).He will walk with a limp the rest of his life but God will love him no matter what. I can't even describe my feelings about today except to say thanks...
Behind every statistic there is a story! God is moving in powerful ways.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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4 comments:
Thanks for sharing, John! How touching. I am so glad God is using Elevation Church to work in people's lives. I hope you continue to grow!
First- Bryan and I really enjoyed meeting/talking with you this morning, and are so happy to be becoming a greater part of Elevation.
Second- This sermon (as do most of Pastor's sermons) moved me hugely. Being the parent of a child with special needs, it hit home quite literally. But also as a broken person, one who was not only dropped but has dropped a loved one figuratively on his head on the pavement, the story of Mephibosheth spoke to my heart. I applaud yours and all the staff members and volunteers' efforts in order to bring people Home...all of your work pays off in the many many people that you touch who are finally experiencing peace in Christ in their tumultuous lives.
So, thanks :)
-Laurie Maddex
This is a beautiful example of how God moves through our church, often in ways we never expect. He moves in wonderful surprises! How awesome is that?! God is so good!!
Look at the grin on that kid! I love it.
I can't tell you how much this story has meant to me. I am a local mom with an 8 year old son who is mildly autistic. God has something to share with other autism parents in this story of coming out of the land of "Lo-debar" which means "no words or communication." I treasured this story and the sermon when it was given, but have been lead back to it recently to pass it on. Next week, I am sharing Mephisobeth's story at a luncheon of 130 autism moms in Harrisburg. These mothers know what shame is all about, struggling each day to understand a disorder that the experts fail to understand and ostracizes them in so many ways.
Thanks for teaching this often overlooked story. The icing on the cake is knowing the story of the boy who was used as an illustration. Isn't God amazing?
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