Each time I leave our beautiful church I remember two Sundays when disaster was just around the corner. The first experience involved our daughters' family who was there for a visit. One of their children disappeared. Yes, he was lost, but in a short while, he was found and our joy overflowed into thankfulness. After that experience, I wrote a letter to our newspaper:

"There is a wonderful man in our town and we want to thank him for finding our lost grandson. Last Sunday after church  three year old Tevin wandered away from us. Frantically we searched the building while his parents went outside to look for him. A man appeared on the sidewalk holding Tevin in his arms. He explained that this little boy was walking down Spring St. He stopped his truck, picked him up and decided it best to ask at the nearby church if anyone knew him. We engulfed that precious child with our hugs, and the man walked away before we could thank him."

My letter to the editor brought no response from the man who found Tevin. But we thanked God who was with us through a possible disaster and in a joyful reunion.

The following year, I suffered a near disaster as I left that very same church. I told my husband that I would be home in just a moment since I was talking with a friend. My "moment" must have been lengthy because everyone was gone when I walked toward the parking lot. I paused for the red light, and heard a horn blow. I could not see inside the car, but I decided it was someone I knew who was also late as they left the church.

I waved and crossed the street as the car turned right. The horn blew again and the car stopped. I walked over and opened the door. A man, who I did not know, leaned over toward the open door, and said, "Hi Cutie, you wanna get in?" His unkempt hair, beard, and dirty clothing immediately spoke another message to me. I must get away as quickly as possible.

I rushed to my car - the only one in the parking lot - praying that the man would not follow me. The prayer went something like this: 

"O God, thank You that You are here. Protect me from any harmful consequences of my foolish actions. I am sorry that I opened the door to a strangers' car but I thought it was a friend. Dear Lord, please lead me home safely and quickly." 

I continued to pray all the way home and I never said, "Amen" until I fell into the arms of my beloved husband. I was in tears as I related  the possibility of a disaster.

Looking at both incidents on the two streets that surround my church, I see growing faith and trust. A church building is only the place where believers meet to worship God and to hear His word. The living truth of God must be in the heart of the believer as we walk out the doors into the world. We need the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).