On Thursday, February 20, 2013, I received a letter I had to share with you.
At Transformation Church, God has generously blessed us with exponential growth. Currently, we 5 have services at one location and one service at another location.
At the location where we have five services, even at a 5th service, we’re out of room. So we launched our Because Campaign so we can build a new facility to reach and transform more people through the Gospel. When I received the following letter, I was tired and not sure if we were going to raise the money needed to build our new facility to reach more people.
After receiving the letter below, I believe God will provide.
"Dear Derwin,
I have been attending Transformation Church for 19 months. The evening before I visited Transformation Church for the first time, I spent the evening finalizing my suicide plans. I was emotionally broke, I had nothing else. A friend called late and asked would I visit Transformation Church with her and I agreed. On the way there she expressed her need for hope, I did not say much. I hoped to find closure.
I realized that no one in my life knew that I wanted to commit suicide. Everyone in my life knew what had occurred, everyone asked often “How are you doing, can I do anything for you, do you need anything?” My answer was always, “‘I’m fine, no complaints here.” So many times I was told how strong I am, and to a degree I am, but some things no human can carry for long.
I have no memory of what you preached on that day, my friend left happy and very excited, I was numb. I spent the afternoon sitting on the couch, hours went by and I do not remember any of it, but the next morning I woke up and realized my planned hour of departure had passed. For me, that meant I had to plan everything over again.
The week flew by and once again it was Sunday morning. My friend did not call about going to Transformation Church, but I went alone. I sat in Auditorium C this time. I cried the entire service and the remainder of the afternoon, but I did not know why. I decided that night that I was too broken to be fixed and got busy writing some notes to my family. Other than the shock that I was planning to commit suicide, I believed that I was leaving them in better shape. I believed I was more valuable dead than alive.
It was time…. I was ready… My phone rang, someone I loved had a need, I could help, the week flew by once again it was Sunday morning and I was at Transformation Church, again.
It has been 19 months now, every Sunday I’m at Transformation Church. I realized at some point that although I had always believed in Jesus, I had never accepted that I was His Beloved. I somehow believed that my problems were too small to bother him with, after all there are some really big problems; mine in comparison are nothing. I finally realized that he wants me to share them all with Him; I do not have to carry any of it alone.
I got baptized at Transformation Church this year, I serve on a ministry team, I know 10 people that are coming to Transformation Church because I invited them, I tithe every week.
You have said, “Good Morning” to me several times, and we have bumped knuckles a few times, and you hugged me a few weeks ago and I smelled your “Vanilla.” But I’m sure you don’t know my name, I’m cool with that, you’re very busy and I don’t have the need to be known.
“He brings his lost children home,” this sermon was so comforting to me. Thanks….
One day while working on a ministry team, I met a man from out of town. He shared with me that he was a fan of yours when you played football. He asked me, “Will I like his preaching?” I told him that I believed that he would think you were a better preacher than you were a football player. He looked at me like I grew a horn out of my forehead. After the service, he found me… he said, “Young lady… when you made your prediction I thought, this girl has never watched a football game. But I must admit you are right… As much as I enjoyed watching him play football, there is no doubt that he is doing what GOD wants him to be doing.” I then shared with him that I had never seen you play football, but I could not imagine you doing anything better than preaching.
I just wanted to thank you. You are such a blessing to so many.
A TRANSFORMER"
Pastors, leaders and Christ-followers, your ministry matters. Through Jesus, we are the hope of the world.
