30th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

WHEN I REMEMBER BETHANY
30th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY
16 AUGUST 2003

Hi everyone in Bethany. It is the 30th Anniversary of Bethany. Isn’t it so wonderful to know that the LORD has blessed Bethany over the past 30 years reaching out and touching many hearts and transforming the lives of many? To me it is so wonderful although I have only been in Bethany for almost 3 years now.

I have been deeply touched by the way the LORD has blessed me. There is a very beautiful song that speaks volumes of HIS numerous blessings that HE the LORD has poured out in my life. Let me share it with all of you.

AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN?
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Did all of you take your time to read through each and every word found in each stanza? I did. I found many wonderful things that the LORD Jesus Christ blessed me with.

Amazing Grace who could even conclude that a sinner could ever be saved from the power of death and deserving of hell that once was lost and blinded in sin not fearing GOD thinking all I did was right.

Realizing how sinful I was, I accepted the salvation that the LORD Jesus offered to me by His offer of grace. It is through this GRACE that I am trying to live by each passing day that I have life on this earth. If ever anyone of you concludes that a sinner could never be saved because he or she had sinned so great, I will be the first to testify that the LORD’s Grace abounds far greater than all our sins.

Let’s take time to read some of the verses found in the Scriptures that explain how the greatness of this grace which the LORD Jesus offered when Adam sinned.

“ For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s (Jesus Christ) obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, GRACE abounded much more so that as sin reigned in death, even so GRACE might reign through righteousness to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” Romans 5:19-21

Such greatness is the GRACE, which the LORD Jesus offered when HE died on the cross for all of our numerous sins.

Now speaking of how Bethany & her people helped me. Firstly they accepted me into the house of the LORD with care and much love, not asking me of which background I had come from. They taught me how to trust in the LORD and to have a faith that will see me through difficult times. It is not easy to cultivate this faith and trust and they do not happen overnight. It has to be worked on every day. The people have been very patient with me bearing with the wrong that I have done and correcting my many mistakes. Given me responsibility to serve in small ways. For example, washing dishes and drying; the keeping of the Sanctuary clean and tidy; mopping the fellowship hall, corridors, staircases, and lift landings. These are some of the blessings of what The LORD and Bethany has offered me.

I thank GOD for giving me Jesus Christ for I know I have life because of HIM with this I conclude my testimony.

In HIS LOVE
Haran