Columns In The Tennessean

We have never been to Forest Hills Baptist Church but they have come to us.

A few years ago we somehow got on their prayer list and they started sending us one of their “PrayerGrams” at least weekly. Each PrayerGram is a handwritten note on card stock reminding us that the church is praying for us.

Most are over a hundred words - short enough to read quickly but long enough to show that they have really thought about us. Many mention some sort of personal trial the writer has been through or some way in which he or she has been encouraged by Marcy’s trial.

Church members have asked to be on our email list and have told us they go to everydayisprecious.com so they can keep up with Marcy’s condition and know how to pray for her specifically and they mention their specific prayers in the PrayerGram. Each one is signed and I don’t remember ever seeing the same name twice.

The PrayerGram is bright yellow so it is easy to see, even in the mailbox. It is always the first piece of mail I read to Marcy and it is always encouraging.

We don’t know the pastor of Forest Hills Baptist and I don’t remember meeting anyone who told us they were from the church. Until a few weeks ago when someone called from the Good News Sunday School Class of Forest Hills Baptist Church.

Their Sunday School class has been praying for Marcy and wanted to bring us a gift. Sure enough, two representatives came the next day and brought a rotisserie chicken and a generous check from the class.

They stayed and talked for a little while then prayed for Marcy. As they left, they promised to keep praying and to keep in touch. And they have lived up to their promise.

We have received a CD of their Sunday service each week since their visit so we can get to know their pastor. And at least one of their members donated a very large item to last week’s yard sale.

The Church’s website states, “Forest Hills Baptist Church is committed to ministry in Christ’s name to people everywhere. We encourage and empower our members to discover their spiritual gifts and passions, find corresponding ministry opportunities, and then roll up their sleeves and become involved in the work of building His Kingdom through ministry here in Nashville, across Tennessee, and throughout the world.”

We are blessed to have enjoyed some of the fruit of that empowerment.

If you know someone in need, you don’t have to wait on someone at church to ask you to help. You only need God’s blessing to be one yourself.