7th January 2010 Travis Snode

I Have Never Been So Honored

Local Church

Sunday night, January 3, our home church, Vision Baptist Church, had a blessing service for us.  I had never been a part of a “blessing service”, but it was the most honored that we have ever been.  I preached a short message, and then the church proceeded to bless us in a tremendous way.

During the service, the men of the church gathered around me to pray for me, and the women gathered around Teri to pray for her. It was a beautiful evening of our home church just telling us how much they love us.

Pastor Gardner and the church presented Teri with a box of letters for our family. It is a box of memories to show us their love. The people are asked to write a letter to each of us, and then the letters are placed in the box that can be pulled out and read to encourage us on a down day.

In this picture the men and women that will share a word of blessing are lining up. So  many of our friends shared such kind words with us.  We were overwhelmed by the kindness and love that Vision showed us.

Here, Pastor Gardner’s wife, Betty, shares some kind words with us.

Pastor Gardner and the church also presented me with a sword that is engraved with the words, “Has your sword tasted blood?” Those words come from a message Pastor Gardner used to preach on the road in mission’s conferences. The sword is a symbol of the Word of God which is sharper than any two edged sword and should be used to draw spiritual blood, get souls saved, lives changed, and people maturing in the faith.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have a home church like Vision that are constantly involved in our ministry.  Pastor Gardner is like spiritual father to me, and we owe so much to him, his wife, and to the folks of Vision Baptist Church.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!