We dug out of the snow and ice in Atlanta and finally got out of town around 2:30 and drove to Columbia, SC. This was our 3rd meeting at Kennerly Road Baptist with Dr. Gary Ledbetter. His dear wife Barbara has had cancer over the past year and has been through multiple weeks of treatments. She has been such a wonderful example of joy in the midst of suffering. We also know that when the pastor’s family has cancer, so does the church in an emotional way. We knew we were coming to love and serve the pastor and the people.

Never would I have dreamed when we planned four years ago to hold this week of meetings that God would have so sovereignly led us do it on the specific week of February 14-19. My mother Elinor Pettit was diagnosed with bladder cancer in January and was scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday, February 16th. God perfectly timed it so we would be there at this time. So we were able to view this week in the special hand of God.

We started the opening service with a good attendance (262) on Sunday morning and sustained a consistent crowd throughout the entire week (240). The people were so faithful. It was a particular inspiration to see Barbara Ledbetter out for every service. Typically, she has only been able to attend one service in the week. She came to every pre-service and then the service that followed through the entire week. What an inspiration and a testimony of commitment to the Lord!

Thursday and Friday were special nights. On Thursday, we held the Cola Wars. I sensed when I walked into the service that night that the Lord was going to work. It was one of those evenings that you can't explain apart from experiencing it. There were 12 teens who responded to the Gospel that night and some that were notable. A few teens that had been witnessed to and prayed for over a long period of time came to the Lord that night for salvation. Friday night was the largest attendance in the history of the church with 345 attending the Irish Sacred Concert.

We are grateful for the Lord’s working in many lives through the Word of God. It was a special blessing to experience the sovereign timing of the Lord and the way in which God answers prayers and ultimately performs His will.

Pictures from the week