Church time

"Father, each one of the souls that come today, may they receive a special ministry in Jesus' name! Amen!" The pastor ended the prayer session in the back room of the sanctuary. And everyone said in unison, Amen. As the members of the ministry walked into the sanctuary, everyone who was listening exclaimed, Amen! The songs and exhortations expressed by the worship leader and the team were like no other, different as if something was going to happen today. The church was packed for the first time in almost six months. The pastor came up to the stage, and his greeting was a bit emotional because of the accident and the many people who got hurt.

"Greetings and blessings to the children of the Lord. I pray that you are feeling blessed today," he said. "We are rejoicing and a bit saddened because although God gave us a victorious win over death, there were many people who suffered during the accident. But we are victorious!" He added, Amen! Shouted the congregation. "Today we read in the gospel of Luke, chapter 8, verse 48," "and he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made you whole; go in peace."

"We thank you for this word, God, in Jesus’ name, and the church of God says Amen! Our Lord was confronted with this woman who had this drainage in her body...."

"Hey Josh, Josh, do you see if Rick and Barb they are here."

"Let me see. Hm, I can’t see them. I hope that they come."

Mara starts to remember the words she spoke with Barb. She was in so much despair when she opened up to Mara about her issue of blood.

"Mom, Mom," whispered Jimmy, Sandy’s youngest child. "I need to go to the washroom," he exclaimed. Sandy whispers to Brenda, "Go and take your brother to the washroom and wait for him to come out." Brenda and Jimmy quietly got up from their seats and sneaked their way to the restroom, which was in the basement.

"I wonder if I closed the garage door before coming here," thought Jane. "What if that noisy neighbor with his two wild teenagers decided to come into my garage and take some things?," she went on thinking. "I will make sure that he pays dearly," exclaimed Jane in her mind. "Those teenagers… Amen, Pastor." Shouted Jane.

"I hope that Josh and Mara worked things out," said Manuel to himself as he thought about his conversation with them. "I hope that I still have that pastor's number from that counselor's course I took last year in my wallet,;" he went on thinking.

"There they are," thought Manuel as he skimmed through the congregation and saw them. The pastor went on in his message, "Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house; his daughter was dying, and while the crowd pushed and squashed him and his disciples, this woman began to make her way..." John noticed this new visitor across from where he was sitting who all of a sudden gave a loud cough. Immediately, he started to remember when he almost died because of Fred, who coughed on him.

The pastor added, "This woman, who had spent all her money on doctors trying to find a cure for herself, reached through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment. As soon as she touched him, Jesus felt power come out of him. The woman's faith drew power from the Lord to heal her," said the pastor. He added, "Your faith in the Lord can work a miracle in your life. If you come to the altar today, God can do what he will in you." Many of the congregants came to the altar and were prayed for.

And as they were going back to their seats, Barb made her way to the altar, squeezing herself through the crowd; she came before the pastor. When everyone noticed Barb at the altar, everyone began to pray in a loud voice for her. The pastor paused and stood silent for a moment, people crying and praying louder and louder for her. Suddenly he stretched his hand lightly and touched Barb on her forehead, and she, like a feather floating in midair, fell flat on her back. Barb touched the ground in slow motion; at least that was what some people were commenting when they saw her fall. Suddenly, Barb got up and noticed that her bleeding had stopped, and she exclaimed, "I’m healed." With a loud voice. The congregation took turns hugging Barb as she cried out of joy. That service had a powerful ending.

Mara and Josh as they made their way from the altar; they were the last ones coming, Manny crossed in front of them. He gave them a big hug and then took out the counselor's card and gave it to them. Josh promised to make the call.

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