| Nestled in a small, unassuming town in the mountains | | | | claimed his |
| of | | | | healing. Within the normal six week period, he was |
| northern PA, is a place called DuBois. It is | | | | walking |
| predominately | | | | and jumping around even better than before. Pastor |
| white and has been for decades. So to see a person | | | | Woody |
| of | | | | is also legally blind, he has a difficult time reading and |
| color is rather a rare opportunity.I first met Pastor | | | | can't |
| Woody several years ago in a small country | | | | see to drive at night. But, he has undergone some |
| setting church where we both were called by the | | | | surgeries |
| Holy | | | | that still allows him to see well enough to read the |
| Spirit. He went only by "Woody" at the time because | | | | Good |
| he was | | | | Word. He continues to beat all the odds.Pastor |
| running from a point of depression in his life. His | | | | Woody reaches out to the hurt and brokenhearted |
| marriage | | | | children of the Lord. He bases his ministry on Luke |
| fell apart and so did his ministry of over 20 years. He | | | | 4:18 |
| was | | | | which says this; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, |
| turning his back on the pastorship and never told | | | | because |
| anyone | | | | he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, |
| who or what he was. His secret came to the open | | | | he |
| soon after | | | | hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach |
| the Holy Spirit had revealed him to the pastors of this | | | | deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to |
| church we were both attending. Later it was | | | | the |
| confirmed | | | | blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."This |
| through some prophets who knew of his true calling. | | | | passage describes all of us at What's Happening Now |
| Try as | | | | |
| he might to escape it, he came to realize that he was | | | | Ministries to a tea. We are not perfect, don't claim to |
| still a | | | | be and |
| man of God.Later this little ministry had broke up and | | | | we know from where we all come from. Christ did |
| left most of it's | | | | not come |
| members wondering where we would go from here. | | | | for the perfect, He came for the sinners who knew |
| Pastor | | | | they |
| Woody stepped forward and offered to be our | | | | needed Him. We at What's Happening Now Ministries |
| shepherd if | | | | may |
| we wanted to be his sheep. He later admitted that he | | | | look like a bunch of misfits but only to those who |
| did not | | | | judge |
| know why he had done that, it certainly wasn't his | | | | God's children. God says that once we are |
| plan. He | | | | redeemed, we |
| did not believe it would go anywhere, but wanted to | | | | are no longer under condemnation. God sees our |
| give us a | | | | hearts |
| hope to follow nonetheless.The handful of us who | | | | and He has blessed our spiritual leader with the power |
| stayed with him voted on calling our | | | | to |
| new ministry "What's Happening Now" because it's | | | | feed His sheep and to hear the truth, the whole truth |
| based | | | | and |
| on what is happening now in the world today. Having | | | | nothing but the gospel truth. Our pastor will not speak |
| no | | | | it |
| where to meet, we gathered in the social room at the | | | | unless it is in God's Word. Because of his faithfulness |
| | | | in not |
| apartment complex where Woody resided at the | | | | obstructing God's Word, many have left this ministry. |
| time. We | | | | Pastor |
| met every Sunday and Wed. evening for Bible study. | | | | Woody will not serve up a banquet of desserts or |
| Then he | | | | junk food. |
| was told that we could no longer meet there. Our | | | | Too many people today can't bear to hear the truth |
| Christian | | | | and so |
| beliefs didn't go over so well in a town that doesn't | | | | get offended by it. All of us have been known to |
| recognize | | | | wear our |
| Christ. They did all they could to defeat our goal. | | | | steel toed boots from time to time but only because |
| Pastor | | | | we |
| decided he would find another location. The Holy Spirit | | | | know it's for our own good. When God loves us, He |
| | | | will step |
| guided him to a building to inquire about using. When | | | | on our toes! But how else will we know how to grow |
| he | | | | into |
| got there, the owner said he was expecting him and | | | | righteousness? This is how God shows us how much |
| offered | | | | he |
| our ministry the use of it's room for free of charge. | | | | loves us and so will our dear pastor, who loves us as |
| We | | | | his |
| continued to meet there and praise God's name. | | | | own children. He prays that we will all grow in the |
| People | | | | same love |
| came and people went during this time. It was nothing | | | | that God has for us.Pastor Woody is a man who has |
| fancy, and we didn't have anything but the true word | | | | beaten many of the odds in |
| going | | | | a world that remains blind to the truth of God's Word. |
| for us. Pastor, although discouraged at many times, | | | | We do |
| said if | | | | not pride ourselves on superficiality. We don't have a |
| only a faithful few of us would continue to stay with | | | | large |
| him, that | | | | congregation, we don't have fancy instruments, we |
| was all he needed to do the Lord's work.Our small | | | | don't |
| congregation wanted a regular church building to | | | | have a large praise and worship team, we don't have |
| call home. We discussed trying to find out about a | | | | many |
| small | | | | things, but what we do have is pure and true to what |
| church and parsonage in town that sat vacant for | | | | is in |
| several | | | | God's will. God provides us with his true Word, His |
| years. But when anyone tried to inquire the neighbors | | | | Holy |
| of it's | | | | Spirit and a faithful few. Whenever two or three are |
| owner, they were told to get off the property. It was | | | | gathered |
| obvious | | | | in His name, He will be in the midst of them. We |
| that the people in town did not want a church to | | | | center all |
| move in. | | | | our activity around the blessed name of Jesus. |
| After several attempts to contact the owner with no | | | | Because of |
| success, | | | | this, God is blessing the city of DuBois with Pastor |
| we decided it was not in God's time or His will to | | | | Woody |
| persue it. | | | | who just three short years ago never dreamed this |
| We let it go and never gave it another thought. Our | | | | would |
| pastor | | | | come to pass, but God knows the plans He has for |
| would however drive by this church and pray that if it | | | | us. |
| was | | | | Pastor Woody opens his doors to all who want to |
| God's will that He would open up a door for us to | | | | come |
| have it.Six months later I attended a prayer session at | | | | inside whether they are black, white, male, female, |
| a friend's | | | | employed, unemployed, saved or sinner. Just as Jesus |
| church about 30 miles out of town. As I began to | | | | did, |
| leave there, | | | | Pastor Woody is there to meet the needs of all those |
| a man came up to me and gave me his card. He | | | | who |
| introduced | | | | desire a closer relationship with the Almighty |
| himself and said he owned a small church in DuBois | | | | Father.Because he has been patient and in the will of |
| and | | | | God, Pastor |
| wanted to sell it to a church family. As it turned out, it | | | | is certain that this ministry was given to him because |
| was the | | | | he |
| same church we had prayed for! God moved on this | | | | was faithful and patient and did things in God's time |
| in His | | | | and will |
| time. It didn't take long after this that Pastor Woody | | | | and did not step out ahead and try and make things |
| stepped | | | | happen |
| out in faith, gave up his apartment and moved in. | | | | his way. God has done a mighty work in our pastor |
| People | | | | and |
| told him he was taking alot for granted and said he | | | | continues to do so to this day. He can testify to God's |
| was | | | | |
| doing things too fast. Pastor was adamant that this is | | | | manifestations that when you prove yourself to be a |
| what | | | | faithful |
| God wanted. He said that God had already given it to | | | | steward over all God has given you. Our pastor says |
| us and | | | | what |
| therefore he was proving it by his faith.We made our | | | | he means and he means what he says. He does not |
| first offer to purchase the building and it was | | | | expect |
| quickly accepted. We didn't expect that, but what we | | | | us to do things God's way if he isn't also doing them |
| really | | | | the |
| didn't expect was that this offer was also turned | | | | same way. He will never tell anyone to "do as I say, |
| down and | | | | not as I |
| the man who owned the building said all he wanted | | | | do" because he sets examples for all of us to follow. |
| was for | | | | He |
| us to pay the back taxes. He didn't want anything for | | | | realizes that he is responsible for all God's children and |
| it! God | | | | |
| can move mountains when things are done His way | | | | takes that job seriously. If more pastorial leaders felt |
| and for | | | | that |
| His good. Since Pastor Woody stepped out on great | | | | way, there wouldn't be so many lost souls running |
| faith | | | | around |
| throughout this whole process, God has blessed the | | | | today.When so many disbelieving people in the |
| first | | | | community told |
| black man to be a pastor in predominately white | | | | him he would never make it as a black pastor in this |
| town.It's been a year since we have opened the doors | | | | town, |
| to What's | | | | he went right on believing that God is faithful to His |
| Happening Now Ministries in DuBois, and we have | | | | promises. God has certainly left these people looking |
| seen | | | | foolish in their own eyes. With God, anything is |
| people come and we have been blessed with new | | | | possible. As |
| members. Just as God had promised, He is building | | | | a result, What's Happening Now Ministries is continuing |
| this | | | | to |
| church from the foundation up. He wants to make | | | | grow and thrive in the direction that God has intended. |
| sure it's | | | | Our |
| on steady ground.Our pastor has overcome some | | | | pastor is living proof that God will use who He |
| health issues. Many of | | | | chooses.When the noise of the world confuses you, |
| them were confirmed as hopeless, but they have | | | | just stop and |
| over the | | | | listen to His voice and you will be clear on your |
| time reversed themselves, leaving the doctors quite | | | | direction.Vivian Gordon writes articles pertaining to |
| baffled | | | | God's |
| and bewildered. For example, last summer Pastor | | | | instructions and the examples He has given us in |
| Woody | | | | order |
| broke his ankle and was told that because of his | | | | to grow on this Christian walk with Him. She hopes |
| previous | | | | that |
| health issues, it would take about a year to heal if | | | | they can inspire the Christian to grow spiritualy and |
| ever. He | | | | maturely in their lives. |
| never doubt the powerful work of the Lord and | | | | |