Ministerial Alliance hosts community service of praise

By Janet Morales

The annual Thanksgiving Service, sponsored by the Randolph County Ministerial Alliance, was part contemporary, part traditional but all praise as groups of varying denominations and perspectives offered up thanksgiving to the same Savior.

The event took place Tuesday night in the newly renovated First Assembly of God Church in Moberly. Rev. Dave Reese was host pastor.

The program was filled with music as Eddie Warren and the Praise Team of First Assembly led the “congregation” in some contemporary singing. Warren also led the large crowd in a new mix of “How Great Thou Art” but returned to traditionalism with “Great is Thy Faithfulness”

The Second Missionary Baptist Church, led and accompanied by Pastor Howard Glasgow, set the tone for the message to come with the song “Praise is What I Do”. No matter what, whether good or bad, we are to praise God.That group was followed by soloist rhonda Hawk who kept in the theme with “Praise the Hurt Away”.

Rev. Reese gave the message for the service. While he used several scripture verses as support, his primary Biblical focus was 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In all things give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Reese said praise – thanksgiving – is not just words we say but it is a state of mind, a state of our heart.

Reese told the story of Jonah and how he was tossed from the boat because of his disobedience to God. He was swallowed by a large fish. After three days he began to pray. Reese pointed out that as soon as Jonah expressed a “voice of Thanksgiving” he was ejected from the fish.

Reese said he likes to juxtapose the verses of John 15:5 and Matthew 19:26 which explain why we should be of an optimistic spirit and show our praise of God in all that we do and at all times. John states “… for without Me, you can do nothing.” and in Matthew is found, “With God, all things are possible.”

Alliance pastors who also participated in the service include Rev. Vernon McGarvey, Alliance president and pastor of Apostolic Pentecostal Church; Rev. Mike Wondel, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church; and Jeff Howard, associate pastor of Family Life Fellowship.

An offering was taken for the benevolent fund of the Ministerial Alliance. Treasurer may hall said through the donations made at the Community Thanksgiving and Good Friday services, 130 families were helped with rent and utilities.