A small group of
women in the Latin American Fellowship of Central Presbyterian
Church of Norristown spent several hours each Saturday fasting
and praying for a change in their church. They did not know
what God was planning for their fellowship, led by the Rev.
Gadiel Gomez-Saravia, but they knew that God would make it clear
to them at the right time.
On a Saturday during choir practice, a homeless man arrived
at the church asking for help for a friend. He led a group from
the church to the man, who had been beaten. He was lying on
the ground, his eyes were swollen shut, and he was unable to
get up.
The group took the man to a hospital in Philadelphia from which
he was discharged a week later. He was too weak to live on the
street so his friends again approached the congregation. After
praying with the man and his friends, the church leaders took
up an offering to rent a hotel room for one week.
From this beginning has grown a ministry to homeless men—and
a growing number of women and children. Members of the congregation
take turns cooking a meal each day for their homeless friends,
and some have taken people into their homes during very cold
weather.
Be careful what you pray for! The Rev. Gomez is certain that
because of the faithful prayer of a few women, when God brought
an injured man to their door, the congregation was ready to
reach out to him and his friends with Christ’s ministry
of healing and health.
The Presbytery of Philadelphia has 140 churches and 40,412
members. Presbyterian-related Arcadia University is within the
presbytery’s bounds. |
