Finding God Amidst Tragedy.

On the morning of December 23rd, as I was preparing the finishing touches to our Christmas Eve worship services, I received a call from Cynthia Walker, one of our church members.  She told me that a local family, Donnie and Marsha Collier and their children, who had attended our church several years ago, had fallen victim to a house fire earlier that morning.  Cynthia informed me that the the family's home and all their posessions had been lost and that Donnie had perished in the fire.  As I arrived at the Collier home I sensed God's presence and I approached Marsha and son Zach, standing with a few family members and close friends next to the charred remains of their home.  The local fire company and county fire marshall were still studying the scene trying to determine the cause of the fire.  As I stood with Marsha we began to pray, asking God to comfort and strengthen the family in their grief.  Understanding that the family was left with absolutely nothing a friend began to ask Marsha what her and her children's clothes sizes were.  I sent the clothes sizes to Amanda Craig, our church administrator, and asked her to send out a churchwide email letting our church members know what had happened, asking for prayers and donations for the family.  The response was nothing short of miraculous!  The church phones and email immediately began to light up.  Church members and community members aloke began asking where to bring donations.  Other community leaders jumped in to organize the donations.  Only God could have orchestrated such a feat.  By 2:30 pm, that same day, the Co0llier family had a fully furnished home with new clothes for Marsha and all four boys filling the closets and dressers.  The pantry and refrigerator were overflowing with food.  In the family room there was a Christmas tree with gifts reaching out halfway across the floor.  Those still calling the church wanting to help were told that all the families immediate needs had been met and that they could help by donting money to an account set up at the local ban in the Collier family's name.  Thanks be to God for the incredible outpouring of love and support for the Collier family as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  (shared by Scott Goodfellow; Pastor serving with the faithful at Brock United Methodist Church)