Some people say that Denton Bible Church is too big, but the ones who say that have not discovered the “families” that make up DBC. I’m talking about ministries where you serve together, grow together, and comfort one another during tough times. One of the ministries that Steve served with before he got sick is the Sweat Team, a group of men and women dedicated to helping the poor, widows, and the sick. The Sweat Team mows yards, paints houses, does plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry such as building ramps. Steve put in ceiling fans, GFI’s, and did other electrical jobs as part of the Sweat Team. 

Right after Steve got diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, Wayne Carrigan, head of the Sweat Team, presented us with money that the Sweat Team had collected for us to go on vacation. We were blown away at the amount they gave us. Sadly, Steve felt he did not have the strength to go far. We used some of the money for gas to drive to Waco to meet my family for lunch. Some of the money took us out to eat, some of the money paid medical bills, and the rest we put in savings.

Since Steve and I can no longer worship with the body of Christ in the church building, God brings church to us. Our pastors, Tommy Nelson and Mike Spencer, came to visit Steve in February. We talked about the Lord, about heaven, about Steve’s illness, and then Tommy prayed with us. Their visit encouraged Steve greatly in his journey to finish well.

Steve was in the choir, and fellow choir member Bill Stewart began bringing us the CD’s of the church service and the worship music. We get our Bibles out and participate via CD in the service. Bill serves in the media ministry and puts in the announcements and prayers, so we get the entire service.

I put two folding chairs in the bedroom so people can visit with Steve there when he’s too tired to get up. Those chairs have gotten a lot of use! We have great conversations about the Lord, the Bible, and heaven when people come over, and visits often end in prayer. We experience joy, peace, love, and laughter with our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is just a foretaste of heaven when we’ll all be together worshiping the Lord with the angels.

John 17:24:  Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 

Just think, some day we will see Jesus’ glory and live with Him face-to-face! This high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 before He went to the cross gives us insight into some of the incredible things awaiting us in heaven. Imagine being surrounded by the glory and love of God. No wonder it says the following in Revelation 5:11-12:

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Recently Charles Stolfus and John Brown preached eloquently about heaven. It seemed like the messages were tailor-made for us. So many of our thoughts and conversations veer toward heaven because of our situation. We praise God for the sure hope of heaven!