By Staff, Baptist Message
Since becoming pastor of Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, Independence, in April 2014, Gary Dennis stands amazed at the countless miracles God has performed within his congregation.
He has witnessed Sunday school attendance increase from 90 to 200 and worship attendance grow from 100 to 375, and he was a first-hand recipient of God’s restorative care after the historic flood of August 2016 damaged most of his members’ homes.
Dennis credited prayer for each of these blessings.
He added that the congregation’s desire to follow God has helped the church thrive and to minister freely in the midst of difficulty.
Even in the throes of the flood, the church did not give up.
Instead, members opened the fellowship hall and Sunday school classrooms to welcome hundreds of volunteers who had come from across the country to help with disaster response and rebuilding efforts.
He was moved when so many of his members stepped up to volunteer even though they had lost so much.
“Eventually we recovered enough to begin focusing on our new building project,” Dennis said. “In the meantime, we had a better understanding of how much more dirt we would have to haul in for the foundation.
“Our people continued to give faithfully and we not only met our budget but they gave approximately $200,000 to the building fund,” he continued. “Even though their homes were destroyed, they faithfully gave to the Lord and His church.”
