Oftentimes, we use the first month of the new year to look back and reflect on what God had done the previous year. For us in 2023 we had just established the return of our Friday Morning Church Service, and with this, the Lord brought us a host of new friends.
One person that I am especially grateful for is a man by the name of Jerry Hall (Pictured right).
Jerry was invited to church by a friend who only ever attended one service. Who would have thought, even without his friend, Jerry would continue to attend-always in the front row. Looking back, he would probably receive the “best attended” award if we gave one out for coming to church. His church attendance turned into attending our Men’s Roundtable, which turned into daily volunteering at CBM.
Jerry served 38 years in prison, where he found God. During that time, he was healed from his prostate cancer- he gives God the glory for it! Nowadays, you can’t get too far at CBM without coming into contact with Jerry. We have been so blessed by him serving along with us. Daily he brings his great smile, a warm presence, and his encouraging spirit. He uplifts our guests with a helping hand to find clothes and other resources they need, and his gentle offer to pray with them is a blessing.
As I reflect on the past year, I am grateful for the friendship and support of Jerry Hall. I just wonder, if the Lord brought us this incredible of a guy in 2023, who the next “Jerry’ to join us in 2024 will be?
- Pastor Sterling Copeland