A Story of Resurrection

We left St.Louis, Missouri last Friday for Florida.  Our first night was spent outside of Nashville in the small town of Smyrna, Tennessee.  John just so happened to start reading the St.Louis newspaper of Thursday, specifically the entertainment section.  He was reading the movie reviews, one of which was regarding the movie All Saints.  He asked me whether we were in the town of Smyrna, which I confirmed that to be true.  "Well", he said, "the movie was produced here in Smyrna at the church of All Saints- let us drive by that church tomorrow before we head out of town".  The next morning, driving our big rig and towing a car, we set out in search of the church.  It was all a bit foolish to do, not knowing whether we would be driving some place where there would not be a spot large enough  to turn our home around!  We usually plan ahead better than that.

 

We had no reason to worry, the church's parking lot was quite large enough to accommodate our home and it was a very worth while stop.   Shortly after we arrived another car drove up to the church- a lady got out and introduced herself as Lisa Lehr.  She is the Christian Education leader of All Saints.  John and I were a bit familiar with the story of the church.  In 2007 Reverend Michael Spurlock accepted a call to All Saints, with the idea that he would be closing the church.  Same story as many churches- too few members and a mortgage they could not afford.  Shortly after he arrived the Karen tribe moved into the area.- immigrants from Burma.  They had attended Anglican services in Burma and were looking for an Episcopal church in America.  Soon attendance at All Saints swelled from about 25 members to over 100!  Lisa Lehr informed me that the church has continued to do well, it has a youth choir of 25 at present.

Pictured above is a myrtle tree, they are blooming presently- we saw lots of them traveling from Tennessee to Georgia.  In Atlanta we visited my sister Linda, and on Sunday we went with her to see the movie All Saints.  What an inspiring story, of how Pastor Spurlock and his church met the needs of the newly arrived immigrants and of how those people worked with the church hoping to pay off the mortgage.  Pictured below is the back of the church where there is now a playground, gazebo with a stone altar, and community garden.

 The story of two of the Karen is also particularly inspiring- Ye Win and Father Thomas Bu Christ.  God brought together many different people and circumstances to work out his destiny for All Saints.  It is also a cautionary tale for all churches not to close their doors but instead  to welcome strangers, refugees and immigrants.  Not surprisingly, there is always love to be shared all around.
 Lisa Lehr informed me that just this year a book has been published telling the story of All Saints.  She had one to sell me, and, as usually is the case, the book is so much better than the movie!  There is a lot more to the story than the movie portrays- many lives were personally impacted by the presence of the Karen in the community of Smyrna.  Most importantly,  many good souls started viewing their faith (or lack of it as the case may be) differently once they became involved with the needs of the church.  After I read the book I wished that we had taken time to step inside the church, and even walk around the grounds where crops were grown to help pay off the mortgage and feed the Karens- a place where many lives were changed.  Lisa had invited us into the church, but we felt that we had to be on our way.  As I said, I really regretted that decision after reading the book.