Cherished - By Kim Cash Tate Page 0,11
feet walking toward it. She joined her voice with the rest, every word filled with personal meaning.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God . . .
Tears fell from her eyes. That’s exactly what she’d felt like when she entered the building . . . a stranger. Had Jesus sought her? Had He led her here? The whole idea of it seemed too huge—could He care that much for her? All she knew was she felt welcomed suddenly . . . by God Himself.
She sang the last words as a prayer—“Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above”—then continued her own prayer straight through the next song, overcome. During the third, she was struck by an answer to an old prayer: she and her brothers were in church together, worshipping God.
She was drained by the time for announcements, a good sort of drained. She barely noticed that Cedric and Scott had gone forward to wait their turn to speak.
“Also, a reminder that choir rehearsal is canceled this Thursday night,” someone was saying. “Our assistant worship pastor, Logan Duncan, will be a featured panelist at the Christian Songwriters Conference—”
Stephanie gasped and grabbed Kelli’s hand.
Kelli looked at her and whispered, “What?”
“That’s it.”
“That’s what?”
Stephanie bit her lip. “Can’t tell you yet.”
“Then why did you grab my hand?”
“’Cause it’s about you. But I’m still processing.”
“So please be in prayer for Logan,” the woman continued, “with regard to that conference and all the wonderful things God is doing with this worship ministry.”
Cedric and Scott took to the podium next. “Good morning,” Cedric began.
“Good morning,” sounded back from the congregation.
“I’m Cedric London, and Scott Elliott and I are excited to tell you about a new ministry forming at Living Word for guys between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five. If that’s you, then you know this is an age when you’re getting your bearings in the world and being tested regarding what you believe and choices you’ll make.” He cleared his throat. “I’m almost forty-three, only met Jesus this year, so I’m hoping to reach you all with some real talk about what’s out there and why it doesn’t compare with living for Him.”
Scott stepped to the microphone. “Many of you know my story. I’ve been walking with the Lord since I was young, but I really messed up in my marriage. Cedric and I can’t present perfect Christian lives to you guys, and we don’t want to. Through speakers, frank discussion around the Bible, and some mixing it up with sports and other activities, we want to learn and grow together, hold each other accountable, and maybe discover what it means to be broken, imperfect vessels that God can somehow use.”
The congregation took to their feet with applause, and it was obvious Cedric and Scott hadn’t expected it. When the applause faded, they asked interested guys to sign up in the lobby so they’d have an idea of the number of people who might want to participate.
Pastor Lyles got up then and added his own comment. “I’ve known Scott for many years,” he said, “and I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Cedric over the past year. Often it’s when you know you don’t have it all together, when you know you’ve fallen short—that’s when God can use you mightily.” He smiled. “But that’s another sermon.”
Kelli listened closely to what the pastor was saying. She wanted to hear that sermon.
“Today,” the pastor said, “we’re continuing in the Gospel of Mark, but first we’ll hear from the choir . . .”
Stephanie poked Kelli with her elbow. “I’m done processing. I think it’ll work.”
“What’ll work?”
“I’ve got a plan for your life.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Stephanie laughed from her belly without making a sound. “I’m serious. Tell you about it after service.”
Kelli had an inkling what Stephanie might be up to, based on their road trip yesterday, and she also had an inkling what she’d say. No way.
four
THE SECOND THE SERVICE ENDED, BRIAN WAS UP AND out of the pew, trying to dodge past the others walking up the aisle. He was beside himself—he couldn’t believe Cedric London was actually at Living Word. After talking to Aaron, he’d practically persuaded himself to give up the thought of finding Kelli. But seeing Cedric here—giving an announcement, no less—was instant motivation. He had to find him. Had to see if he’d be willing to give him Kelli’s information.
With one service ending, another starting soon, and Bible studies held during both, the