Warrior, Alabama and Rock Creek Church

Rock Creek Church of Christ Warrior, AL

Thank you Martha for Violet!

 When David and I set out on our adventure we hoped for finding communities of people that were friends and not just neighbors. David often spoke of a small town in the south where people help each other because they know that we all need each other. They give of themselves freely without expecting or even wanting anything in return. He spoke of a place that sounded like it was too good for this Earth. It was better suited to the next life, or hope of a community in Paradise with Jesus. The Lord’s prayer always puzzled me “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Why did Jesus teach us to pray that way when the Kingdom is the hereafter.  After meeting our friends in Warrior, Alabama I realize that he says right what he means. His Kingdom is here now in us. We don’t often see it or we do not have eyes to see it but in 4 weeks Rock Creek Church of Christ wiped away my hardened cynicism born from a life lived too long among the “secular pseudo-intellectuals” and drowning pressures of the “currently interpreted American Dream”.  Of course the original American Dream was to worship our Christian God as God has put it on our hearts without interference from the Government.  As for finding that Community I laughed like Sarah laughed

Pastor Scott laying it out.

but even in her laugh she followed her husband in trusting God.  In Warrior, Alabama we witnessed a community of worshipers who even though they know they are born sinners live in the light and fearlessly share that light with others.    1 John1:7 “But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His son, cleanses us from every sin.” My eyes were open to see this scripture and my eyes were open to see such a fellowship in Rock Creek Church of Christ.

We chose the church simply based on its close proximity to Rickwood Caverns State Park where we were camped for the month. We were in Birmingham working on a rental property and decided to find a church nearby. On our

Faye Our 1st Friend at RockCreek

route to and from the Camp Ground we saw numerous signs for a local church. We decided that whoever put up all these signs was looking for new faces. However arriving at the church it appeared to be out of business.  We had visited a church near our rental and a couple of churches near Oak Mountain State Park where we had stayed last time we were in town. They were friendly enough but no one sought to add us to their circle of friends. We arrived at Rock Creek Church of Christ a half an hour early for Sunday School. We normally only attended the church service of these visited churches. But since we were here and the donut shop was a good 20 min drive each way we decided to stay for the Sunday school class. The only car in the parking lot besides us was Faye, who was relaxing in her car eating breakfast waiting for service to begin. As folks started to arrive Faye showed us the way into the church. It was a beautiful church but nontraditional. It had been adapted from an old doctor’s office.  That first Sunday we visited and sat next to Faye on the third row.  As we sat conversing with Faye first Martha came to greet us. She explained that they would be having a meal after service and would we please stay and fellowship with them during the meal. One after another each and every member of that

David & Sonny, the Kiddy Pastor

congregation came up to us and introduced themselves and invited us to fellowship and eat with them after service and stay for the short service after lunch. Each person was truly interested in us. Where were we from? Where were we headed? How long would we stay? They wanted to get to know us and they let us get to know them as well.

Pastor Scott introduced himself and said, “Oh, just Scott.” We enjoyed Bible Study class and Service. Pastor Scott taught and preached straight out of the word from truth with a practical and down to Earth demeanor.

After we fellow shipped and had the best food since my mom, grandmother and aunts were still alive and cooking. I wanted tov

cry from joy when I ate the roast with potatoes and carrots and chicken and

dumplings and etc. etc. But this is not a food review. The first week we sat next to Heika and Kevin.

Heika & I  became Hiking Buddies

With genuine concern they wanted to know what we planned to do during the coming storm that was due to hit the area the next day. They explained local meteorology to us and emphasized that we needed to watch to news because it could be life or death. We had not made a habit of watching the local news but instead getting random weather from the web. In San Diego the new casters would make a big stink about a coming storm that never happened and the forecast sunny skies and get a near hurricane. So no one out in California paid much attention to those guys. As it turns out theses local guys actually know what they are doing. It took David an hour, a ladder and a tree to get the local news to tune in on our antennae but he did it. We watched the news for hours because they had cut regular programing to constantly broadcast the progression of the storm. There were a couple of meteorologists analyzing the Doppler live as we watched. They had predicted soft ball size hail. The forecast did not give a percent chance it said it would come. We

Yummmmm!

couldn’t figure that one out. That is because it was 100% chance it would come just not exactly where it would hit. Also there were tornado warnings along with the elevated Thunderstorm Warning. That night we watched as the meteorologist pointed out a horse shoe shaped pattern on the radar and quickly announce for all those in that area, the area of Cullman and Jacksonville State University, to immediately seek tornado shelters. Because of him no one was injured. At least 2 tornadoes hit the University and surrounding areas and softball sized hail was so strong it went straight through an outside aluminum siding and knocked a hole through the wall. All the cars in the area were totaled.

We were within 12 miles of some of the most severe damage. However all we got was heavy rain and an extreme lightening show. The lightening flashed several times an instant for at least an hour. We watched and prayed from our RV knowing that this was here and real and if it hit our RV would be destroyed. But we are grateful that that did not happen and thanks to Heika and Kevin we are now aware of the dangers of storms in the South. This may very well prove to save our lives one day.

Miles of Home Cooking!

Our time at Rock Creek Church of Christ did not end there but we keep in touch with some of our friends on a regular basis. Thank you to them for being an inspiration and showing us what a real Church Community looks like.

Kathy Crawford

Brian whose Dad Preached on Easter!

We also met some wonderful new friends at the Rickwood Caverns Campground as well. My new friend Ruby and I hit it off instantly. She recommended a book she thought I would like and as soon as she got home she sent it to me: “The Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free” by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth.  Caution to my hard core feminist sisters this book is not for the faint of heart. I hope you will be as delighted as I was to first know the truth and second know how to counter lies. Thank

Mike and Ruby

you Ruby, we have already sent out several of these books to other sisters searching for truth. Our stay in the Warrior Alabama area was a fun and productive one. We refinished the floor on our rental and sold it to a wonderful young couple of school teachers. We met friends and learned lessons that will last a life time. If every 30 days could be that great.

The book arrived at the fire