The Watchman
Here in the mountains of Buchanan County, in just a few weeks, we will be embarking on a new adventure for our residents and our youth. They will be moving to a different place.
Moving is not always easy; sometimes it’s difficult, with many new challenges. In this article, we are going to look at a few people who received instructions from God to leave their old place and enter into their new beginnings.
You can read about them in the Bible in Joshua chapters 3 and 4. In these chapters, God told Joshua to have the priests of the Lord lead the way. They were to go first and lead the move of God with the ark, which contained the law God gave Moses, known as the Ten Commandments, on Mount Sinai in Exodus chapters 19 and 20. The ark itself represents the presence of God and His work.
So you see, God is calling on the ministers of the Lord to step forth and be leaders in this difficult transition for many. Leadership is needed to help guide the transition.
It’s not easy. Trust me, I know. I lived in Garden Creek for more than 40 years. I graduated from Garden High School. I was a Green Dragon. My daughter was a Green Dragon.
Then, in 2001, Garden and Whitewood were consolidated to form Twin Valley High School. The Garden community lost its high school. It was really hard at first for the community and the students, but one thing about young people is that they are resilient. They recover quickly from difficult conditions. As the students adapted, it helped the community adapt as well.
The Garden community has now spent 25 years without a high school. As a minister, I encourage everyone in our community to unite in prayer so this transition will be as smooth as possible for all involved. If we unite and pray, it will make a difference. Prayer changes things.
In Luke 18:1, God teaches that people “ought always to pray, and not to faint.” In other words, do not allow the situation to overwhelm you. Remember what Joshua said in Joshua chapter 3: The Lord will be with you. The priests shall lead you, and you shall remove from your place and go after it.
This is a new beginning—a new chapter in our lives filled with new dreams, new visions and new aspirations. Now our county will be one. We will be the Eagles.
Isaiah 40:31 says that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, and they shall walk and not faint. That is why we must all unite and pray.
That is also why I have scheduled our Generations United event for Aug. 6-8 at Southern Gap, home of Southern Gap High School, which brings together the students of Grundy, Hurley, Twin Valley and Council high schools. Soon we will all be one.
My prayer is that the Lord will make us one and make Buchanan County great again. As Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17:22, “That they may be one, as we are one.”
On Saturday, Aug. 8, at 3 p.m., all who are able are invited to meet at the Susie and Roger Rife Park stage, also known as Poplar Gap Park. From there, we will proceed to the new school and pray for God’s guidance and wisdom for the leadership and teachers, and for a smooth and successful transition for the students as they begin the new school year.
Please also mark your calendars for the Generations United Revival: Come Alive Virginia, Aug. 6-8, at the stage at Poplar Gap Park. Speakers will include Joel Horn, J.T. Harman, Steven and Lori Ward, Jeremy and Amy Mickles, along with many other youth groups from across our area.
Services begin nightly at 7 p.m. Please bring a chair and join us.
Stay tuned
