A Special Church Has Special Services
By Brother John Mabry, III
Holiness Tabernacle is far from being just an ordinary or “regular” church that has pedestrian services. I have been blessed by countless experiences, messages, and other members in my time attending Holiness Tabernacle. I guarantee that you can go around and ask any other member of the church what they think of Holiness Tabernacle – down to the very essence, they will say that it is very special.
But if you ask me, here is my inference of how unique it is. Each and every service is and always will be different. I say this because it does not matter if there is a scheduled service for an extraordinary occasion or a regularly planned service that occurs each week, month, or every year, the service will never be like the one before. There may be different people serving in various roles or the program may be redesigned or modified, but there is always going to be a blessing that you will receive that reshapes you each time you attend the service.
For example, we just observed Passion Week leading up to Resurrection Sunday and each year I’m amazed by the services. From each speaker going forth in their own way to how each person thinks and prepares for their message, it is truly awesome. I think about our weekly services – the prayers that go forth are diverse in fashion, members carry-out each function in the service to the best of their ability and in their own personality, and even the music or songs usher in the Spirit of the Lord in their own manner. It truly is God working through us because if you think about it, these services happen every year.
Take for example the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross. You’d think there might not be too much to expound upon because each year a speaker is going to speak a word that you should have general knowledge of or have most likely heard the year before. However, God works through each and every speaker so that they say things that either you would have never thought to illustrate or maybe never knew a key fact or detail that is now brought to light to help you get the full magnitude of what was going on in the Bible. Even now, I a struggle to put into words how beautiful it really is to see different members speak about a subject that you think you have an overall sense about. Then all of a sudden, they take you on a journey that leaves your general knowledge of the matter on pause while you go explore this new idea they have shined light upon, adding more understanding to the subject at hand.
All in all, I am just really proud to be a part of Holiness Tabernacle because of what my pastor speaks. And I appreciate that he also allows others to speak, which makes services to them more real, in turn making it real for everyone else that is participating during the service. I implore you that when you attend a regular weekly service, an occasional service for more than one church to take part in, or a service that is monthly or annually designed more for the local church, that you will see how God makes sure you don’t leave with the same experience you had the previous time.