When we first moved to Oklahoma we lived in Alva, where I attended 2nd grade. Then we moved to the great city of Freedom! Okay, so Freedom is actually a teentsy town near the Oklahoma panhandle and probably the farthest thing from a city you could ever find! But it was my home and Freedom is where I finished elementary school. As I was entering 7th grade we moved to Ponca City. I consider Ponca City my home city. This is where I grew up, graduated high school, got married and had my two baby boys. My life in Ponca City molded me into the person I am today.
From the moment we moved to Ponca City we attended the local First Assembly of God, now called Ponca City Assembly. This is not only where I attended an awesome youth group but also where I met my future husband and eventually worked as our first full time ministry job. From almost the moment we started attending Ponca City Assembly the church introduced a building program. We began raising funds and seeing blue prints at business meetings. It was exciting! Unfortunately, through a series of pastoral changes and congregational votes the building plans kept getting pushed to the back burner. When the current pastor, Micah Wells, took the senior pastor position years ago he again took on the building program and fueled it with new excitement and new energy. Things were finally looking like they would come to fruition!
Meanwhile, years went by and the Lord moved some people out and some people in. Brandon felt called to leave Ponca City and in 2008 we moved to Mustang. The building plan continued. FINALLY, after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, Ponca City Assembly began building a new church last year! Even though we no longer worked there, or even attended there, we still felt pride in the fact that this church's dream was being realized. When PCA was ready to unveil the new church facility and kick off a new life in a new building they invited all former staff members and church members to come back for a celebration service! I was excited to return home and attend church with my family of yester-year.
Unfortunately, Brandon wasn't able to get away from our current church to attend Ponca City Assemblies celebration service but the boys and I packed our bags and headed to Aunt Rae's house for the weekend. We had fun visiting family and getting ready for the service Sunday morning. During some backyard playtime the boys found a frog cooling off in Noah's pool! Maddox touched it and grossed out Elia! Ha!
Sometimes I'm not sure what Noah and Maddox are doing when they are together...but, hey! They keep themselves entertained and they have fun!
Finally, Sunday morning arrived! I was a bit nervous but also very excited to attend this celebration service at PCA! They even brought in George Wood, the National Director of the Assembleies of God, to speak. My boys were too scared to attend children's church that morning but they did great sitting with me and Noni in service.
PCA had put together a wonderful service that included both its current members and made those who were returning from year's past feel just as welcome. When they showed a video of the move that included images of the old church building empty I couldn't help but tear up. Honestly, my whole life happened in that church.
My sister led worship and I had a great time worshiping with old friends and family. At one point during the final song of worship I heard this extremely loud voice somewhere near us singing at the top of their lungs. That's not totally uncommon to hear in church but this voice was especially loud! After a few moments I couldn't help but look over to locate the mystery singer. I was both surprised and instantly emotional when I spotted MADDOX standing two people away from me, both hands lifted directly over his head, singing in his loudest YELLING voice, proud to praise the Lord! My heart melted into a puddle and I almost couldn't hold back the tears or even continue standing on my own two feet. What a beautiful sight! My baby.
Attending the church I grew up in for such a wonderful service and for this long awaited occasion was extremely sentimental for me. It was a definite collaboration of the old and the new, the past and the present. We have moved on in life. We are dedicated and love our church in Mustang with all of our hearts and I wouldn't have it any other way. But, Ponca City Assembly will always hold a special place in my heart. It holds my life in memories.
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