Pastors

Bro. Tim McKay
Pastor

Bro. Michael McKay

 

Bro. Tim's Testimony

​In 1978 I found myself in the hospital, awaiting surgery and pondering what would happen to me if I were to die. A woman that I had never met gave me a scripture that transformed my life.

Psalms 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He
heard me, and delivered me from all my
fears.

In this scripture, I found that the Lord
was able to quicken the word of God to
my heart and that His promise to me was
to deliver me from all fear; it was His
promise to give me peace. A few months later, I was baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and He filled me with the Holy Ghost and a peace that would pass all understanding.
Since that day, He has constantly reminded me of His promise of peace. Although the road has not always been easy, He has placed His peace and an assurance of salvation within me that has carried me through all the storms of life. May the Lord grant unto you that true
peace that only comes from knowing Him
in an intimate relationship.

Bro. Michael's Testimony

“If I should speak, then let it be, of the grace that is greater than all my sin…”

My story begins with a scared and ashamed little boy who becomes an angry teenager, but, through the kindness of Jesus, finally found peace. My mother taught me that Jesus would always take care of us, even though we didn’t have much. My Sunday school teacher, Pauline, taught me many of the ‘simple’ bible stories that I’m still learning from. My uncle, Tim, taught me the importance of learning and living according to the word of God, even when it’s not easy. My stepfather, Dean, has taught me to be a soldier for God during the heat of the battle. My pastor for many years, Bro. Gary Stewart, has been an example of a long life serving God. My wife, Lone, has taught me to be a better man, and my daughters, Nora and Nadia, have taught me patience. Every member of this church has not only changed me, but has taught me a little more about what it means to be a christian. The Love of Jesus that changed these people’s lives has had a great effect on how I’m walking my spiritual journey.

When I was fifteen years old, God’s presence surrounded me one morning while the church was singing “Thanks, thanks, I give you thanks for all you have done.” There wasn’t a time in my life that I didn’t believe that there was a God, but for years I had fought Him in fear. Fear of giving things up that I wanted to hold onto; fear of giving up things in my future; fear of what others would think at school. The song continued, “I am so blessed, my soul has found rest, oh Lord, I give you thanks.” It was as if God was speaking to me, but He was saying that I hadn’t found rest -- if I would let Him take control of my life, I would find it. I felt like I was filled with light that wanted to burst, but in fear I couldn’t give in. A darkness came and I felt like that light drained from the top of my head and left through the bottom of my feet. I began to cry, saying to myself, “Oh no, I turned God away. What if He never comes back? I’m sorry, Lord. If you come back I’ll do whatever you want.” His presence came back with great power and He filled me with His spirit. I have allowed myself many mistakes, doubts and troubles since then, but God has always been faithful and brought me back to that moment on that day. 

Throughout the years, God has slowly but surely moved me along. And slowly I have learned to listen to His voice more and more. There were three major points in my life that have lead me to the ministry. First was the Sunday morning I mentioned earlier. Second was many years later there was a testimony I was afraid to give, but God commanded until I was more afraid to disobey His voice than to give the testimony. After the testimony He spoke to me and assured me that it was He who commanded me and that He was pleased. Finally, it was shortly before a trip to the church in West Virginia where He spoke and told me that I would sing, which was something I was afraid to do. I remember thinking, “I wouldn’t know what to sing.” He answered, “You will sing, ‘I’d rather have Jesus.'” I asked the Lord if He would speak to me to confirm this was Him. When I walked into church, I tried to sit in the back, but I thought to myself, “Coward!” So, I moved closer to the front, one of the brothers looked at me and asked, “Michael, do you sing?” I quoted Grace Strommen and said, “I am willing.” After the song, the Lord spoke to me. He is always faithful. 

These three events are the steps that God took  to prepare me for the ministry. Why God chooses to use me in this capacity, I don’t quite understand. My ministry is simple, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so.”  

“To tell you my story is to tell of Him.”

Sunday School

Pauline Huffer and Olivia Wolfe