It was January, 1986, and the new year began with spirits high. We had
been set free from the bondage of debt and were resolved to trust God to meet
our needs. We had just experienced the “Gideon” miracle and were still in a
state of joyous shock. We had seen God move in a mighty way and didn’t even
consider that there could be more. Little did we know at that time that we had
seen a few sprinkles of God’s love but that it was only the beginning, for He
was about to open the windows of heaven and pour out showers of blessings.
The third week of January we opened NARNIA, Pat Edmond’s
adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. The
showers of blessings began to fall. For the first time since we started the
theatre, we were full for most performances and had to schedule additional
shows. It was unbelievable! We had a new problem, a wonderful problem: not
enough room! By the time we closed the two-month run of NARNIA, we had
paid off our $1200 debt (which still existed in December) plus had $2400 in the
bank. We weren’t on “easy-street” by any means, but we were able to meet all of
our bills and have some extra to see us through the summer when we would have
no income. Praise God! During the run of NARNIA, God worked another
fantastic miracle. In February, Larry Sneed, a man who had seen NARNIA,
came by the theatre to talk to Pat. God had told him to do something for the
theatre. Larry said that he worked for a sign company and that he had persuaded
his boss to let us use two billboards—one on I-44 and the other on 13 Bypass.
The rent alone on these billboards was $300 each per month, to say nothing of
the hundreds of dollars it would cost to have them painted. We had thought of
billboards before, but had known for a long time that there was no way,
absolutely no way, we could afford billboard space. So, can you imagine how
stunned we were when Larry informed us that we could have them RENT FREE and
that if we would buy the paint, he would personally paint them for us at no
charge. God had done it again—that which was impossible was made possible.
It was so exciting to see those billboards a year ago. And even now as
I drive down the highway and see one of those beautiful signs looming up, my
heart leaps up and tears come to my eyes as, once again, I am reminded of God’s
power and goodness.
Again we are left without adequate words to express our thanks to the
man God used to bring about this miracle, or I guess I should say “continuing
miracle,” since the signs are still there and we still do not pay rent on them.
All we can do is simply say, “Larry Sneed, we are truly grateful. Grateful for
the way you gave of your time and talent. Grateful that you were willing to let
God use you to help us. We love you! We thank you! And, we praise God for you! ”
COMING
NEXT: SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
See how God, by
keeping His promises, keeps reminding us that obedience brings blessings.
