Albania, a place in my heart.

Albania is an easy place to love.

Geographically it's beautiful. Mountains rest behind fields of wild, fruits of every kind grow profoundly in every direction, and the waters from sea to ponds and rivers hide within the landscape.

Historically it is rich. Form ancient amphitheaters to medieval castles and towers to the fall of a communistic rule in the 1990's it leaves no decade dull for the books. 

It's real treasure though is its people. They have a strong tradition of family and community not often found in today. They live close, they mourn together, and they celebrate together, often for days.

Economically the country can appear moderately financially stable to be poor on the next corner and poverty stricken in its truest sense just a few kilometers away from the city. I've now seen one of the places where Operation Christmas Child boxes are delivered and it makes me even more committed to packing them.

There is a village where our friends rent a house. A house without electricity or water, one with no floor in a side room. In this house they provide a childrens program once a week where the local children can find biblical stories, snacks, and games. As the children walk along the road heading for the program their step picks up several paces and their faces fill with expressions of excitement as they see the van of volunteers make its way up the hill towards the shell of the program house. 

Three sisters and their little brother walk forty minutes by themselves to get to the program. Once there they whole heartily listen and participate in learning bible stories. The word of God is being planted in them and they are such fertile soil.

After leaving the program one day we went to an ancient amphitheater. In it we climbed and walked our way into a lions den. A real lions den where they would hold the lions to keep them secure and ravenousness until releasing them on people for mere entertainment. In this same amphitheater Christians were martyred, killed for proclaiming the Lord.

These two memories made in Albania remind me of aspects of life here at home. Sisters, strong in family, seek the Lord, walking far towards him. They remind me of our family at church and our small community, strong in love for one another and helping each other look towards the Lord.

The lions den reminds me of what it felt like four years ago this week. I was thrown into it with Mikes death - but I wasn't in there alone. God was with me, getting us out without injury to our spiritual well being. 

On the Friday that we landed in Albania, I once again found myself in the lions den. I received a call from a doctor with results for tests that I had done earlier in the week. I have breast cancer and it's in a least one lymph node. 

It's not necessary to say that this news rocked me to my core. I spent those first days in Albania crying out to Jesus. I needed to see his face and not just hear his words. I needed him to show me close up how to walk through a fear that I have never before experienced. 

I came face to face with him and that fear a day later when I looked into the eyes of the oldest sister of those little girls. What is breast cancer when these girls will probably never leave a five mile radius of the house they were born in? They will go from their fathers house to their husbands house and not any further. Breast cancer is nothing when you think of those little souls that so desperately need to hear of Jesus.

Many of you know that I have felt called to use art ministry in the field for the last few years. I realize that I haven't stepped into it out of fear. Fear of the unknown, the what ifs. Now it's time to step out of that fear and overcome. It's time to get busy doing the work he has custom made for me to do. The Lord showed me His use for me there with those children. My pencil got there attention and could then turn the attention to God.

Last Sunday, after sitting in a church service in Albania I realized I learned of my diagnosis while there so that I would make these connections. Albania is now just as much a part of my story as breast cancer is. 

We are in the lions den again. All eyes are again on us and so I resolve to teach my boys and those watching how to live, not how to die, by keeping my eyes on the Lord. 

I'm asking you to walk with me in this, towards the word of God, so that His Glory and Kingdom shine from our hearts. Thank you friends, for once again, keeping me company in the lions den.

““Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”

— Isaiah 43

Worship Arts Ministry of Grace Fellowship Toccoa

Grace Fellowship Toccoa

201 Alewine Drive - Toccoa Georgia 30577          706 963 0120

Mission Statement

Our vision is to encourage and inspire the worship culture in our region for the sake of providing: common community for fellow creative believers, an inlet for the lost artist, and growth in our artistic endeavors for and through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Workshops

Workshops are scheduled throughout the year on a variety of mediums and subjects. Please view our calendar for an updated list of dates and times. If you are interested in having a workshop brought to yoru organization, please contact us through the workshop form on this site. 

Exhibits

Art is on display at Grace Fellowship Toccoa year round. Believers outside of the church body are invited to submit their art for exhibit. Please review the Submission Guidelines and complete the Reflection Questions before submitting art for display.