Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(49)

Henry and his guitar led the singing, and Willie read the Scripture. After a time for prayer and another song, Willie made opportunity for anyone from the congregation to share a scripture or a thought. Henry rose to his feet. Clearing his throat, he began slowly with what he seemed to feel was a very important matter.

"Ya all know as how we been feelin' the need to git together like this Sunday by Sunday to hear the Word an' pray. Maybe ya been appreciatin' it as much as I have been, but ya still feel thet somethin' is missin' like. So much of the Word thet we read we need to learn more 'bout. Thet's why churches have 'em preachers--to explain the meanin' of the Word. Well, we ain't had us a preacher. 'Course we do have the Spirit of God as our teacher, an' I thank God fer thet.

"This here summer Missie an' Willie had the fortune of havin' Mr. and Mrs. Davis come fer a visit. It was jest to be a short visit of a couple of weeks. We all know of the tragic circumstances thet led 'em to still be here. I say 'tragic' 'cause thet's the way it seems to all of us. But I been a-thinkin'. Maybe God can make good outa even this tragedy. The Word says thet all things can work together fer our good, iffen we love God. Lately I've been seem' some good thet might come from this as well. I spoke to Mr. Davis 'bout it, an' he promised



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to pray 'bout it. I've asked Mr. Davis iffen he won't be our preacher-like an' explain the Word to us Sunday by Sunday. Now, he ain't a preacher, really. He's a farmer. But he knows the Word of God an' he's heard lots of preachin', an' I think thet he'd have lots of good Bible teachin' to share with us."

Faces began to turn toward Clark, and it was apparent that many people were waiting expectantly to see how he would answer Henry when the time came for a decision. Clark looked around him at the strange little congregation. He saw Missie and Willie, Henry and Melinda, and knew how much they had grown in the faith; he saw rough cowhands, unknowing but open to the knowledge of the Word; he saw the young woman from town, her sorrow showing in her eyes as she longed for some kind of comfort; he saw the Crofts, seeking for healing in their recent bereavement; he saw the family and their son whose arm still needed to be straightened; he saw Andy sitting stiffly beside his mother; he saw the De la Rosas, with the pain and the questions still lingering in Juan's eyes. Clark's heart went out to them all. He felt a strange stirring within and he knew that, with God's help, he must feed this flock. He stood up, his crutch held firmly in his hand for support, and looked around at the faces before him.

"It honors me to be asked to open God's Word with ya here. With God's help, I will try to give to ya the meanin' of the scripture read each Sunday. We can learn together."

He sat down and clapping echoed through the room. Marty was so proud and happy she wanted to put her head against Clark's shoulder and weep tears of joy.

Henry stood again, his face beaming. "We got us a preacher!" he exulted. "Now, what we gonna do 'bout a church?"

There was enthusiastic and spontaneous response to the question. Many voices began to call that they would build their own church, and some shouted suggestions about where it should be located. Henry finally got things quieted enough to speak again.

"I've been a-thinkin'," he said, "thet since there's not a church in town yet, an' this is a powerful distance fer some to



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travel, thet we ought to try to even things up a bit, an' put the church 'bout halfway fer everyone."

"I'm 'bout halfway!" cried Mr. Newton, jumping to his feet. "I shore would be right proud to be givin' some of my land fer a church."

Others nodded, their eyes shining; it was agreed that the church building could be located on the Newton ranch. "We'll need us timber an' materials an' a buildin' plan," said Henry. "Lots of things to be decided."

"Then let's git us a committee," someone called.

It was decided that Willie, Henry, and Mr. Newton would be the building committee. The rest of the congregation would wait for orders and do their bidding. Excitement ran so high that tongues could not slow down even when Missie served coffee and cookies. They were going to have their own church! It was a dream come true.



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Chapter Twenty-two




Moving



Marty wrote another long letter home. They would not be returning to the farm until the next spring. Though Clark was daily gaining strength and was now able to stand the train trip, he was going to stay and help establish the new church by giving the people lessons from the Scriptures and encouraging them in their building project.

Marty was pleased to see the enthusiasm with which Clark greeted each new day. He spent hours poring over his well-worn Bible, and as his eyes found new truths, his lips shared them with others. He could not even wait for Sundays but spoke excitedly with anyone who was within listening distance.

Clark also was busy with other matters, thinking often of little inventions that would help him in overcoming his handicap. Daily his independence was growing. He scarcely needed help with anything anymore. He even devised a way to again ride horseback with the men or with Nathan. He moved about the ranch on his own, carrying buckets or saddles in the hand