By Michael Hernandez
OXNARD—”God is using this COVID 19,” said guest speaker Detroit House of Judah Pastor Tyran Meredith speaking about “The Change Up” at New Life Community Church services on Sunday. “People are arguing did God cause COVID to happen or did it come from the devil? I don’t know, but the Bible says God uses all things to work together for His purposes.
“Now a leper came to Him (Jesus), imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean,’” read Pastor Meredith from Mark 1:40. “Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed. As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed (Mark 1:41-42).”
“The new leprosy is COVID. This describes the modern-day leper. COVID is doing crazy things. God is shifting and changing things. What was the old; is now new. God is maneuvering us into new places to get to where we need to be. The Lord determines His steps and our steps. We might know the way, but not the how.”
Pastor Meredith said he was “a pastor, businessman, and family man” and called himself “the Black Billy Graham of online services” because online church services were something he said he would never do. That was until the Lord brought him two non-believing friends who said they were listening to him online and thanked him for his messages.
“Some of you because of COVID have not been able to get on your feet. What you need to do is ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths’” (Proverbs 3:5) and “Commit your works to the Lord, and our thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
Pastor Meredith who said he grew up “in the hood” shared several stories to uplift congregants:
- The McDonald’s Restaurant worker (who did not go to college) who started out flipping burgers and now is a regional director;
- His son, Ty, who took on a new job with pay raise and benefits as he trusted in the Lord;
- About the young couple that Tyran was able to bless by offering his home for their use.
“COVID got all of us off balance; but God had this in mind. He is not surprised. God is calling us to stay in the fight and stay positive. God hears you when you pray even during your lowest and worst moments. Look at the mirror and say, ‘I am the head, not the tail.’
(Editor’s Note: To view the 10:45 a.m. New Life Community Church service go to:
https://www.youtube.com/c/NewLifeOxnard/live.)
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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