Historic Christian Church / Perk Up

Hello, my name is Sarah Bowman. I grew up in the quaint town of Clinton, Ky. I went to school here at Hickman county. I am married to my husband John and have two children, Addie and Carter. The typical busy wife life, with kids was all I knew. I had a job at a local Hospital, which was stressful at times, but life was good. I had a health issue, that led to some surgery time off from work, and in the midst of my surgery leave the hospital I worked for was being bought out by another company. Well... long story short, I took another route and found myself without a job, but still had the job of full time wife and mother. I really enjoyed being off work, and lavished in the extra time I had to relax more. I have never liked to read... and found myself reading books and actually finishing them.
In this time I discovered that I started becoming closer and closer to God. I have been in church my whole life, but this was different. I'm not perfect by NO means, mind you, but I had embarked on something deeper and so incredible that it started becoming more and more addicting. I couldn't contain myself. I read and read, started digging deeper and more intently in my bible than I ever had in my life.Our church had gone without a pastor for a while, and we were desperately praying for someone to be sent to us. God truly answered our prayers, for he sent two of the dearest, most intelligent, warm, kind hearted souls you will ever meet. Their arriving when they did, I know now was not by coincidence either. They have mentored and help direct us in so many ways. Above all they have shown us love. We are so blessed to have Pastor Bill and Shellie Lickliter. They are not only our pastors, but our buddies, our dearest friends.
I'm going to skip ahead now to one day at church- a sweet old man, had started coming to our church for sometime now, Mr. Earl Rodgers. I didn't know him personally, just knew his family and granddaughter mainly, because I worked with her at the hospital. He was a character, he would always ask me, " whatcha doing now kid? " " are you working yet?" When I would answer him, I felt fine at first, but then after the 6th or 7th time of him asking me...I started to feel lazy and I felt like a failure, because I knew I needed to be doing something, but just didn't know what yet?
My family and I had visited some friends a while back in Pennsylvania. There my friend Barb owned an old country farmhouse that they converted into a huge coffee shop. The atmosphere was so inviting, and I fell head over heels in love with the entire scene! I told Barb how I envied her and would love to do this. She looked at me and said frankly " well, why don't you do it?" I shook my head and told her there was no way, I had been working in the medical field for 16 years, I wouldn't know the first step to take. She kept building me up with confidence, but I just let it remain a pleasant thought in my mind that I knew would never become reality.
Then another event occurred, that led my mind to wondering in another direction of a possible suitable job I might like. My friend Shay, asked me to help out with her daughters wedding. I jumped on board and loved every minute of it. My mind started racing again of another possible endeavor, but knew it was just another lovely thought, that in reality would be another passing ship for me.
Mr. Earl approached me yet again at church one night, but his wording was different this time and it made me stand at attention almost when he asked " any jobs yet? well, what would you like to do?" I thought I would just humor him, and say " a coffee shop and weddings, if you could slap those two together in one spot, that would be great!" He smiled and said " meet me tomorrow morning at 8:30." I looked at Shay in disbelief, and she smiled back telling me we had to go! So here we went, and he took us to the Christian Church in town. I had lived here my entire life, I knew of the church but had never set foot in it before. When we walked through the double doors, my eyes went straight up to this breath taking vaulted ceiling, with these wood beams, and wood work like none other! The stain-glass windows, the pews, the hardwood flooring. It was beautiful! Mr. Earl was strutting around showing us all the details, he was so proud of this church. Then I saw the heart ache when we noticed all the water damage, the mold, the cracks in the walls. It had been setting empty for almost 10 years, and the effects were becoming worse with each passing year.
As we made our way back to the fellowship hall of the church, there, amongst papers and books and stacked chairs and tables, was a huge sign. On the sign was a picture of a giant coffee cup. I froze in my tracks as I looked at it. Mr. Earl said that the sign was over 50 yrs. old and he really hadn't paid attention to it even being there. To me, it was my confirmation from God. This was it. As we entered the doorway to the fellowship hall, it was as if a slideshow went off in my mind. I can't describe the feeling that came over me at that moment. I could literally see tables, chairs, a coffee station, I could hear people talking, I could actually feel it as well. It was no doubt God showing me this beautiful scene. As we walked outside Mr. Earl told us how he would have to tear the church down, if he didn't find someone to take it. I was in serious doubt, I won't lie, I didn't know about the money issue, and if we could even afford the church. He looked at me and said we could have it for $1. I was speechless. God- you are too good!! How jaw dropping this moment was. So, moving forward with the story, we are now the owners of this church. I have to mention this too, we had a wedding in the Christian church in January. Another- Miracle moment.
We were working on getting the church recognized on the National Register, so a grant could help with funding for the roof and brick repair. For this is no small expense. Wow!!
As I began diving into the register process, I knew it would be no easy task. I had no experience at this, had no resources to turn to, except one. I started praying, and asking God, just help me here dear friend. Help me find the way through this. Here is where Miracles started to occur that literally blew me away!
I am not a brave person, I don't like to ask strangers questions, but God kept telling me to call, just call the people in Frankfort and find someone to help. So I did. I shook off the nervous jitters, and I got in touch with a man named Marty Perry. I didn't sugar coat anything, I told him the situation, how it was in need of urgent repair, and then I told him this " God gave us this church, we want it to be used not just as a coffee shop, but something greater, a place for young and old to intermingle. This is a place for us to reach out to our community and we want our little town to grow! everyone who enters will feel loved. This is just the beginning, God has big things in store, and I can't wait to see what else he is going to do here!" There was silence on the other end of the line, I actually thought I lost him....then he spoke and said " I've never said this to anyone before, but I'm a man of faith myself. Do not get wrapped up in the beauty of your building, for it is what you are going to do on the inside that matters most. " I was in tears at that moment. I knew God had connected me with this man for a reason. He assisted me with the form and we got to a point in the process where we were to part ways now. I was nervous to move forward without his assistance, but he sent me an email. In it he said, " Do not give up, so many people give up at this point in the process. You must stay with it, ask for help from anyone you can find, if you know of an architect that can help you with wording, that would be helpful on this next part. Just always stay on course and do not give up. "
That very week, It was on a Saturday, my husband John had gone on a service call and was heading back to our shop in Clinton, when Joel Ferguson (former member of the Christian Church) flagged him down. He handed him a piece of paper with a name and email address on it. Joel explained to John how he noticed a man had stopped at the church and was taking pictures of it. Joel asked him if he would like to see inside, and the man was eager to do so. Now all of you know how small Clinton is. How everyone from out of state bypasses the small towns. This man chose to venture through on highway 51 just to experience the small town life. He was a man that lived in Missouri and was headed through to Tennessee to a job site he was working on. He said the church caught his eye, and he just had to stop and get pictures. I bet you can't guess his occupation? He was an architect , and more impressively to the story, he was from Scotland. I immediately emailed him, for I knew that his venture to the church was not by chance. Dan Patterson, not only was brought through our town at that very moment by God, but he was another miracle that we got to witness. We always ask to see God in the physical form, his eye color, his hair color, is he tall or short? Look at what he did here, he brought a man from Scotland on the very day we needed him, to our small town of Clinton , Kentucky. When miracles such as this happen, he is among us, right in front of our faces. We witness the miracle , therefore getting to see him and how powerful he is. You never forget a miracle, and when you see one, you won't forget that feeling- it's HIM!!! It makes you crave for more and more and that is what He wants us to do! When that happens, you will be invited to see and experience his greatness like never before!! This is just the beginning of the stories we have....I will post more. God is eager for you all to see his Glory!!