Witness, Share and Evangelize: Pastor's Life

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Pastor's Life - A Leap of Faith

A Leap of Faith
by Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill

She was desperate, disillusioned, and distraught. To make matters worse, she was down to nothing. She is known as the widow of Zarephath, and all she had left was a handful of flour and a little olive oil in a jar. With just enough flour and oil for one last meal, there is no telling what would have happened to her and her son if God had not sent Elijah to Zarephath.

Why Zarephath? Of all the places God could have sent Elijah, why Zarephath? In Hebrew, Zarephath means “refinery”. Is it possible that God sent Elijah to Zarephath, the refining place, to prepare Elijah for the next season of his life? I believe so. In my experience, I’ve discovered that God uses seasons of refining to prepare us for what’s to come in our lives.

The Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill serves as the Associate General Presbyter for the Presbytery of Charlotte. She also serves as a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve. Previously, Dr. Ridgill served as the organizing pastor of New Faith Presbyterian Church, a 1001 new worshipping community that made history in 2015 by becoming the first African American Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation in the entire county of Greenwood, South Carolina. Dr. Ridgill is the author of Maximizing the Meantime: Feasting on God in Times of Famine, an inspirational book that helps readers navigate the uncomfortable interim between now and next.

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