By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

“Father David is in need of a vehicle,” I announced during the “Prayers of the People,” on Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly, the congregation burst into applause knowing that a wonderful story lay behind that simple announcement.

David A. Jones moved to Georgia several years ago having spent most of his life in the American West. An English major with a degree from the University of Arizona, David also had a love of and a gift for music. He had produced one album of Christian music prior to the move east and would compose and produce a second album, “True Music,” in the mid-1990s. David would lead a music group called “The Walkway” and, together, they would eventually tour Ireland, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in music and song.

Life was both good and rewarding. By day, David worked in the printing industry while Pat, his wife, served in the home health care field. They had four children, a married daughter and three sons. All of the sons still lived at home while they attended college and high school. But their settled life was about to undergo a dramatic change.

As the autumn of 1996 approached, Jones was preparing to serve as the minister of worship for a new church mission in Peachtree City, Ga. Christ the King Church was unusual in that it would be a blend of sacramental, evangelical, and even charismatic elements. Jones was to lead the new congregation in worship and was to train the musicians and singers that would form the worship team.

The first service was held on the second Sunday of September and anticipation was high. Some 40 to 50 people gathered for the inaugural service and, initially, things went well. The musicians and singers blended perfectly with the small congregation to fill the borrowed chapel with sounds of praise. Soon, however, it became apparent that something was wrong.

After a few minutes into the service, the music faltered and stumbled slightly. Pat, sensing that something was wrong with her husband, approached him during a time of prayer and realized that she had to move fast. Quickly, Pat escorted David to her car and rushed him to the hospital. There, she learned the terrible news... David Jones, in his early 40s had suffered a massive stroke during the early part of the service. Life was about to change.

As the effects of the stroke became known, it became evident that David was unable to return to his profession as a printer. Because of the effects on his vision and perception, he was also unable to drive a vehicle. For four months, September through December, he struggled to recover as the worship team limped along without his tremendous talent.

He continued to pray, however. He also continued to study the scriptures, to play his guitar, and, when able, to write music. In January of 1997, he rejoined the worship team as a singer. In February, he resumed his duties as minister of worship. The effect of his return was electrifying.

Possibly as a result of his being so close to death, one worship team member said, “It's like David has one ear close to the mouth of God.” A few weeks later, the provincial archbishop visited the church and was so impressed with the music ministry under Jones' leadership that he issued a coveted invitation for the worship team to lead in worship at the Southeast Regional Convocation. Prior to that time, only the worship team from the archbishop's own church had led worship at a provincial convocation.

Still unable to work, David threw himself into study and applied for Holy Orders in his denomination. Eventually he was ordained as a deacon.

He continued to compose songs and, at the 1999 Convocation of the Georgia Diocese in Atlanta, David and the Christ the King worship team presented a powerful worship experience called, “The Bishop's Mass.”

Without doubt, the quality of the music written since September 1996 is more awe-inspiring, more in-depth, and more powerful than anything written prior to that time. “The Bishop's Mass” is currently in the studio under production and will arguably be Jones' greatest production thus far.

In September 1999, David Jones became Father David Jones as he was ordained by the Right Reverend John W. Holloway into the priesthood in Christ's “One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.”

A few months ago, Jones began working for a sign company and, this month, he will begin an effort to establish a mission station in Hogansville/Troup County, while, at the same time, continuing his duties at the Peachtree City church. He has a vision to bring the Table of the Lord, or Holy Eucharist, to the Hogansville area and also has a desire to minister to Troup County's poor and forgotten. He understands, more than most, what it means to be in need. He will have to spend a great amount of time in the Hogansville area and that is why he needs a vehicle.

But the spontaneous applause of those crowded into the sanctuary a few days ago was not because Father Jones needed a car. No, more than that, the congregation that has loved and prayed for Jones and his family since the first day of the founding of the church when the stroke occurred, cheered for a man who has been faithful during the most difficult period of his life. Jones has not just prevailed, he has flourished.

The applause was given to honor Father Jones' persistence and courage. But the tears that were shed by many that morning were in recognition that, during the last three and a half years, the congregation has borne witness to a wonderful phenomenon. David Jones needs a vehicle because he is able to drive again. And some just might call that a miracle.

[Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church. He may be contacted online at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com].

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