Holy Spirit moves church to grow
GLEN BURNIE - In 2005, Solley UMC was considering its declining membership, financial crisis, aging congregation, and being the lesser part of a two-point charge.
"Feeling lost and alone, we turned to the conference for assistance...we prayed and then we prayed some more," said Dolores Deel.
Today, under the leadership of the Rev. Marion Tilghman, a black pastor in a predominantly white church, the church "become an Acts 2 congregation." It has a youth group for the first time since the 1960s. The Sunday school, which didn't exist, now has more than 20 children. The congregation is no longer only seniors.
What happened? "The Holy Spirit, of course," Deel said. "You see the Holy Spirit in (the pastor's) message and you feel it moving at Solley. We are humbled by how wonderful God is and how he has answered our prayers."
"Feeling lost and alone, we turned to the conference for assistance...we prayed and then we prayed some more," said Dolores Deel.
Today, under the leadership of the Rev. Marion Tilghman, a black pastor in a predominantly white church, the church "become an Acts 2 congregation." It has a youth group for the first time since the 1960s. The Sunday school, which didn't exist, now has more than 20 children. The congregation is no longer only seniors.
What happened? "The Holy Spirit, of course," Deel said. "You see the Holy Spirit in (the pastor's) message and you feel it moving at Solley. We are humbled by how wonderful God is and how he has answered our prayers."
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