by Cheryl Harewood

EVERY THURSDAY MORNING at 11 O'clock sharp for the past 35 years, crowds can be seen trekking their way along Bishop's Court Hill, St Michael, to People's Cathedral Church – formerly Evangel Temple.

Usually, there are those from various other churches, corporate Barbados, those on crutches, the lame, sick, or those who just want to be in an atmosphere where worship and the preached Word would lift their sunken spirits.

It's a time when work desks are vacated and worshippers meet to support and uplift each other.

It was on such a Thursday morning that the Altar Call team made its way to this long-standing Pentecostal church to be part of the People's Cathedral Miracle Service – a service started over three decades ago by church founder Reverend Dr Holmes Williams. The testimonies coming out of these services are many, according to Pastor Michael Crichlow.

The atmosphere when we entered the sanctuary was one of expectancy, as worship leader Deborah Boyce led her congregation in an understandably short but powerful worship session.

By the time Pastor Jewell Callender made her way to the pulpit, a specially requested prayer had already been made for a two-year-old child.

Stop limiting God!

This was the basis of Callender's message. Her texts came from John 11: 20-22 – the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

Callender shared on Mary's and Martha's response to Jesus' delay in reaching their brother. She told her congregation that even in seeming delays, "God is still in control".

"Both said, 'Lord, if you were here my brother would not have died'. They felt Jesus should have visited Lazarus right away.

"These women heard of Jesus' healing ministry. However, they limited Him. In their estimation He could heal, but He could not bring anyone back to life."

Pastor Callender reasoned that like Mary and Martha we often look at situations in our lives and limit God.

She preached, "God is able to do above and beyond all we think or imagine.

"The sisters believed in Jesus' pity. They felt if He had seen Lazarus He would have had compassion on Him, because they knew Jesus to be compassionate, but they limited the power of God. In their distress they forgot He could send His Word and heal.

"We are somehow like these sisters. We want Christ to be on the scene physically. We forget that all we have to do is speak the name of Jesus. God can do anything at any time. It is never too late with Him," she stated.

"No situation has gone too far that God cannot change. He can turn up, speak the Word, and turn the situation around for His glory and honour."

Callender said to her congregation: "If you believe God will raise the dead on the last day, why can't He raise your dead situation this morning?

"Nothing is impossible with God. Like Martha who finally accepted the Word of God when He raised Lazarus from the grave, we need to believe the Word of God.

"We need to come to the point where we put away every limitation and believe God for the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

Following her inspiring message, scores of worshippers heeded the altar call and made their way forward for prayer from Callender and Crichlow.

From the look of the smiling faces returning from the altar, miracles were definitely performed that day.