"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 [email protected] or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com ].