Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in his time.”
This scripture has come true for me. I worked with my husband as an assistant pastor for 22 years. For five of those years I carried the ministry as he battled cancer, at his end of his life on earth. He was healed twice in this journey and this third hit was the hardest. Caring for him and the church was something that seemed overwhelming and impossible. Daily, I assigned the angels to minister to my mate and to myself. I cried out for someone to reach out to you as we had lived in Savannah for two decades, ministering and loving people.
May 17, 2022, my husband, Apostle Greg Van Gorp, received his reward to heaven. The battle was so painful that I was rejoicing that he was finally pain-free.
Three years later, as I was continually pastoring and serving my church, God brought me a man that loves working for the church. He has the gift of ministry of helps. We met doing an outreach for a worldwide evangelist Tommie Zito, winning souls at Forsyth Park.
This marriage has been so beautiful, peaceful and loving. Something I’ve never experienced before. I am amazed at the joy that has filled me as together we do outreach. I never thought I could, or would love another man. I had been married 35 years and have four children with three grandchildren upon Greg‘s death. Could I really love again? Could I enjoy marriage to another?
God calmed my fears with this statement, “Donna, when you look at a rose, do you concentrate on the thorns that could hurt you, or the smell and beauty of the rose?” I said,” Lord, I look at the beauty”. “Do likewise”, He said.
Father God caused me to see that fear had no place in my future. I am to trust in the beauty God had set before me. He gave me new beginnings. This was huge to me.
I am so thankful for the Spirit of God who teaches us so gently.
Donna M Van Gorp, Chervenak