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Spring Hill UMC constructs Ebenezer

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Written: 9/23/2009

Spring Hill United Methodist Church erected an Ebenezer as a reminder to the congregation and those passing by the church that “thus far the Lord has helped us.” (I Samuel 7:12) This ministry had suffered through several situations that made the future seem uncertain. The struggle was difficult.

While reading scripture, Barbara Raley, the spouse of the Rev. Paul Raley, said she was reminded that in the Old Testament, Samuel set up a memorial stone on the battlefield to commemorate the victories God had given his people. Throughout the Old Testament, memorials were set up as reminders to God’s people.

The Ebenezer was built with stones and the names of members of the congregation — current and past — were written on the bottom of each one before the mortar was applied. The names cannot be seen because the glory is to God. 

God has brought the church through many challenging situations, and the members’ conviction is that he will continue to do so. The Ebenezer reminds them every time they enter the church, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”