I Will Build My Church

Abraham's servant rejoiced after God led him to Isaac's wife Rebekah: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. Roy Blackwood's mother died at the age of three. As a child, he was frequently "getting in the way." Roy's Aunt left her career in teaching and dedicated her life to rearing Roy. She taught Roy how to "get in the way of the Lord" much like Abraham's servant did. One way she taught Roy how to get in the way of God was through the memorization of chapters from the Bible. One chapter Roy learned as a child was Psalm 19: "The heavens declare the glory of God."  During World War II, Roy was the navigator on an air craft carrier, Petrof Bay. Using only the stars to navigate, Roy grew to understand Psalm 19 better. Petrof Bay saw significant action during World War II. The carrier supported U.S. forces during the securing of Okinawa and dodged kamikaze pilots throughout the war. During Roy Blackwood's last year of college, he realized he needed to listen to God in the same way he listened to his captain in the Navy as he navigated Petrof Bay. Through God's work in Roy's heart, he gradually came to want whatever Christ most wanted as opposed to what he wanted.  During Roy's time as pastor of the Second Reformed Presbyterian Church, God used the church to plant many other churches. Yet, Roy never planned for any of the multiplication which showed him clearly how it was God's doing. Roy continues to give any credit for church growth to God and says in much the same way Abraham's servant said, "I being in the way, the Lord led me."