When the Rev. Paul Hollingsworth stepped up to the pulpit to preach Sunday morning, he realized a dream had come true.

Liberty Bible Church of God on Veteran’s Memorial Parkway in Winchester opened its doors to the public for the first time this past Sunday.

Not knowing just what to expect in attendance for their first service, the parishioners were excited to see their sanctuary was full of people for their very first service.

It had been a journey for this to happen. You see, Liberty Bible Church of God was founded four years ago. Services began on Sunday evenings at the Hampton Inn for a while. Then they moved to the old George Rogers Clark High School and later to the new high school after it was completed. This is where the services took place until this past Sunday.

For a long time, nothing ever seemed to fall in place as to where a new church should be constructed. Every time a place was brought up, it just did not seem that everyone could agree.

Until one day, one of the members was driving on the veterans parkway as someone was erecting a “For Sale” sign on the property. He immediately called the pastor to tell him and negotiations soon began. From that time on, everyone was in agreement as to where to build their church.

So, in the late fall of 2015, the ground was cleared and Liberty Bible Church of God was begun.

Since then, it seemed like everything has been working like a well-oiled machine. As Bob and Phyllis Spence, members of the church, were driving by on Sept. 29, 2016, looking at the church being constructed, a huge rainbow appeared just over the church construction.

They could not help but think that it was God’s way of telling them everything was going to be alright.

The only thing that has a drawback is getting their pastor well.

You see, Bro. Hollingsworth has been living with stage-four colon cancer during the entirety of the building of the new church. He has spent many hours at Vanderbilt University for treatment for his cancer and is now going through a trial study for his treatement.

Paul Hollingsworth is so excited about the future of his church, but he is in need of prayer to get through this cancer. He is still taking care of the needs of his church at this time and is still taking chemotherapy treatments.

As I discussed his cancer with him, he said he wanted me to know that a song comes to his mind about his cancer and I can agree since I, too, have had stage-four cancer — some days are diamonds and some days are stones, but for him, not all days are stones. He does not consider himself as suffering from cancer in the least. He considers himself living with cancer.

He has great hopes for the future of his church congregation, the community surrounding his church and beyond.

He has reached one major hurdle in his life, and we wish God’s blessing on him and his church to continue on in their march for Christ.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.