THE CROSSROADS
OF HISTORY AND VISION
Write the vision and engrave it
so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes by may be able to read
it easily and quickly as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an
appointed time and it hastens to the fulfillment; it will not deceive or
disappoint.
Wait earnestly for it, because
it will not be behind on its appointed day. Habakkuk 2
TAMPA UNITY CHURCH HAS A RICH
HISTORY. It all started in 1928 with a small group of people, dedicated
to studying truth principles. They called themselves the First Unity
Society. In those early years, they rented a meeting place. Later, they
purchased land and built a church building at the corner of North “B”
Street and Brevard Avenue, very close to the University of Tampa.
Their first minister was Rev. Ruby
Wagner, who was ordained in 1944 and remained until her retirement in
1972. The church then hired Rev. Ross Goodman, who served until his
retirement in January 1997. After a seven- month interim ministry by
Rev. Alfie St. Tours, I was hired as the third minister to serve our
church in about 70 years. This year we celebrate our 80th year with only
three ministers! This is very unique among churches of any denomination.
As Divine Order unfolded in the
development of our church, people stepped forward and made a significant
difference in meeting the vision of the people. I dare not mention
names, because I would most likely overlook someone. Suffice it to say
that when the need arose, people tithed their time, talents, and
treasure to serve this church. Many of them are still around.
So, don’t you think we should
celebrate? We are in the very early stages of planning a Founder’s Day
Celebration on Sunday, November 9 – mark your calendars! We would like
to get in touch with everybody who has ever attended Tampa Unity to come
and celebrate with us, enjoy a little walk down memory lane and maybe
some music and an old fashioned barbeque lunch in the courtyard. Do you
know someone we should invite or do you have some ideas or thoughts
about what would be meaningful? Contact Debbie, me, or the office.
Lo, those many years ago, some
people had a vision and that vision came to fruition.
Proverbs 29:18: Where there is
no vision, the people perish…
And where there is a vision, the
people thrive, for whatever thoughts we hold in mind, produce after
their kind.
Tampa Unity is a thriving church,
filled with visions and ideas for the present and the future. Recently,
our Vision Teams met, facilitated by our own professional trainer Nancy
Mercurio. Under her guidance, the individual teams reviewed and
re-energized their visions. I invite you to join these creative,
inspired, passionate people and participate in the creation of our
future. If you don’t know which Vision Team to join, talk to Debbie or
me, and we will discuss them with you, so that you can find the right
and perfect place to serve.
We have so much to be thankful for
and we should affirm that God is our Source! We shall not want!
Our vision is written and engraved on the consciousness of abundance.
And in the words of Habakkuk: For the vision is yet for an appointed
time and it hastens to the fulfillment; it will not deceive or
disappoint.
May God Richly and Abundantly Bless You!
Rev Allen Moss
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