Our Father

By Evant Moten

As people, we survive, provide, and overcome. Challenges are issued, promises are announced, love is expectable, and romance is hopeful. Failure is seeking whom it may devour, and if you give it a home, it will flourish throughout your body like cancer. It will become healthfully fatal.

Rise up with the positivity, step out on peace, and dust yourself off. Every day, tell yourself each day is a beginning, for the eyes of the Lord are forever present, and we can make it with our Father.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781640793750

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Our Father

Evant Moten

ISBN 978-1-64079-374-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64079-375-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Evant Moten

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

About the Author

Chapter 1

Better Revival Center was a small church in what most locals considered the worst neighborhood in North Tyler, a medium-size town in the heart of East Texas. For years, all the growth of this Piney Woods town had happened on the south side. North Tyler became the old and less than wealthy side of town. It was a place where you had to walk around armed during the day and be at home before the sun set to make sure your home and belongings were secure before night fell.

Children would play happily during the day at the local playground, parks, or church events, but only under the close supervision of their parents, who knew that pedophiles possibly lurked at every corner. Pedophiles who eagerly watched for little girls who might wander off from the watchful eyes of loving parents, or little boys who might try to push the limits and be disobedient to the very people trying to keep them safe.

Drugs seem to be a problem experienced by all neighborhoods. But it was exponentially worse in this part of town. Parents constantly fought with their young teenage sons who walked the streets day and night, every possible season, in climate or fair weather.

Parents always feared two possibilities: either their sons would start using drugs or, possibly worse, get drawn into the falsely presumed glamour of big money by selling drugs. Either route could take their children from them forever.

And of course, there were gangs—gangs involved in all the drug activities as well as fights, robberies, and murders. The kids growing up here had to fight for their education at every turn. Lessons were learned on the bus to and from school. Not school lessons but life lessons.

Different life lessons were learned in the cafeteria, in the hallways of the schools, and even in going home after school. Once home, they had to block out all the life lessons thrust upon them to be able to study their school lessons, and be able to pass and hopefully graduate and move to a better life.

But their parents did not want any of them to leave the neighborhood the way it was. They had hopes and dreams that the near-grown children would not leave before fighting to make it a better neighborhood for the children coming up behind them. The parents believed in better and still held pride in the neighborhood. They remembered what it was like when they were young, when it was safe and when it flourished. They still embraced the notion of Don't mess with Texas. Remember that if you decide to visit this neighborhood.

Soon the neighborhood was blessed with a deputy who had grown up in the neighborhood and had come back to do what he could to roam the area and protect his friends and family. There was also a new sheriff over the whole town who proved to be for all the people and against all the problems. He informed all the drug dealers, gang members, and prostitutes that their time of running things was coming to an end immediately. His philosophy was You can do what you believe in, but if it violates the law, causes vandalism, bodily harm, or disrupts the citizens under my watch, I have a home for you downtown in the county jail, where you can think things over.

Things began to improve markedly. Gang activity was down. Prostitutes were finding other areas to sell their services, and drug dealers were running more scarcely.

One facet that had not changed was racism. There seemed to be an abundance of it in Tyler. With the neighborhood changing over the years, most stores and small businesses had closed. This forced the predominantly black population to have to travel to other parts of town to buy groceries and handle daily life, such as doctor's appointments.

Broadway was the main street out of the neighborhood, and it ran right through the main square of town. Nonblack residents would sit with their cars parked on the square, and when a black person drove through, they threw bottles of urine at their cars and called them inappropriate names. It seemed to escalate during the week of the rival football game between the two Tyler schools.

While there was still much work to be accomplished, no one could argue that the new sheriff had made great strides in improving the conditions of the neighborhood. So when he asked for a little more time, it was no surprise he was overwhelmingly reelected. He organized a task force, significantly increased the number of patrolling officers.

Finally, anyone could walk downtown; whether you were Hispanic, black, or white, it did not matter. The Tyler police department was solving problems and making the kids of the neighborhood feel safe again to be able to play at the local parks and playgrounds without fear of violence. Parents were still watchful but were much more at ease.

The police department asked the neighborhood to get involved with them and take steps to make things better so that the graduating kids would not feel the need to escape, but would maintain a sense of pride and desire to raise their families there.

This was how the Better Revival Center Church came to be. Pastor Cortez and his wife built a church on Carter Boulevard right in the heart of the most problematic neighborhood in North Tyler.

Pastor Cortez felt the people would stop their issues if they had somewhere positive to go. Our Father—that is, the one in heaven—would be their rescue. The church was very difficult to build because funds were very low, but he continued because he knew in his heart this was something God wanted and He would provide for it.

As there was not enough money for new lumber, Pastor Cortez tore down an abandoned house and used the lumber from it to erect God's house. He stated, Because of our Father who gave us the vision and the strength, we now have a church. To God be the glory!

It became a beacon for those who were lost. Prostitutes, drug dealers, homeless people, and outcasts flocked to the new church in the neighborhood. In order to be able to reach the largest number of people, Pastor Cortez had built a bullhorn outside the building connected to a 100 watt Amp; it was like an air broadcast network because you could hear it for miles. Many people could hear everyone from inside the church praising God.

Pastor Cortez spent his ministry training many men whose only hope before had been a future in the Smith County jail system. He also trained many ladies, young and old, who previously held little to no hope for their futures. His efforts were blessed by God, and through him, many people turned their lives around and started to live for their Lord and Savior.

As he grew older and fell ill, he was appreciative of the work God had allow him to do during his lifetime, and was glad he had obeyed his God and Father. After a short time, he succumbed to his illness and passed peacefully away, but not before leaving the torch in his wife's capable hands with the assistance of some of his most faithful member.

She held the community in her heart, giving clothes and food to the needy. Being there for her congregation members whenever needed, and prayed continuously for the homeless. Because of her love and caring, the neighborhood peacefully formed into a family/retirement community.

Before long, the wood in the building began to crumble and light fixtures began to fade. The First Lady knew the church did not have the funds for repairs, so she felt led by God to take out personal loans to cover the costs of repairs. She desired the lighthouse of God that shines as the beacon of hope for the neighborhood to remain lit so that all who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be fed.

She soon felt her time was drawing near. She was getting a little older, weaker, and more tired. She felt blessed abundantly by God that they had managed to find a new pastor for her to pass the torch to.

Soon, more repairs were needed, and the First Lady was faced with choosing between fixing God's house or losing her house and everything she owned. She chose once again to repair God's house, knowing it would cost her everything she had. A very short time later, she was called home and joined hands with God and went to heaven for her reward.

The new pastor continued the fight against all the odds, stood for what was right, and had faith in God. He taught, Live the way you will in heaven. Love ye one another. If you are called, answer the call of God. Be faithful to his work. God will open the gates of heaven and provide unbelievable blessings.

But as in all things, the church began to fade. Restoration became impossible. The need to rebuild was necessary but the pastor's life was being called by God until soon he was in God's army of angels. The eldest minister carried the torch for a short term, but he soon walked through the pearly gates, and then the