Miracles Happen When People Pray and God Steps in: The Story of Countryside Baptist Church and Schools

How can a young enthusiastic, but na?ve pastor fulfills his vision for a Christian school at a time when he has a zero budget for expansion, no education in school-building, no teachers, no curriculum, no books? And what if, at a critical time of growth, the church that gave birth to the school faces devastating losses due to a historic Florida hurricane? How miracles came to play amidst enormous needs many times over is answered in this collection of brief stories of steely ambition and courageous faithfulness of praying people.

The book captures the trials and triumphs of church life over the busy lifetime of its founding pastor, who remains active in the church today as its Pastor Emeritus. Thanks to the long and ongoing leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Keith, Countryside Baptist Church in Northwest Gainesville is now homebase for a rapidly growing regional ministry that includes a sister church in the nearby town of Hawthorne; three successful Christian schools and a fourth school now under development in Hawthorne, plus a huge commitment to local, state, and global missionary services. Caring for the hungry and the needy of every description is part of the bloodstream of this thriving enterprise dedicated to the glory of God. Dr. Keith says, "The history of Countryside illustrates how a miraculous God uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results."