The news came quietly as the physical struggles Elvis Hester had been dealing with for decades, continued to weaken his body. Most likely, other men would have died a long time previously, but Elvis was a fighter. Even when undergoing three and four hour session of dyalysis several times a week, he had used that time to pray, study and call members who were sick, to pray with them.He made every effort to stay here as long as possible in order to be a light for Christ. He left this life early Wednesday morning at age 73. To the very end, he did all he could to continue sharing the love of Christ; internet, Facebook, blog and personal phone calls.In younger days, when stationed in Saudi Arabia where Christianity is outlawed, Elvis conducted Bible studies, sometimes at great risk. At one time, he also worked with NASA, but his heart was ministry. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force.Elvis was not named for the popular singer from Mississippi. His father, Elvis, was born long before Elvis Presley became popular. But the preacher Elvis, could play and sing too. He combined that talent with his intense desire to share God's Word. One of his favorite Scriptures was Philippines 1:21, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” It was in the small town of Morrow, GA, located about 12-15 miles South of the Atlanta Airport, that people throughout the South side of Atlanta, began to learn of the inspiring ministry of Elvis Hester and his incredibly talented wife Rita. Dedicated people had led the COG in Morrow previously, but the area had not been an easy one in which to build a strong congregation.Over the years, the ministry of Elvis Hester and his family began to take hold in Morrow. Under his guidance, the Church of God there began to show growth. Elvis and Rita were used of God to win people to Christ, and to increase respect for the Church of God.Since the congregation sought to reach out to the community, a combination Gymnasium / Fellowship Hall, was built on the property in Morrow. However, as the congregation continued to grow, it became necessary to use that larger structure as the worship center. With Elvis leading the way, the Morrow COG became a powerhouse of worship. The services were joyous with dynamic singing and preaching. After each service, the altar area was usually filled with people seeking the Lord. The regular church choir and the youth choir, led by Barry Garland, helped set the tone for worship. In a lifetime, one can hear a lot of choirs, but at Morrow, it was not just musical technique. It was a worship choir; fiery, ecstatic, powerful. And Elvis preached with all that was within him. Every Church of God minister who enjoys “the move” of the Holy Ghost and joyous worship, would have loved it at Morrow. None of this happened overnight. It came about after years of exhausting work, prayer, faithful service and continuously sowing the Gospel seed. In addition to her regular duties as a minister's wife, Rita headed up the video outreach. Just like everything she did for the Lord, Rita wanted it done the best way possible. Her team taped the Morrow services and broadcast them on local cable television. Soon, even the large Gymnasium / Fellowship Hall was overflowing. It was at capacity. The Morrow congregation began looking around for a larger facility. About 10 miles South of Morrow, Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church, was building a new facility. Their church on Highway 42, located almost halfway between Stockbridge and McDonough, was for sale. The cost was $4.6 million. In an attempt to reach more people, the Morrow COG, with approval of COG denominational leadership at both the state and general levels, borrowed the money and bought the Eagle's Landing facility.Things went well there too for a time. The boom in attendance continued. The services were still joyous. The choirs were still dynamic, and the altar area was usually full. But after the newness began to wear off, and the financial burden began to weigh in, some people left. Every pastor has had people leave. All pastors understand how that feels. When some people left the Lord Jesus and “walked with Him no more,” it was so painful to Him that it is recorded in the Bible.Elvis bravely held on as long as he could but with major health issues, and some internal issues at church continuing, he felt it best for the church that he step down as pastor. It is most likely one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching decisions he and Rita ever made. Chris Vaughn led the church for three years and did a good job, but even before he became pastor, the Church of God State Office was picking up a large percentage of of the church payment. Finally, after delaying as long as they could, the State Office decided it was best to sell the property. Through the efforts of Jim Bolin, Pastor of Trinity Chapel on the Northwest side of Atlanta, an African American church in the McDonough area, assumed the debt. They chose the name, “Tabernacle of Praise Church International.” www.topci.org/Some members of the former Eagle's Landing COG, went with Chris Vaughn to start a church. It is known as Grace Summit. Others began worshiping in the smaller facility the Tabernacle of Praise, had vacated. A minister from Trinity Chapel COG, was chosen to serve as pastor there. The Tabernacle of Praise Church, has grown phenomenally. On most Sundays, if someone arrives late, it would be difficult for them to find a place to park. When church lets out, traffic officers direct traffic. Church lets out late there on Sunday, so from personal experience, traffic from the church causes Highway 42 to become clogged with cars, and there can be a long wait.It was a hero of faith named Elvis Hester, who envisioned the Eagle's Landing property to be full and running over with worshipers, just like it was where he had pastored in Morrow, GA. His heart burned with the desire to reach more people for Christ. That longing to be a blessing, that longing to reach more people, motivated him (and Church of God officials), to attempt something great for God. Guess what. Though there were some trials along the way, the vision Elvis Hester had, has come to pass probably greater than he envisioned. Several miracles have come from what Elvis Hester and the Morrow Church of God initiated by taking that major leap of faith. It happened differently than they had thought. However, as Elvis foresaw, the Eagle's Landing property is indeed packed out every Sunday with hundreds and hundreds of people worshiping the Lord. Grace Summit Church where Chris Vaughan pastors, has seen good growth in an excellent worship facility. The former Eagle's Landing members who now worship in the facility the Tabernacle of Praise vacated, are growing in number too. od has turned a test into a testimony. Much good has come, and is coming, from the bold faith Elvis and Rita Hester had to reach people for Christ.In our area, and probably any other area where they have ministered, Elvis Hester, his wife Rita, and their children, are heroes of the Faith. Their years of faithful ministry in Morrow, GA, and their heart-felt desire to reach even more people for Christ, is highly respected in this area. Sunday afternoon at 3pm, family and friends of Elvis Hester will have a Memorial service in his honor. The service will be held at the Tabernacle of Praise Church, formerly Eaqle's Landing Church of God, located at 1640 GA-Hwy 42, McDonough, GA
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