Member Testimonies

A few years after I came to Otter Creek, I was unemployed for a period of time. One Sunday morning, Charlie Armstrong, one of our elders who was also known as the “Candy Man”, came to me and asked if he could talk to me for a minute. We sat down at the front of the building and Charlie told me that he understood that I didn’t have a job, and he wanted to know if Otter Creek could help financially or in other ways. I told him that between my savings, my parents and my brother that I was okay financially, but that I appreciated him asking. He then said, “Paulette, don’t ever be embarrassed to tell us that you need help – that’s why we’re here.”

I didn’t know Charlie very well before that time, but I knew that day that he was a great Christian man and wonderful elder. I’ll never forget Charlie and his wonderful caring way of telling me that the folks at Otter Creek loved me and wanted to help me. I knew then that Otter Creek was the place that I wanted and needed to be, and I still feel that way 25 years later.

Paulette Fewell

I have been taking care of sick kids since 1990 from Saint Jude’s, LeBonheur, T. C. Thompson’s Children’s, UT Knoxville, Saint Thomas to Vanderbilt, but in all of those years I have never experienced what happened the night of Nathan Fite’s accident. I rushed to the surgical suite at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital where I go to find Phil and Patti, but instead I find every one of our Elders that I knew, Tim Woodroof, and Tony Arnold on knees huddled around Phil in a private room. This wasn’t just an appearance, they stayed at his side, and at times they held Phil up and steadied him. The other doctors, nurses and staff knew that this was something very special as God’s power was revealed. The Elders made sure that Phil, Patti, Bailey and Nathan all understood that they were there with them and for them. They took each step that Nathan took, and now see him run!!! I have never been prouder of my church, our Elders and in awe of my God.

Tim Mangrum