When Church Is Miraculously Moved (Illustration: 7606)
The faith that moves mountains is borne out by the church that was moved by the Hand of God. Such a church stands to this day in the village of Swan Quarter, North Carolina. Before it was built in 1874 the congregation eyed with longing a desirable plot of ground but was unable to purchase it for reasons deemed adequate by the owner of the land. The disappointed assemblage thereupon erected the structure on an alternative site—but could not forbear to cast longing glances at the original location.
Two years after the building was completed, on September 17, 1876, a storm of great violence struck the countryside. Pelting rain, a raging wind and roaring tide combined. The Church building was lifted up by the elements as if it had been a scrap of paper. It was airborne a distance of 300 feet, and although its path was not straight, it found its mark with unerring accuracy.
The House of God came to rest upon the exact plot of ground which the worshippers had so ardently desired. The congregation saw this as a sign of divine transfer which awed and thrilled the village and even stilled the objections of the owners.
Its name has been changed from Methodist Protestant to the Church of Providence (Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979)
From a sermon by Matthew Kratz, The Sign of the Savior, 12/7/2009