During a summer rerun series titled Church Characters, I’m recalling some memorable people from decades of ministry.

The bishop appointed me to a two-point circuit after graduating from seminary. Mount Carmel was the larger of the two churches founded in 1840. The original, white clapboard sanctuary still stood, but rotten wood sills made it uninhabitable.

A new, two-story building stood next door. The congregation first completed the Sanctuary on the main level before beginning work on the education space below. The Sunday School area took another year to finish.

A congregation member named Wilmer oversaw the project. The general contractor invested countless hours into his church home. In addition to regular churchwide work days, Wilmer often worked alone on nights and weekends.

Wilmer and I came from radically different worlds. Wilmer grew up in Coweta County and possessed a high school degree. He took a conservative view of the world. I grew up in Decatur before our family moved to Woodstock. I attended college and then seminary. I must have appeared to be a flaming liberal in his eyes.

We both loved the church in general and Mount Carmel Church in particular. We sometimes agreed to disagree, but neither of us ever questioned the other’s faith and devotion.

One fall day I received a frantic call from a family member. Wilmer lost his grip on a pneumatic nail gun while framing a house. It landed atop his head, driving a nail through his skull and into the brain.

I waited long hours with the family in the Emergency Room. The doctor later told us he literally used a claw hammer to remove the nail. Despite bleak warnings about brain damage, infection, and long-term effects, Wilmer recovered completely.

I don’t believe the Lord dispenses miracles based on merit. Wilmer’s selfless work on behalf of the church PROBABLY didn’t affect his medical results.

But . . .

I cannot help but suspect that Jesus intervened in a special way for a fellow carpenter.