Preacher shares story of prayer kettle, promotes unity

An old kettle that slaves once used for cooking and laundry now serves as a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness, an evangelist said recently.

That’s because the time worn vessel that belonged to the Rev. Will Ford’s ancestors also was used to muffle their prayers so slave owners couldn’t hear their petitions to the Lord.

Ford’s story about his family kettle was the focus of his message of reconciliation and hope at the Unity Service on April 30 at Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39 Expressway.

Hosted by the Stronger Together OKC movement, the third annual service drew a crowd of about 200 people. It was held to promote Christian unity and reconciliation among churches of different races, denominations and locations.

Ford, of Fort Worth, Texas, told the crowd that his enslaved ancestors prayed not for their own freedom but for the liberty of their descendants.

And freedom did come for the generations that came after them.

Ford based his sermon For more information about Stronger Together OKC, go to www. strongertogetherokc.com. on the Book of Joshua, which chronicles the Israelites’ passing over the Jordan River after that body of water was parted by the Lord.

The preacher said there were some Israelites who were too young to witness the Lord parting the Red Sea in a similar fashion and thus, God told Joshua to have 12 men carry stones from the Jordan River to remind them of His continued faithfulness.

Ford said his family kettle serves as reminder that God answers prayer just as the 12 stones were to remind the Israelites of His fidelity.

“That’s what this kettle is for me— to say that the same God that would part with slavery, He will part with whatever circumstances for you,” Ford said.

Series of coincidences?

Ford said through a series of what he called “un-coincidental