Her husband, Gary, was never discouraging though he was not a regular churchgoer. But God was tugging on him, too. Gary is now an ordained minister and works hand-in-hand with his wife. “The Lord began to let me know that was not what I was supposed to be doing, that there was more. Of course, I was trying to take the easy route,” she says, referring to the bible study. The group began praying for direction, which led Maxwell to return to Jameson School of Theology, where she had studied and taught. The small group started holding church at the
“Everything that I did in the world, the Lord turned it around and used it for the church, only he made it better.” Myra Maxwell
meant to be a two-bedroom apartment. Not being affiliated with a denomination meant having access to fewer resources. “We weren’t achieving and accomplishing what God had called us to,” Maxwell says. She sought help from a woman she knew in the Methodist church to find that she no longer was in that position. Instead, she spoke to a woman whose boss was over new ministries. Within a few months, Maxwell’s church was approved as a United Methodist Church. Restoration relocated from west Philadelphia to its current south Philadelphia home. During this time, Maxwell began working as a parttime court advocate with Southwest Victim Services. Within three years, she was director of the program. “But I felt like there was more,” she says as a smile illuminates her face. “I wanted to be very Myra Maxwell became a member of God’s Grace Music Ministry at serving as rounded in the field so I took a position with the singing group’s fan club president. the City of Philadelphia working with school once a month on a Sunday evening. juveniles. All the time, my passion was to A tragedy suffered by a person at the school connect ministry with victim services.” prompted Maxwell to take action. In turn, her This time, the more was Favor Ministry, now blossoming church was blessed. Maxwell FAVOR International, Inc., a nonprofit whose organized a benefit concert for a woman who purpose was to promote healing and was burned out of her home. The concert was restoration by connecting ministries with held at St. Peter’s Church of God, also in various agencies, programs and services for Philadelphia, and featured God’s Grace crime victims. Ministry, of which Maxwell was fan club Her efforts with Favor caught the attention of president. a woman who was writing a proposal for a The pastor of the church agreed to allow three-year grant and needed input from Maxwell to use the sanctuary two Sundays a someone on the role of the faith community in month for afternoon service. Soon, the pastor helping victims of crime. The grant was offered the space whenever St. Peter’s had no awarded to the effort and Maxwell was hired as afternoon service, which was most Sundays. project director. Before long, God’s Grace called on Maxwell “There are spiritual issues when you are to fill in for a singer who was in the hospital. traumatized by any crime. There are people CONNECT “Singing has always been a way of healing for who are saying I hate God because they feel me. One of my favorite songs is His Eye Is On like God is responsible for it,” she explains. FAVOR International The Sparrow. It says, ‘I sing because I’m happy.’ Always wanting to offer her best in service to And usually when I’m happy, I am singing. Restoration Worship God, Maxwell, who holds a doctorate of Center, UMC Singing makes me happy, but singing has been divinity degree, is currently studying for a the source of a great amount of healing for me,” second bachelor degree, this time in human God’s Grace Maxwell says. “Gospel music is turning on a service management, to keep her skills sharp. different type of love song.” When asked how she fits everything into a 24Restoration continued growing and relocated hour day, she pauses then says, “The scripture two doors away from St. Peter’s in what was comes to mind, ‘my grace is sufficient.’” 7
PROCLAIM NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com