August 2004

When Phil and Kathy Dowdy started Albemarle Resource Center in 2000, they helped feed and clothe about 50 families a month. As the donations from individuals and organizations became more generous, they were able to help more people in need. They now reach over 500 families, which impacts over 1,200 individuals every month. As word spread and their ministry evolved, they found that operating costs climbed. Safe storage required refrigerators and freezers; high volume required extra storage and a forklift, donations of food, clothing and hygiene products had to be transported to their facility. Pastor Phil says, “Our need was outweighing our resources.” Just when they were wondering where those resources would come from, God stepped in.

Last year Paul and Donna Cox ( www.aslansplace.com ) had ministered at New Life Family Center, where Phil and Kathy Dowdy pastor in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Earlier in 2004 the Coxes extended an invitation to Phil and Kathy to serve as host pastors at their International Forum on Healing in Ontario, California. There were 467 registrants from all over the world. Phil says, “We were humbled to be asked to serve as host pastors.” On the second night of the conference, Rich Marshall (author of God @ Work ) was ministering on breaking the spirit of poverty. Afterwards offerings were brought forward and laid on the altar. To their amazement, Paul Cox called Kathy and Phil up to the platform, smiled, and told the crowd, “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but the Lord told me whatever offerings came in tonight are to go to the Dowdys to help the poor in Elizabeth City.” Later in the evening, Rich Marshall approached Pastor Phil and said, “Brother if this doesn’t stir up your faith I don’t know what will.” Over $17,000 had been received and $2,000 more pledged!

Incredibly, that same night a man spoke briefly to Phil and said he wanted to give him his “baby.” When Phil relates this story, he laughs, in his deep baritone voice, and says he was greatly relieved to find out that the man was talking about a car. Phil explains, “We never connected again and I didn’t know if he meant a Volkswagen Beetle or a Hummer.” Through emails he discovered that the gift was a Subaru SVX sports car. Friends of Pastor Phil have since driven it from Florida and presented it to him in North Carolina. “What a blessing, says Phil, and the interesting thing is, since April, six cars have been given to members of our congregation. And we are a congregation of only about 150!”

When the Dowdys had planned to build a church facility in Elizabeth City they intended to put it on 6 acres in a suburban area. However, the Lord redirected them to their current location, downtown, and told them he was calling them to the poor.  Phil says that he felt like this outpouring of blessing in California was God's stamp of approval on their ministry.  "It was such an emotional night.  Tears of joy streamed down our faces, as we never dreamed this would happen, especially not 3,000 miles away from our church, on the other side of the country.  Kathy and I were overwhelmed at God's goodness."