Henry church thankful for ‘brand-new' church van

ATLANTA — A Henry County church congregation that lost its van to thieves now has a reason to celebrate.

It's all after the church received a brand-new replacement, courtesy of the man who brought "Madea" to the big screen, Tyler Perry.

Church members told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen that it was hard for them to describe what a "blessing" the replacement van was.

Members of the Lighthouse Community Church said it is like riding in a limousine.

"It's very luxurious, and drives like a dream," said Cindy Smith, the church secretary. "Wonderful! I was nervous driving out of here but we made it."

TRENDING STORIES:

Last week, the congregation was devastated when they discovered their original van had been stolen. Pieces of broken window glass still remain in the parking lot. The church has another one just like it.

However, the church needs its van for its youth programs, making one van not enough.

The other day, however, the church secretary picked up the phone and Perry was on the other end of the line. He told her he was buying the church a new van.

“I said, what would Madea say? I want to ask Tyler Perry,” said Delores Jenkins, a member of the church. “What would Madea say in a situation like this? What would she say? Ha! Hallelujah!”

"God touched Tyler Perry's heart to do what he did," Jenkins said. "He did not have to do that but he did. God saw fit. He knew our need, so he supplied our need."

Other church members expressed their thoughts about the new van and gave thanks to Perry.

"That's a nice van (the old one), but that's a really nice van. You know, we serve a big God. I was expecting that, I was expecting another one of those," Smith said. "When I saw this van, I was totally in awe. I couldn't believe it. It was like Christmas morning."

"Thank you and God bless you," said Terry Brooks, a deacon of the church. "You're awesome."

Until the church can raise the money to build a garage, the van will be kept at a church member's home.

Cox Media Group