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SHELBY– The City of Shelby is not taking anything for granted. One year ago the city opened a new state-of-the-art fire station with a baptism by fire. That day the station was dedicated after a local entrepreneur foot the bill for the entire facility.
Sunday night the community gathered at the station for a Thanksgiving service, this time to count its blessings. Shelby City Fire Chief Mike Thompson says he has never heard of a fire station hosting a community Thanksgiving service before.
“The City of Shelby has a lot to be thankful for. Grant Milliron paid for this entire fire station. Mr. Milliron is a religious man and he told us the LORD had laid it on his heart to bless the community with this fire station.”
According to the Fire Chief, this year no fatalities associated to fires occurred in Shelby and surrounding Jackson and Sharon Townships.
“In 2018, the department made 1,770 runs and responded to forty-seven fires, including 13 house fires. There were also 1,227 emergency medical service calls,” says Thompson.
In response to the faithful service of the department, a core group of ten pastors from the Shelby Ministerial Association decided to coordinate the Thanksgiving event and bless the fire department staff.
“We decided to give all 27 employees fifty dollar gift certificates to Outback Steakhouse to enjoy with their families,” says Association President, Pastor Kevin Evans.
During the service, keynote speaker Chaplain Dan Gates described how he keeps a department pager on his person to pray for the fire department whenever they get called to action. With emergencies like the recent floods and this past spring’s tornado, Gates called the firemen “indispensible servants in Shelby.”
“Your sirens signal that help is on the way,” Gates said.
Several songs were sung by those in attendance including “We Gather Together,” and “Give Thanks.”
According to Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley, “It was great to participate in tonight’s service celebrating the work of the Shelby Fire Department. Their work in rescuing those in danger provides an image of GOD’s work of redemption.”
Trailblazer Grant Milliron may not have envisioned the fire station he paid for serving as the location of a community Thanksgiving service.
Ironically, it was Milliron who read from Psalms 118 at last year’s dedication: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” He later emphatically stated “I want everybody to know, this fire station is dedicated to the Heavenly Father-He was the master of this project.”
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
That day Milliron explained to the crowd seated in the packed garage bays, “I have four things I try to accomplish each day. First, how can I serve the LORD? Then how can I serve my family? And how can I serve my company? Lastly, how can I serve my community?”
Shelby Mayor Reverend Steve Schag noted that when Grant and GOD get together, great things happen.
Schag commented with tongue in cheek, “We as a people must never forget the phrase ‘Paid in full.'” The audience applauded the pinpoint accuracy of the statement with its spiritual undertones.
One year later the applause was for the fire department and to Heaven.
Chief Thompson adds, “It was great seeing the different church denominations come together tonight. We are grateful for the generous gift by the ministerial association which was not expected. It really was a wonderful evening,”
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The Bottom Line:
Ephesians 6 says, “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
