What was supposed to be a simple detour caused by the wreckage of Hurricane Melissa turned into a life-changing encounter for Pastor Jeremy Earle. The rugged bypass over Knoke Top Hill led the Southfield District Pastor of the West Jamaica Conference straight to a local resident named Dale Blake.
As Pastor Earle’s vehicle crunched along the rough bypass one Tuesday night while traveling to an evangelistic series, a dog suddenly darted toward his car. Instead of the typical territorial barking expected on a rural road, the animal began to act as a guide.
"Each time the vehicle slowed down while traversing the rough road, the dog waited and then
ran ahead as if guiding me," Pastor Earle expressed.
Intrigued and slightly bewildered, he followed the canine navigator. The animal didn’t stop until the vehicle was safely back on the direct road leading to the evangelistic tent. The following day, prompted by a sense of divine leading, Pastor Earle returned to the same spot. This time, the dog ignored him, but its presence drew the Pastor’s eyes upward to the balcony of a nearby building. Standing there was Dale Blake.
In the conversation that followed, Pastor Earle discovered that the"guide dog" belonged to Mr. Blake. Seizing the moment, the Pastor invited him to the ongoing evangelistic campaign. To his delight, Mr. Blake accepted.
Brother Dale Blake pictured during a time of earnest worship at the Dalton SDA Church. :: Photo credit: Contributed
Throughout the campaign, led by Evangelist Oneil Brown, Brother Blake became a familiar face in the crowd. His focused and prayerful demeanor stood out as he absorbed the messages nightly. The turning point came during a powerful appeal when Brother Blake was the very first person to stand and respond to the call, having attended the series for only three days.
“The journey that began with a detour over a hill ended in the waters of baptism,” shared Pastor Earle. On the following Sabbath, Brother Dale Blake was officially baptized and welcomed as the newest member of the Dalton SDA Church. What many saw as a disruptive hurricane and a difficult road turned out to be a divine detour, using a four-legged friend to lead his master to Christ.