Throughout the year of 1988, Higher Praise Tabernacle faced many challenges. Although the church was officially established in 1964, it had not many years prior to 1988, in 1982, changed pastors, as well as a completely new doctrine. Needless to say, many members gathered their belongings and left the church. The ones that remained were “Babes in Christ” concerning the new Apostolic doctrine that Pastor Kenneth Morrell brought with him at the young age of 24.

From the time Pastor Morrell took the church in March of 1982 until January of 1989 the church struggled through many hardships. I’m sure the one thing that kept Higher Praise Tabernacle strong was the continual teaching from Bro. Morrell that prayer and fasting were the keys to victory.

Although the church was not, by many standards, financially secure, Bro. Morrell would have revivals as often as possible. He knew the necessity of revival to the “Babes in Christ” and it truly paid off. 

In January of 1989 Bro. Morrell scheduled a revival with Bro. Joel Velie of Melbourne, FL. During that revival Bro. Velie told the church he felt impressed by God to tell us if we would go on a 21 day fast with prayer as a church body that God would do something great for our church. Fasting was a normal part of our lives, as was praying, so it was no new thing for Higher Praise Tabernacle. However, we had never fasted 21 days consecutively, even as a group so this was new. Nevertheless, the church, as a group, begin the 21 day fast with prayer. Everyone prayed and fasted their own individual way but it was a group effort. Most of the church fasted one meal per day. Some fasted two meals per day.  Most of the church prayed and fasted more than they ever had before and gathered at the church in the evenings to pray together. 

The 20^th day of our fast and prayer was on a Thursday night, Feb. 16, 1989. That was the midweek service night for Higher Praise Tabernacle. The ladies of the church had decided to do a “shut-in” for the remainder of our fast and prayer. When our service started at 7:30 pm we didn’t leave the church again until Saturday morning about 11:00am. We had a water fountain for thirst but no food.

Sis. Morrell, prior to this service, during its planning, had told the ladies that when we came to church that Thursday night, as soon as we walked in the door to keep all carnality outside. We were not to discuss anything that was not “God-related.”

So, as the service ended that night the congregation all left but the ones staying for the shut-in. We prayed, we worshipped and we read God’s Word. Then we testified, we prayed, we worshipped and we read God’s Word some more. We continued in this manner. It was a purely inspirational gathering. God was in that place!

Friday night, Feb. 17, 1989, about 10:00 all 12 of the ladies were getting up from praying and noticed something white on the floor. We all were asking one another, “What is it?” It was everywhere! We picked up some of the pieces and gathered close together. April Morrell, who was just a young teenager at the time, smelled of it and said, “This is bread!” Sis. Phylis Smith then tasted of it and said, “It’s unleavened bread!” After much commotion and rejoicing, we decided to call Bro. Morrell to come to the church to see what he thought about this happening that was almost impossible to comprehend. When he got there he took the manna in his hand and examined it closely for several moments. He walked around the church and picked up a few more pieces and examined it before he finally commented, “Well, Ladies, all I can say is you’ve prayed Heaven down.”

Our joy and excitement could not be contained and by the next morning Jana Crowe had contacted news reporters and radio stations. It made headlines, local and throughout Atlanta.

We had one unbelieving husband that took some of the manna and sent it off, unbeknown to us, to have an analysis performed. When he received it back he was astonished to read on the outside of the envelope, “Unknown substance.” The study confirmed that the substance was definitely some type of bread because it contained such ingredients as bread has. However, the analysis stated that because all bread is water-soluable and this substance was not, it could not therefore, be labeled as such. What a much greater testimony! This unbelieving husband had proven the miracle of God to be exactly what it was, a miracle!!!

The remainder of the shut-in was spent in studying the Word of God concerning manna. The word manna means “What is it?” How ironic that this was the exact words we were all asking one another at its first appearance.

Needless to say, Higher Praise Tabernacle was strengthened tremendously after the manna came. Faith soared throughout the church. Higher Praise Tabernacle began to grow and prosper, not to say there were never any more hardships or trials, but nothing that we were not able to overcome by the grace of God.

Each year thereafter, we have had a memorial “Manna Memories” shut-in in honor of God sending Higher Praise Tabernacle manna at a much needed time.

Higher Praise Tabernacle soon after had a new address, 2025 hwy. 212, Covington, Ga 30016. The growth of the church was more than our little church at 120 Eleanor Road could hold. This growth did not come as an immediate result of the “Manna Miracle,” but did come over time as a result of prayer, fasting and believing that we serve a mighty God. A God that will do whatever it takes to move for his people, even if it’s sending manna from Heaven.

Higher Praise Tabernacle has once again changed locations. The new location is 3915 Hwy. 162, Covington, GA 30016.  Our congregation had filled the church to such capacity that camp meeting time left many standing in the foyer because there were no more room for chairs to be placed in the isles next to the pews.

Today if you visit Higher Praise Tabernacle you will probably notice a beautiful glass case that has “Manna Memorabilia” in it. This case includes pictures of the manna on the floor of Higher Praise Tabernacle. It also has a much treasured little glass vial that contains some of the manna.

And like the children of Israel were told to take up a stone as they passed through the midst of Jordan, we have also set this glass case up as a memorial for our children, our grandchildren and future generations that they may know…

Joshua 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

7. Then ye shall answer them,…

Psalm 78: 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5. For he established a testimony… …he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

From the moment the shut-in started we kept a diary of it. This included each person that came and highlights of testimonies, etc.

There were 12 individuals that were present to witness this great miracle:

Sis. Arlene Morrell, our pastor’s wife, Sis. April Morrell, our pastor’s daughter, Sis. Annette Durden, Sis. Phyllis Smith, Sis. Jana Crowe, Sis. Susan Crowe, Sis. Ruth Ricks, an elder saint from Pastor Grady Eberhardt’s church in Milstead, GA, Sis. Bertha Ricks, Sis. Tonya Whitley, Sis. Lisa Whitley, Sis. Cynthia Morgan, a young baby at the time, and myself, Sis. Lydia Cason.