We’re continuing our weekend outreaching. We have been to about six different locations so far, with interesting things happening at each. And, of course, we’ve doing whatever the Lord brings our way during the week. There are lots of people to pray for. Here are some brief summaries (more for our benefit, so we can remember them):
1) Remember Diana & Jose that Don met at our local YMCA, and we ended up praying over them both when they came to our place one night? They have been joining us at times for the Thursday night prayer group. Anyway, I felt moved to text Diana and offer her little boy a gift bag we’d put together after attending a local kids event. My text was very timely (thank you, Lord!) as when we met up to give Joel the gift, Diana was eager to share some things that had been going on in their family’s life which I was able to help her with from the Word. She was very relieved and encouraged, and now they are coming over this Thursday evening before prayer group so that we can have extra prayer in person together.
2) Luis: Opened the door for us outside Journey Church and asked us a question. Ended up praying with him outside and he received the Holy Spirit. Met him the next week and Don asked if he had been praying in tongues, to which he happily answered, “Yes!”
3) Elmont: Met inside local smoothie place. I asked him about his t-shirt, and I soon discovered that he is Spiritfilled and has his own online ministry. After a brief chat, I gave him a ChristiansRule card. He had to go as he was fulfilling a Doordash order, but he was glad we met.
4) Emanuel: At the same smoothie place, Don got chatting with a different guy as he departed the store. He was also wearing a Jesus-related t-shirt. He was super excited to hear what we had to say as it was an answer to what he’d been praying about recently (and praying again about it earlier that very day!). He is already born again of water and of the Holy Spirit, but he received our ecnouragement related to the Book of Acts and being active in ministering to others outside of church services. It was interesting hearing about his background (he was heavily into occult practices many years ago), and how Jesus powerfully brought him out of that darkness. Praise God!
5) We had a great chat with the pastor of Promise Church. What Don shared struck a cord with him. He was excited to watch our video and affirmed that what we were sharing was what he grew up following. We pray that he will lay hold upon God’s encouragement for him to openly preach and pray for others according to the fullness of the gospel message.
6) Sometimes we get chatting with people at the local gardens by the lake after we ask them what book they’re reading. I actually managed to have a detailed conversation with a spiritualist last week. She asked some good questions. Sadly, she wasn’t open to the “way” being through Jesus only, but you never know how God is going to water a seed that is planted.
7) Don got chatting with a lady and her 9-year-old daughter in Lowe’s after he spied the daughter happily (and safely) riding a luggage cart. He encouraged her that he sometimes still does the same thing even though he’s over 60! I can’t remember how, but somehow they all got chatting about the Lord. I think they started talking about current events and signs of the times. He found out that the mother is water baptized and Spiritfilled but hasn’t prayed in tongues for nine years. He offered that we could all pray for her, so after I briefly met her on the phone (Don called me to mention what was happening), we gathered at the house.
We chatted for quite a while first while Elisabeth entertained the daughter, and the mom was so excited to have us pray over her, to help her pray in tongues again, which we did. Afterward, she said she felt so relieved and refreshed and empowered. We chatted some more and shared more of the Word that was relevant to her life. She was really keen to go home and read the New Testament again, in particular the Book of Acts and the gospel of John, and to keep praying in the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. What a joy!
8) I met a man and his service dog at a YMCA event on the weekend. He asked if he could sit in the spare seat near Elisabeth and me while we ate. A little while after he sat, I felt I needed to start a conversation with him, so I first asked about his service dog. I soon found out that he is Spiritfilled and does pray in tongues at times. I encouraged him according to Jude 20 and also how Paul mentioned that when he prays in tongues, he edifies himself (builds his relationship with God). It was a brief chat, and I gave him a card, offering for Don to pray over him any time. So, again, you never know how God will work upon the heart of someone after a message has been shared with them. That brings me much peace, to leave everything in God’s perfect hands!
9) Last week, Ethan went to a coffee shop to work for a while. As soon as he got there, he was drawn to a conversation between two young men. He knew the situation had been set up by the Lord, so he waited about ten minutes and then politely interrupted their conversation. He ended up praying over one of the young men (Marcus) and encouraged the youth pastor (who was the other young man - already born again) to do likewise. They also both eagerly received Ethan’s message from the Lord and agreed with the scriptures he presented. The two of them ended up eagerly inviting Ethan (two times) to visit their Deeper Fellowship church, so we did so this last weekend (in obedience to what God put before Ethan).
At the end of the service, Don joined the same two young men in praying over a wheelchair-bound older lady and she walked slowly around the large church building, overjoyed and praying in tongues as she went. She shared that it was the first time she’d been able to stand (let alone walk) for any length of time in many years. Marcus broke down in tears afterward, once the lady had left. He was so touched by the experience and felt that God was working on him more than ever.
