God
has done some amazing things in my life. He has set stepping stones before me
even when I didn’t understand. I have always heard stories about missionaries
in Good News and 5-Day Clubs with Child Evangelism Fellowship. When I was five,
God told me He wanted me to be a missionary. I thought that meant that I would
become a missionary when I grow up, but that isn’t what He had in mind. My
family is moving to Cambodia as missionaries in a few weeks!
In
5th grade my parents told me they felt led by God to go on a short term mission
trip to Africa for a year. I was honestly surprised, but I was ready for God to
do whatever He had planned. I went through many hard things, like culture
stress and homesickness. I was able to learn about a new culture and talk
to other missionaries. I also learned that being a missionary is harder than I
expected. Missionaries have to do some scary things and they say “good-bye”
often. God taught me that I have to be willing to give 100% of my life to
Him and that He will use it, not in the way I thought, but in a way so much
better.
This
summer God brought me to Christian Youth in Action (CYIA) training camp and I
have been teaching 5-Day Clubs. I have been waiting for this since I was
eight, and God definitely worked in me and taught me more than I expected. At
CYIA I experienced some spiritual warfare, and as I prayed with my friends we
were able to feel God’s presence and love as He brought us out of Satan’s
attacks. We learned that we all fight together for God’s will on earth, and in
the end we will have victory. I am thankful for the things I learned during
CYIA. My teaching skills were improved, but I also learned about the
power of prayer and reliance on Him for help to do hard things.
I
have been thinking about everything that I learned in Africa and at CYIA and I
have come to a conclusion. I realize that I truly exist for a sole purpose:
to serve God. I don’t have to worry about anything else; He is in
control. This month my family will say “good-bye” and move to a place
where my school, church, and everyday life will be very different. I will need
to learn to speak the Khmer language and then I hope to teach Bible clubs.
I know I can’t possibly do it on my own, but that with God, all things
are possible. I trust that He will work through me in Cambodia just as He
did in Africa and at CYIA. I am ready for whatever He has in store, and Iwill
keep my eyes focused on Him.
--Megan Brand
I
had the privilege of volunteering for the Decision America Tour and was keeping
busy with the preparations. Joy Scott and I called 123 churches,
snail-mailed and canvassed churches and our neighborhoods, and passed out
information at church regarding the tour. I also met with a prayer group
every week to pray for the tour and our nation. Yet I was feeling pretty down
and discouraged, but didn’t know why. Every time I turned on the news, or
saw the result of sin in family’s and friend’s lives, I would vacillate from
anger to depression. I felt like I was running on empty, because I was focusing
on these things.
Finally
DAT came to Salem. Franklin Graham gave encouraging statistics: some
drove 150 miles with 7 children to attend the rally; others are now planning to
vote; others are considering running for office; one woman flew 200 miles in a
private airplane to be there. “Prayer is the mystery of God’s sovereign
plan” and it impacted me that all these people were coming because they
believed in the power of prayer and they trusted God to use their
prayers. While attending the rally, everyone was intently listening
and then Franklin Graham asked us to join hands and pray to confess our sins,
and the sins of our country. Even though I was holding the hand of a
stranger, I felt an instant bonding with the body of Christ. There was a
strong presence of God’s grace, strength and peace. And I felt
forgiveness. I had been focusing on the wrong things and my lack of faith
shamed me. Franklin Graham then gave an invitation to receive Christ as
Savior and again, I heard people all around me praying to receive God’s gift.
That day, 216 people in the crowd received the gift of salvation. The presence
of the Holy Spirit was so powerful, that at the end of the rally when we sang
“God Bless America,” all I could do was mouth the words, because my tears were
flowing so much.
Many
years ago, God used 12 disciples to change the world and build His
kingdom. That day in Salem, almost 4,000 came to pray and trust that God
would use their prayers. Almost 154,000 people have come to the rallies,
and it’s not over. Our job is to persevere, trust and focus on God,
continue to pray and wait expectantly to see how He’ll answer. It’s going
to be amazing.
--Janelle
Coakley
Pastor's
Pick: Book Recommendations
The
Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfied.
Rosaria Butterfield
was once a tenured professor of English who identified as a lesbian and worked
to advance the cause of LGBT equality. After her conversion to Christ in 1999,
she came to see the sinfulness of having any identity apart from Him.
Rosaria is married to Kent Butterfield, pastor of the First Reformed
Presbyterian Church of Durham, and is a home-school mother, pastor's wife,
author, and speaker. She is helping Christians to better understand their LGBT
neighbors and loved ones so that we can lovingly share the gospel effectively.
