However, I went and became so glad that I did. Darin Pound, our new DS preached a very good message from the encounter of Jesus and Zaccheaus. As he shared his insights I ruminated on some of the thoughts and wondered how the message was reaching the near capacity crowd on this Wednesday night.
As he drew the message to a close, Darin also opened the altar for prayer, reminding the people that just as God knew all about Zaccheaus, He knows their needs also.
I was encouraged to see such a good number of people move out right away to go forward for prayer. Darin called me to come help pray for people gathered before the Lord.
I went first to one young man, only after I began speaking to him did I realize that it was one of the young men who had just started pastor's class this week! We prayed together for God to teach him and to make him strong in his faith. His desire is to be a Youth Missionary - how exciting!
Then I felt led to move down past another to pray for man on the end. I asked him how I could help pray for him. He said he was there to pray for his son, who had recently decided to study the Bible and try to help others. I asked his son's name - and by now was not real surprised to find out that this was the father of the young man I had just prayed with! How wonderful!!
After the service, I had an opportunity to speak to the young man as we waited outside. I found out that his parents had at first been against him and were not encouraging him. He had expressed his desire but did not think that they supported him. What a privilege to tell him that I had just prayed with his own father, who was asking God to make his son strong in his faith and teach him the way!
God is so fun to work out things like that!
Another bonus tonight was to watch a lady whom I know, go over to a young lady seated across the aisle, invite her to go forward for prayer, and then lead her to the Lord!
The angels are rejoicing this night!
And so am I!!
Blessed to be in Belize!
Ray
