today, Team Luminous, Team Reckless Pursuit and Team Favoured went to our last church services in Draganesti. we split into three groups to go to three separate services like we usually do. i went to Hope Church, just down the street from our Mission House.
the church had asked our group to prepare two people to talk about their experiences in Romania and one person to prepare their testimony. i volunteered to speak just in the minutes before we tapped to present and so no, I did not prepare anything. not my greatest moment; i certainly make better decisions most days but God was trying to teach me something new about preparation.
to make a short story even shorter, i basically took the stage with a notebook and not a clue of what to say. the crowd was full of familiar faces so i was not unreasonably nervous. i actually barely thought it through. i just started talking.
i think i spoke about how being in Draganesti made the need of quality community more relevant. It is one thing for one person to buy in to the power and authority that they have in Christ Jesus. after all, the greatest change in history came by one man. but when an entire network of people chooses to also take up the same burden and work toward the same goal, unstoppable waves rip through the time and space and affect so many more. the families that make up Hope Church are living outside of their physical bodies and with the Spirit’s help, shining a light in the darkest of religious cultures i have seen. i wanted the congregation i thought so highly of them for this reason and i am not sure i articulated that as best i could. i also just encouraged them to continue asking the Lord to see and respond to their faith, as He has always promised His children.
i walked off that stage feeling super embarrassed. i was sure that my rambling had not resonated with anyone. but at the end of services, during all the kisses and tears and last goodbyes, a woman pulled me aside. Ana began to translate for her and this is what she said:
“I see you on a big black cross.
I also see Jesus.
He is coming alongside you
and raises you up from the cross.
Trust in God wholly.
Even in times of struggles, He will be there.”
i was legitimately taken aback. no one had ever prophesied over me like that. all i could was thank her.
pray for me. this could be interpreted in an infinite amount of ways. i know God will make it clear in His timing so among every other lesson i got out of this spontaneous experience, i am appreciative of that.
DONATE. COMMENT. SUBSCRIBE.
