Dear readers,
Why do I keep telling you about the different ministries I
experienced this month? Well, you might know me and you might be interested. Or
maybe one of these ministries will really strike a chord with you and get you
excited about starting a ministry yourself. I’ve definitely gotten some ideas
from the ministries I’ve seen this month.
For instance, I loved the Desire of All Nations drug rehab
program. Drug addiction is a serious problem in South Africa, but this ministry
helps people find Jesus, get clean, support themselves, and pursue their
dreams. What was especially touching was how personal the ministry was. It was
not a one-size-fits-all program that everyone was pushed through. Rather,
everyone was known and heard. They shared their stories, were encouraged to
dream big dreams, and were then empowered to live a better life.
I had the privilege of sitting in on one of the small group
sessions, and various women just shared their thoughts, struggles, stories, and
testimonies. I myself learned a lot and was encouraged by their stories and
insights. They were women at peace with themselves, the world, and God, despite
what they had been through. Those who were further along shared their wisdom
with the newer attendees, as did a woman who was celebrating two years
drug-free.
The following night, at a different recovery support group,
Paige and I were privileged to make a difference in someone’s life. His name
was Aziz, and he had been an addict for 14 years. He had tried numerous times
to get clean but failed abysmally. Now he had been clean for one week and was
on the verge of giving up. He was shaking severely and told us he was going to
shoot up when he went home. Paige and I immediately started praying over him.
We could feel the power of God working, and by the time we were done praying,
he had stopped shaking and told us the cravings were manageable. Aziz was a
Muslim, but he was very encouraged by our prayer and impressed by the God we
follow.
It was a very touching night for me to see someone’s life
changed and to experience the presence and power of God. My visits to the drug
rehab centers also gave me a lot of hope, coupled with sadness, as I saw the
great need but also the great work being done.
That’s all for now, readers! I hope you’re excited about
whatever ministry God has called you to in your neighborhood!
TTFN (Ta Ta For Now),
Katie
