Training camp was like drinking out of a fire hydrant every day. We had session after session packed full of information and wisdom. During a couple of the sessions we were taught a basic evangelism tool. It’s super simple, straightforward, and can be easily be adapted to be used in different situations or even with a translator. After these specific sessions were done, we were informed that we were now going to practice using it. “Okay sweet,” I thought, we are going to practice on each other.
Actually no. Not on each other. In real life. DOOR TO DOOR. Help
Everyone’s stomachs dropped and the nerves started kicking in as we all started looking around at each other. Many people were like me and had never gone door to door to do anything but sell girl scout cookies, you know, the little girls people get excited about when they ring their door bell.
As a squad we gathered up and organized who was going to ride with who to the neighborhood we had been assigned. We then we spent some time praying not only for ourselves but the hearts of the people we felt like we were about to bombard. I drove four other squadmates in my car and we decided to pull out the good ol’ popcorn prayer and each spent a few minutes praying out loud on our way there.
It started pouring rain as I was driving and I couldn’t help but believe the Lord was reminding us that He was drenching us with His Spirit and was right there with us.
We all made it to the neighborhood and prayed as a group again. The neighborhood was split up and we designated specific teams to certain streets. My team paired up so that seven of us were not going up to one house at a time, because that’s awkward and intimidating, and this is already enough of both of those.
My teammate Katie and I decided we would go together and the seven of us began walking down the street praying and asking the Lord to give us a word that we could use to speak over the lives of the people we were about to meet. A word that would speak specifically to their hearts and situation.
We made it about half way down the street and Katie asked me if I had a word. I did but honestly was questioning if I had just made it up. I feel like I’m so good at picking out the enemy’s voice, because I’ve trained myself to, but sometimes question if I’m hearing the Lord, or if it’s just me. That’s something I’ve recognized and am working on, but that’s a post for another time.
“I think it’s hope,” I said.
Katie gasp, “Yes! Me too!”
I think we were so relieved to have some confirmation that we both burst into tears and gave each other the biggest hug in the middle of the street. When you’re growing and being stretched you get excited about everything, and this was a celebration in and of itself.
We immediately headed up the street and went to our first house. This house had a beautiful green yard with plants on the porch. It was so inviting. The kind of house that looks like they would welcome you in and pour you a cold glass of sweet tea. We rang the door bell, no answer. We rang it again, because if we are going to do this, might as well be those people. No answer.
We decided to stop repetitively ringing that house’s door bell and move on to the next. We both felt drawn to a specific house and had a sense of hurt in that place. This house was aesthetically the opposite of the first house, overgrown yard, dead plants, and things laying around. We knocked on the door and immediately multiple dogs started barking and hitting the door. “Oh good, we are going to get eaten,” I thought.
The house had a storm door and a few seconds later the main door cracked open and a woman popped her head out. “Can I help you,” she said gruffly. We explained to her that we were spending some time praying for her and her neighborhood and that we felt like the Lord had given us a word of hope to speak over her life.
She replied with, “You’re not Jehovah’s Witnesses are you?”
After we convinced her that we were not and she declared that we were “Children of God” she began..
“I’m an addict.”
“My son abuses me,”
“My mother who I’m financially dependent on and I have a terrible relationship and are currently not speaking.”
Then she stopped, looked at us, and invited us in.
We followed her to the living room and sat down. We loved on her two sweet pups and continued listening to her story. My eyes scanned the room and I saw the holes in the wall where objects or fist had penetrated the sheetrock.
“I’m two weeks clean, but I’m struggling.”
She told us she had given her life to the Lord but had still been fighting the addiction.
Her friend called in the middle of this encounter and she told her she had to go because she had two girls in her living room praying for her. I kid you not, the first thing out of her friend’s mouth was “they aren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses are they?” She assured her we were not, even including we drove cars, and hung up.
After she finished sharing more of her story and showed us her bruises, we prayed over her. She wept.
We finished up our conversation and hugged her bye.
How perfect was a word of hope for this woman, who’s life is broken and ever so messy. To speak over her that Jesus has greater things for her than what she is living in the middle of right now. That there is freedom in who He is from every hurt, addiction, and broken relationship.
What a beautiful beginning to the next 11 months. To the rest of my life.
To walk in the boldness and assurance that the Lord does speak to us.
To walk in trust that He leads us into divine encounters and doesn’t stay at the door.
