February Newsletter--A Scary Prayer

Picture 1) Children listen to the Bible lesson at Good News Club.

Picture 2) I explain a method for teaching the Gospel at a teacher training.

I had never before been so nervous about a prayer. It was the end of a typically crazy Good News Club(R) in inner city Louisville. In this club, you never know when children might start punching each other, when a child might come in wearing only his long underwear, or when a child might be preparing to tackle you so he can steal the toy dinosaur you brought as an illustration of an idol. It was difficult to tell if the children were even hearing what we were teaching, so you can see why I was a little nervous when I asked if one of the saved kids would like to pray out loud. I had no clue what might come out of the volunteer's mouth.

A ten-year-old boy whose name begins with A raised his hand, then made his way to the front of the classroom. He patiently waited for everyone else to get quiet, then opened his mouth. "Thank You so much for this moment in time and for this Good News Club. We really need this." He then asked God to help each person apply the main teaching from the lesson to trust God and do the right thing even when it's hard.

Shocked (although I should've known that God works just as powerfully in chaotic clubs as He does in model ones), I thanked A and dismissed the group. I had never before given God so much thanks for a prayer as I did that day. Though the group is only slightly less crazy and it's still easy to question if our efforts are making any difference, each week one of the children prays, and though you'd think I'd get used to it, I continue to be shocked by God's grace revealed in those prayers.

I praise God for:

All of you who support me in ministry through your prayers and gifts.

The wonderful church family I've had the opportunity to be a part of in Elizabethtown.

His work in the hearts of Good News Club children.

Please pray that:

God will continue to draw Good News Club children close to Him.

God will continue to prepare me for ministry in Burkina Faso through the remaining five months of my internship and will bless the ministry opportunities I get to be involved in such as Good News Clubs, teacher trainings, ministry promotions, and committee meetings.