How To Make A Difference!
By Johnny Angel
Dear friends,
Today I've been hit by tons of bad news. I've even had to make some
judgement calls that were very difficult to make.
I need you all to pray for one of my friends who can't seem to get his life
together. He has been kicked out of his parents' home. He went
away for the summer to work at a Christian camp. But then he came
back to town knowing he didn't have anywhere to stay. He can stay
with his grandparents if he will just ask for their help. He came to me
wanting to stay in my dorm. But God told me I tried to change this
friend for a whole semester. I had to turn my friend over to God and go
on with my life. I felt that the best thing I could do for my friend was to
say no to letting him spend the night in my dorm and tell him to contact
his family.
Many of you are probably thinking what I have done is very cruel. But
before you jump to conclusions, I need to share some things from my
heart. Last December I went on my first mission trip. We went to a
very poor community in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. I almost
burst into tears as I saw how much poverty and hopelessness there
was.
Last spring, I tried to do everything I could to help people. It was
reaching the point where I was staying sick and run down because I
was trying to do it all.
Over the summer, I had to learn how to say no when I can't effectively
do things I need to do. I have been having to allow God to teach me
how to discern. I have learned that discernment sometimes means you
will have to do things that seem harsh in order to really help someone.
All around us there are bad things happening. My friend's life is sad. I
know of other people whose live's are sad. People are in need. But as
much as we want to say they need food, clothes, shelter, money, etc.,
what they really need is a Savior. But we individually can't do
everything.
One of my friends shared today how his pastor and half the church left
recently. Since then, people who have always wanted to help up have
stepped in and taken responsibility to teach, help out, etc. The church
is beginning to grow!
God has shown me how to really make a difference. And here is how.
Pray. And you're thinking, all you ever talk about is prayer, Johnny. I
can testify that it works. However, it requires commitment and work.
My church has handed out resources and had a conference on how to
pray. This has led to me developing a prayer list. It has taken quite a
while to develop. But now I have a list of people who need to be
saved. I have a list of Christians who I want to grow spiritually. I have
all your names (or addresses if you never told me your name) on there
as well as people I know from church and campus ministry. I have a
list of people who do ministry. And finally, I have a list of specific needs
that many of you have asked me to pray for as well as needs that I am
aware of from other sources. I pray for these needs daily. I do not
share this with you to get attention and praise. I share this with you to
tell you that you can make a difference.
During the past several months, I have seen God answer prayers. I
have the names of people I know who go to different churches. I see
their churches growing. I see some of the people I pray for to be saved
getting saved or at least asking more questions about God. I see sick
people being healed. I watch this email ministry grow. And it is not me,
but Christ who lives within me.
There is power in prayer. Through prayer, we can make a difference.
Reaching this needy world does not mean that we do charasmatic
evangelism, big projects, or any of the stereotypes that can easily be
developed. We must simply be involved in our churches and pray
daily.
Please understand that I do not share this to jump on to anyone or get
any praise. I have just seen so much go on lately. I run into so many
people who are hurting and need Jesus in their lives. And I know that
there is power in prayer. I can see God changing lives. I challenge
each of you to begin developing a prayer list. It does not have to be
big. But start out small, and allow God to develop it. Pray over each
need daily. You can pray with your eyes open as you look at each
need on your list and mention it to God. Together, we can make a
difference!
Addendum
Dear friends,
In my last message, I mentioned Eastern Kentucky. It may have come
across that I was attacking the area, and if it did, I apologize. I was
simply trying to share that that particular mission trip is the one that got
my attention. I grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee. I can go
to my hometown, near my college, to Florida, to California, to Africa, or
wherever and find people whose lives have problems. The message
that I wanted to share is that our world has many needs. Jesus is the
only solution to these problems.
N Prayer,
Johnny <*}}}><