Meet Denise
8:16 AM |
| Denise, Manuela and I |
It was a normal Saturday afternoon, I had gone with my husband Daniel to watch him play soccer with some of our teen guys near the church. The guys usually pick up some neighborhood kids to play with them, and this week, I noticed a particular one. Although she wasn't a guy! She was very much a girl, but had absolutely no fear playing with all the guys. She was Denise. I fell in love with Denise the first moment I met her. She has a smile that could melt the north pole! After the soccer game, we met and then parted ways, as my husband, the teenagers, and I headed back to the church.
Several weeks later on a Wednesday night, I looked out into the darkness just outside our store front church building, and I saw that familiar sweet smile. "Denise!" I said, as I made my way out to greet her. I talked to her for several minutes before I attempted to share the Gospel with her. Just when I got to the good part, her mom called her and she apologized as she ran off to obey her mom. I watched her as she ran, praying for her sweet soul. "God please save her...." I prayed, "Help her to come to know you."
Just last Saturday during the children's choir practice, Denise walked by our church again. One of the other team ladies invited her to come in and sing with the kids. After choir practice, I grabbed Carol, one of my teen girls and we went and talked to her. This time, I was able to explain the whole gospel, and it was clear that Denise understood. We bowed our heads to pray, and she asked Jesus to be her Savior. It was such a sweet time. After we prayed, I asked her if she lived nearby and if her mom was home. She answered yes, and began leading me to what I thought was home, to meet her mother.
Little did I know that her mom was right across the street, selling snacks on the street. I walked up to her and introduced myself. Because her daughter's name was Denise, I told them both about my mom. Then I told them the story of my mom leading me to Christ. As I shared the story with them, I also included the details of what Denise's mom, Manuela, needed to know herself to be saved. Once I had finished sharing my testimony, I asked her if she also would like to be saved. She said yes! Before we knelt our heads to pray, however, something most unexpected happened. Manuela started calling all the other vendors around her on the street, as well as several friends to pray with us. I didn't know what to do. I kind of just froze...Nothing like this had ever happened to me! Before I knew it, I had 6 other adults standing around me, watching and waiting for whatever it was I was going to tell them. I took a few moments and explained to them why I was going to pray with Manuela. I shared the gospel with the 6 of them, and then told them Manuela and I were going to pray. I told them that if any of them wanted to except Jesus as their personal Savior, they could too. As I bowed my head to pray with Manuela, I didn't hear only 1 voice praying with me: I heard 6 more! To God be the glory, He saved all 7 of them!
As Carol and I walked away that day, I felt overwhelmed and amazed. I know it wasn't anything I had done that had brought all of these to Jesus that day. Some days, I feel like I have to try extra hard to pray for souls to be saved, or I feel like if I'm not good enough, I won't get to lead people to Christ. Sometimes I feel pressured like I have to "make the cut" so God will let someone be saved through me. I'm so glad God is merciful and gracious to let us serve Him. We don't have to be perfect (thank goodness!) for God to do something good through our lives. I'm so glad He's willing to use even the least of these. The truth is, all God asks is that I be willing and obedient. He'll take care of the rest. Knowing this brings much peace and contentment to my heart. What a joy it is to serve the King. There's no greater honor in the whole world!
1 comments
What a wonderful story! To God be the glory!
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