Prayers of a Faithful Saint

Prayers of a Faithful Saint *****(This is a story of really seeing the Spirit of God!!)
Chaplains had visited the home of Miss Shirley, age 83, and met her daughter and daughter in law, who both lives down the same street. The daughter shared how she had accepted Christ by watching Billy Graham on tv as a young girl.
The chaplains had been told, that day, that Miss Shirley's son was not a christian. The daughter in law asked for prayer for her husband and Miss Shirley said she had been praying for her son, Michael, for years.

A couple of days later, Samaritan's Purse was doing a mudout on Michael's home. Chaplains came to visit and met Michael on the front porch. Chaplains talked with Michael, listening to all that had been going on in his neighborhood. Then, the chaplains asked him about heaven and was he sure of his eternal home. Did he know for sure he would go to heaven when he died. Michael said no and the chaplains shared with him the gospel of Jesus. He smile and said his mother, Miss Shirley had told him about Jesus, but he never listened. Chaplains asked Michael if he would like to pray and receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. With his wife holding his hand, Michael prayed the Sinner's Prayer and accepted Christ.

Living next door to Michael, his sister Gayla, just happened to be home to meet an insurance agent. The chaplains met Gayla and her husband in the yard. Gayla remembered the chaplains an said they were so happy they came back to visit. Hugging the Gayla the chaplain whispered into her ear that her brother had just prayed to receive Christ. Gayla at first, could not believe it...she then sobbed. She said he has not spoken to me in 15 years!! Chaplain said, "The Holy Spirit is working here, let's go". Gayla hesitantly took the chaplains armed and they started to walk across the yard into Michael's yard. Michael came out of the house and did not turn back, but continued coming onto the sidewalk, stopping to look at the two approaching. The chaplain and the sister stopped and the chaplain spoke to him, "Michael it is time to get out of the boat and walk in faith". Michael took a step toward his sister and stopped. She took a step toward him and said, "Michael I am sorry, will you forgive me?" He said, "Yes" as she collapsed into his arms sobbing.

The chaplains had been told that Miss Shirley had fallen the day before and broken both her wrists and was in the hospital. Gayla was so excited about what happened, she wanted to go tell her mother and invited the chaplains to go to the hospital with her. Arriving at the hospital, the group was walking in and looked up to see a large rainbow over the hospital. God's Promise.

While standing beside her mother's bed, with her sister on the other side, Gayla said, "Mother, Michael prayed to receive Christ today". The sister sobbed uncontrollably and the mother, cried and said, "My prayers have been answered'. Gayla then said, "That is not the end of the story Mother, I asked forgiveness from Michael and he forgave me and we hugged each other"!! Tears were flowing in the room and mother said, "If I could get up out of this bed, I would dance!"

Then, the chaplains asked the brother in law, standing in the room about his relationship with Christ and his reply was, "I am a Christian, but have not walked with the Lord as I should. Have not been to church in years. " The group gathered around the bed of Miss Shirley, holding hands and the chaplain led Dave in a prayer and he rededicated his life to the Lord.

Miss Shirley said her prayers have been heard and during the prayer, she said she felt as if someone kissed her on the cheek. His Presence was in that place.

***Note: This above story of salvation, rededication and family reconcilement was all filmed by BGEA media!! They were crying too!

Christian Without Heaven?

Pablo is a 20 year old local Samaritan's Purse volunteer that has been volunteering with SP off and on since SP arrived in the community.  Pablo was at a work site today when the chaplains came by for a visit.  The team was on lunch break.  Chaplains began talking with Pablo and learned he was a new Christian, but did not understand that by accepting Christ, that he had the assurance of heaven.  Pablo was the opposite of what the chaplains normally see: People who have made a commitment to Jesus for eternal security but have not developed a close relationship with God (Fire insurance).  Pablo was working because he had accepted Christ and had a servants heart and knew not of the eternal security he had received. 
    Pablo explained to the chaplains he had prayed and received Christ several weeks ago and was to be baptized at the Fielder Road Baptist Church (where we are housed) April 29.  When chaplains explained to him, that when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, his name was written in the Book of Life and sealed by the blood of Jesus he replied, "Really?!" and tears flowed down his cheeks.  He stood up and hugged the chaplain and cried tears of joy, saying, "Thank you, thank you".  There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in that place. The team had all been sitting there, listening and everyone was touched by the innocence of a young Christian eager to serve.  The chaplainw told Pablo, when he gets to heaven, be sure that he finds them so they can hear the story of how God used him during his life.  He smile, with wet cheeks, and nodded he would.

Looking for Goodwill and Sharing It

Binghamton, NY

Chaplains had been in the Bible College parking lot when a man drove up to donate a box of pots and pans. He was going to be leaving town that afternoon and would not have the time to look for another location, the chaplains took the box and offered to donate them for him. 
After driving around a couple of days, with pans rattling in the trunk of the car, chaplains started to look for a Goodwill Store.  Seeing an elderly lady out working in her yard, the chaplain got out and went to ask about a local Thrift Store or Goodwill that would accept donations.  The lady did not know of one, but continued to share with the chaplain about the flood and her recent fall down several steps, having to have 4 large staples in her head.  She then saw "Billy Graham" on the chaplain's shirt and remarked her husband used to watch Mr. Graham on television all the time, until he died.  The chaplain asked Ms Isabel if she had not survived the fall, did she know that she would go to the heaven that Billy Graham preached about.  She said, "No, I am a catholic and I am not sure you can know".  She listened as the chaplain explained that scripture, 1 John 5:12-13 says "you may know that you have eternal life".  The chaplain shared the Steps to Peace with her and she started to pray, asking forgiveness and Jesus to come into her life, before the chaplain even read the prayer to her.  Ms. Isabel smiled and waved as the chaplains drove away.  Goodwill had been found, in the driveway of Ms. Isabel!

 

The Language of Love

Binghamton, NY

     A few days ago, a Samaritan's Purse Team Leader was driving and saw a elderly, Japanese lady dragging a heavy garbage can to the road and stopped to offer help.  Finding that she had been flooded and her children had helped her mud out her home, the SP Leader offered for SP to come and power wash and do mold remediation. 
     The spray team went in yesterday and got started with the basement.  While there, one of the SP members talked with the lady and found out she was married to a US Army man after the war and came to America from Japan.  She self taught herself English.
    The SP member asked the chaplains this morning if they had a Japanese Bible.  The chaplains called the number for the local Gideons and asked if they had one.  The Gideon, Charles Kark, said he did have a Japanese-English Bible he used for speaking in churches and he was willing to give it to the BGEA Chaplains.  The chaplains drove out to the farm and had prayer with Mr. Kark over the Bible. 
   The chaplains took the Japanese-English Bible to the job site, where Reiko (pronounced Layco) lives.  The chaplains gave the Bible to the team leader and then went to talk with her.  She is 76 years old and was raised in the Buddhist culture.  She shared about the flood and getting older and her husband dying.  When the chaplains asked her if she believed in Jesus Christ, she said she had attended the Lutheran church in high school and she believed in Him, but was not sure of heaven.  Chaplains shared the love of Jesus and the hope and assurance He can give for eternity.  Reiko, in broken English, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. 
  The chaplains signed the Bible, along with the SP team, and the Japanese-English Bible was given to Reiko.  She can now read more about the salvation and promises and hope Jesus gave to her. 

Heavenly Father

Heavenly Father



One day we went out to Samaritan's Purse team for prayer and the homeowner was there helping.  He was not supposed to have been there, but God had a plan.

When the Samaritan's Purse team first arrived at the work site, a neighbor walked over and told one of the team leaders that she thought this house was a rental and they were at the wrong address.  So the team lead called back to the SP Unit to confirm the address.  The SP Office contacted the homeowner and was assured this was their residence and the address was correct.  The wife asked when they would be arriving and after being told they were already there, she said she would call her husband because he wanted to be there to help them.  

We arrived as the team was just taking a break and spoke with the homeowner.  Sitting on a turned over 5 gallon bucket, the homeowner continued to share with us, as the team went back to work.  He started sharing about the flood, but then tearing up, he shared about his dad dying in a tragic plane crash when he was only 4 years old.  He shared how hard that had been on his mom as he was growing up and he grew up without a dad. We talked to him about Jesus and the peace and hope He can give.  He listened and he said he would like to receive that peace.  We were able to tell him about the promise of eternal life and a security and hope.  He listened and then he bowed his head and prayed a sweet prayer to receive forgiveness and salvation.  We then shared that he now has a heavenly Father that he can talk to anytime, one that loves him very much.
Through his tears, he smiled and looked up.  ...and I am sure his Heavenly Father was looking down...

Waiting to Meet Team and Meets Christ

 Samaritan's Purse was to clean out Mr. Weedeman's house and he was there waiting on the team to arrive.  Chaplains got there early enough to talk to him before the team was there.  Mr Weedeman knew of Billy Graham and asked about him.  Chaplains shared with him about Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Ministry, still telling people about Jesus.  Chaplains asked did he have a personal relationship with Jesus and knew for sure he was going to heaven.  Mr Weedeman said he knew about Jesus, but was not sure of heaven.  Chaplains shared "Steps to Peace" and he prayed to receive Christ. 
The Samaritan's Purse team arrived and celebrated meeting their new brother in Christ, who happened to be 81 years old. 

Another Billy Graham Accepts Christ

Yesterday my husband and I were riding in area which had been flooded and saw a contractor's truck with the name Billy Graham on it.  The Samaritan's Purse team had been working next door and had spoken to him.  When we visited the team, the contractor was working in the basement of the house, so the we left a book by Rev. Billy Graham in the seat of his truck.  This morning, we felt led to go back in the same area. When we saw the truck again, we decided to stop to meet Billy Graham. He was coming around the house where he had been working.  He told us he was here from his home state, Idaho, working on the houses that had been flooded.  We  talked to him about the Rev. Billy Graham and his belief in Jesus.  Contractor Billy Graham said he too believed in Jesus, but when asked if he knew he was going to heaven when he died, he was not really sure.  We shared with him, "Steps to Peace" and Billy Graham prayed to receive Christ.  It was with great joy that we were getting to  present him with a Billy Graham Bible. 
He then came to eat with us and the Samaritan's Purse teams for dinner tonight and spoke during share time. We thought it was really special, since tonight our share time was held out under a tent, due to the Wednesday night service at the church where we are staying.  Pretty neat, hearing Billy Graham speak outside in a tent! 

Later, by his request, his wife called and talked to me.  When I shared with her what had taken place and her husband accepted Jesus, she cried and said she had been praying for this.  She shared that she had just gotten him to go to church with her a couple of weeks before he came to North Dakota and had prayed that he would meet someone in North Dakota to invite him to church. We actually laughed that her prayer may have been what made me come all the way from Alabama and him from Idaho to meet in North Dakota!

But the best part of this story today was that:
Billy Graham's name was written once again in the Book of Life, but this time for another soul.