an XStream audible

A parent sent me an email yesterday.  One of the young ladies in our ministry has been in the hospital, and this parent thought it would be a good idea to gather some people to pray.  She emailed some of the families in their lifegroup and got some positive responses, so she wondered if I’d be open to having some parents/adults/friends show up at our middle school ministry to pray together.

I am always in for getting people together to pray, so I said yes.

She posted it to facebook, and things began to grow.  I began to sense that my plans for tonight’s middle school (game/teaching/worship/small group) were about to change.  I spent some time praying, releasing my plans and asking God to do whatever he wanted to with our time tonight.  That turned out to be a good thing!

The State High Girls’ Volleyball team showed up.  So did some swim team folks, and softball teammates, and parents, and friends of parents, and then some.  By the time we got to praying there were probably 150 people in the room.

After some brief instructions and a short time of worship, we moved into smaller groups and turned people loose to pray.  As I sensed the prayer-time coming to a close, wrapped things up and gave people the opportunity to write a get well soon/you are loved/we’re praying for you card for this young lady.

As I looked around the room tonight I saw tears and smiles and laughter and hugs.  And hope.  And COMMUNITY.  This was the community rallying around a young lady and her family, calling on God to move, to heal, to hold.

And it was beautiful.  I’m so glad that a parent paid attention to the nudge of God and started things rolling with an email.  We might have missed a moment if she wasn’t listening.