At Champions Centre we carve out a time in our services for people to come forward for prayer. You never know what the prayer request might be and there are times where the prayer request and the person standing in front of you simply takes your breath away. This Sunday was one of those times. A woman, sobbing, stands in line for prayer and I took her hand and asked her how I could pray for her. Through her sobs, she asks for peace and comfort for her and her family. You see, her son was shot and killed. Her 13 year old boy. Her baby. And as I hugged her, cried with her and prayed for her comfort my heart broke right along with hers.
I’m not sure about anyone else, but this is when my brain goes – Why God, did you chose me to connect with this particular person for prayer? How should I pray? What can I say to make them feel a connection with you?
We both stepped out for a moment and I asked her how long she had been coming to Champions Centre. She said she had been coming off and on for 20 years, but she had never really connected with anyone. This is where my stomach drops, my heart breaks and that fire is fueled once again to never stop talking to people. Never stop asking them if they are plugged in and connected to a team or small group.This is why I am passionate about helping others get connected. My mind wanders to the “what if’s?” What if they had been connected and plugged in to the life of the church?
I pray that each and every one of us become passionate to connect with others and help them connect to the life of the church. After all, wasn’t Jesus passionate about building the church and connecting people?
That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.Ephesians 2:19-22
