How We Started
Opening My Heart’s Eyes
God opened our eyes to see vast numbers of new people around us in our new neighborhood: lost, unchurched, and hurting neighbors. No church in sight reaching out. God was speaking very directly to my thoughts and specifically to my details of concern through people—many times in passing conversations when others were totally unaware.
In July, we attended a prayer meeting at another church with a dear friend, and God broke my and my wife’s hearts together. That evening in the prayer service a lady began to call out a word that she felt God had placed on her heart. As she spoke, it pricked my heart. She addressed the vision God had given me of reaching people and transforming lives, the fear that had gripped my heart to proceed, and my faith (or lack of faith) in regards to the mountain of a task that I saw in front of me. Her words were to confirm that this vision was from God, that my fear and frustration would only be relieved by faith, and that the mountain would be moved as a result of God’s working miracles to make it happen. The pastor taught on obedience. His main message objective was not coming out of disobedience but rather a person in obedience continuing in obedience for the future new vision of God’s leading. I was numb with fear but of a different kind. I am not a spook-easy person, but what happened to me that evening is forever emblazoned in my heart and mind.
Passion to Pray
I began to pray and ask God if this was truly from him. I needed to know if my desires were fueling this or if I was really hearing from the Lord. Christin and I prayed through everything from a call to the pastorate to going on the mission field. Nothing! We felt as if God was being silent. One month later we attended another prayer meeting. This night was devoted solely to prayer. Again, another lady began to speak a word that she sensed God had placed on her heart. The message, though worded differently, was the same. The words confirmed the vision being from God, identified fear as my stronghold, and told of God’s miracles moving mountains to fulfill the vision. Whatever hesitation remained in my heart was pricked and drained that night. I knew I would follow. I did not know how.