Waiting to Say Yes: Anaheim

Two months post Dallas Harvest America, the anticipation was swirling as the 39^th annual Harvest Crusade neared. Again, my husband, Rick, and I were asked if we would join our two boys, Jacob and Zachary, with the SWAT team. (Finances had yet to improve. In fact, they got worse, but the Lord continued to provide for our every need, including the costs for Jacob’s Summer High School Church Camp and the trip…again!) As was the case in "Waiting to Say Yes: Dallas," it was not an issue if I was called to go. This time, it was a matter of if we would be physically able to go. Cost aside, there were spiritual attacks that surfaced to prevent two of us from attending about two weeks prior and then directly on one, three days prior and even during the first day of the trip. No surprise. But God’s will always prevails.

On the morning of day one, I read through 1 Corinthians Chapter 2 where it is packed FULL of power and truth. In sum, when we share with others, the message of the cross should be presented in simplicity and confidence in the Holy Spirit for the words to speak and to ‘prepare’ the recipient’s heart for them to ‘see and hear’ such glorious truth (verse 9) and to say yes! “Coincidentally,” I was checking my email as we were driving, and Pastor David Jeremiah’s focus point verse was also 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Over the course of those four days, I had the privilege of engaging in twenty-nine (29) meaningful conversations where the gospel was shared with fifty-three (53) people, resulting in sixteen (16) responses [seven (7) recommitments and nine (9) first-time decisions] that Jesus Christ is their Lord and savior. Some were making their way back to church, in need of encouragement, shopping, on their way to work or looking for someone, but many of them shared, ‘I was just thinking about this,’ or ‘You just decided to talk to me?’ And such a sweet blessing, my husband, Rick, was in our group. I just love sharing the gospel with this God-fearing man!

One of the most meaningful conversations was our first evening at Huntington Beach, right off the pier. Past check-in time to head back with the group to the hotel, I could see that not everyone was gathered, and some were still in conversations. I cannot bare missing opportunities to share, so I began to scan the perimeter. Thankfully, I saw a fellow SWATian, Destiny, and she was solo, so I went to join her (later that evening, she told me she had been sharing for some time and drawing a blank when I came up). She was talking to Jackie and Stacey, and they were friends. Not knowing what had already been discussed, I began with the gospel. They seemed a little stand-offish and not convinced that Jesus was the answer. Quickly, I picked up that Stacey had roots in Catholicism, and I was able to share that I did too. Regardless, I asked if I could pray with them. Immediately, Jackie began to break down in tears, and her friend began to share and state that that was why they were at the beach…to help her friend through a hard time. She gestured and encouraged Jackie to share. But it was clear she was overwhelmed with emotion and hurting. I began to put my hand on her arm and back while getting her approval, in an attempt to comfort her. And the words that came to my lips were Romans 8:26-27, ‘that sometimes we do not know what or how to pray. But the Holy Spirit prays and groans for us. And God knows exactly what is being prayed.’ Her face went from skeptical to shock, unbelief and then awe. I do not even recall the prayer, but I remember God’s peace. And I remember the girls. Their demeanor…from disinterest to hope. It was divine.

God’s hand is clearly upon his children. And we can easily miss his gentle hand preparing, massaging, intriguing, calling and asking those that want to say yes…and for us to be used in the process! People just need to be asked. But how can they say yes, if we do not speak? Be the one who asks, or help will come from another.