Sunday Nov. 29, 2009
Summary ::
The HSE class went to First Baptist Church for Sunday service. After service, the HSE students along with some members of First Baptist Church went into the nearby neighborhood to invite the community to a BBQ which was to be held at the church by HSE. They spread the news of the BBQ, bringing in as many locals as possible so they could come together as a community and experience a sense of fellowship.
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Testimony ::
Mandy Enriquez ::
I wasn’t planning on going out to the community because I’m used to staying with the food team, but they didn’t need everyone to stay so Sally and I decided to go. We were going to be in a large group of eight, but we broke off into two groups. My group ended up being Sally, Juila, James, a church member named Felicia and myself. We walked to our designated street but we took a little detour passing out fliers to people walking on the main street.
Julia spotted a man leaning on the side of the building of a liquor store. We saw him walking and knew right away that he was drunk. There was a bit of hesitation but we decided he might want free food and went over to talk to him. He was sitting on an abandoned couch with no cushions. I sat next to him and the others came around him. He said his name was Carson, we started by asking if he was hungry and he said he hadn’t eaten in two days. We told him about the free dinner at the church and he said he couldn’t go because he couldn’t walk and when we offered to help take him there he refused and got upset.
We continued to talk to him and we began to notice a demon inside of him and his soul that was crying (literally) for help all at the same time. He cursed and yelled, and then would apologize. He would say we were brainwashed and then said he loved us. He said he was an alcoholic and then would start to cry and say he didn’t want to be that way. He said he’d let us pray for him but only if we gave him money for alcohol. He thought James was going to hit him because of a hand motion James made and then called him a friend. We tried leaving a couple times, but I personally couldn’t. Julia, Sally, Felicia and myself started crying with him everytime he did. We had compassion for this man and ached for his lost soul. When we left and we were walking away my steps slowed down until I stopped and started balling and I TOLD Sally my heart hurts walking away from this man and I physically could not go anymore. Sally then told me that what I was feeling was God’s heart and his grief after being rejected.
We stepped off the road and prayed for him. I don’t know where Carson sleeps at night, he didn’t look homeless. I don’t know where he’ll be tomorrow or the next day, but as we were walking back singing “Hosanna” we all saw God’s goodness in the sight of the snow-capped mountains, the clouds and the sun rays beaming in between them. The last thing James pointed out as we were walking was a faded sign over an abandoned building that said “Victory over darkness.” We all smiled and knew that we could pray for Carson and know that there will be victory over darkness. I found comfort after praying with a few of my sisters and Jacob when we got back to the church and trusting that Carson was in the Lord’s hands and there was nothing else we could do. Yesterday, I was bummed about not “experiencing” what everyone else was because I’m always working with the food team and the very next day God shook me and showed me the reality of spiritual battles and the goodness of who he is at the same time!
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<span style=”color:#dd3300;”><span style=”font-family:georgia;line-height:26px;font-size:18px;letter-spacing:1px;”>Love Out Loud Tour :: First Baptist Church
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