Submitted Conversations of Faith

I was at the bank this week, waiting to meet with a service representative. I spoke in a friendly way to the woman waiting next to me (which is what you do in Indonesia), then pulled out my book about AIDS to read, saying that our ministry to youth includes a team that goes to towns around and to schools to educate youth about HIV/AIDS. I thought that would end the conversation, but she was extremely interested, asking questions because she is concerned about her grandchildren and their choices. I went on to invite her to bring her grandchildren to our youth worship events. She said she would bring the whole family! She also mentioned that her husband had just passed last month, so I was able to encourage her with the love of God that is special for widows.

I spoke to a young man walking by the church. He stopped me and asked, “What kind of church is this?” That led to a series of questions about LCC and what we believe.

A man on line at the pharmacy in front of me told the pharmacist that he did not know if he had enough money for the ten dollars co-pay for his prescription. I paid his co-pay for him and he asked me why I did that. I told him that he is a good person and that God should bless him.

Prayed with and for a neighbor who is battling with cancer.

My “new” card from the bank wasn’t working after try, try, try and phone calls to the bank. While I was offering to take my groceries back the woman in line behind me paid for my groceries. EVERYONE was BAFFLED and she turned to me after I thanked her profusely and said, “God bless you honey.” Mic drop. My sister blessed me, a stranger, but a sister.

I have a friend who is having a really difficult time with life right now. He does believe in God and is a Christian, but he’s having difficulty with his relationship with God. Recently he called me and we spent some time talking about what’s going on with him and I was able to encourage him through it. God gave me some things to tell him and encourage him with and I’m so glad God used me to help my friend.

I told my mother that I’ve been praying for her about a particular health issue. The next Sunday she said that issue stopped and she doesn’t know if its because I prayed but it’s very strange how it just stopped abruptly. We agreed in the end that God heard my prayer!

A recent widow (and colleague) experienced God providing for her this week in unexpected funds. She was praising God for His timing. Clearly God sees her and is with her! We rejoiced together.

I’ve shared the Lord with my coworker. He is a “realist” and believes in many philosophical ideas of creation or a higher power, AKA he is an atheist and thinks that “God” is a coping mechanism. We are currently talking about the validity of the resurrection.

Have been doing a Bible Study with a co-worker. We meet every Friday at lunch time to go over what we read.

A friend and I had the opportunity to pray for a homeless man named Lenny in Manhattan. He was receptive to the prayers of blessing and happiness in Christ that we prayed for him.

A work colleague hasn’t spoken to her son in over 6 months. I promised her that I would pray for her daily that God would reunite them.

I had a 2 hour theological discussion with a contractor last week. He told me about some family troubles and I told him God will never give you more than you can handle. After saying this, he smiled and shared his faith about Jesus. Turns out he is a religious Catholic. I mentioned being a Protestant and he grew curious. We talked about the differences and similarities. Of course Martin Luther and the Reformation was brought up. Ultimately we agreed that Jesus died for our sins and he invited me to a bible study.

An exterminator visited the office to treat termites, and during his visit he was limping. He is young, maybe in his late 20’s, and explained that he has Sciatica likely resulting from a few cars bumping into him while he’s been on the job. I realized it was an opportunity to pray for physical healing, but I’ve never done that for a stranger before and was intimidated, so I didn’t ask to pray with or over him. The minute he left the office, Jeff arrived and I told Jeff that I had missed the moment. Jeff said, “The moment isn’t gone! We can pray for him right now! What’s his name?” We prayed for his physical healing in Jesus’ name for him on the spot. I was encouraged by the zealous enthusiasm and encouragement from our pastor.

For the past 2 months my childhood friend Gary and his wife have been under the dark cloud of Heather’s diagnosis of COPD that had been turned to diagnosis of cancer! Mary Alice and I were praying for them. 2 weeks ago Heather was diagnosed with brain cancer and this past Wednesday she was getting a special laser surgery to reduce the brain tumor. (They called us on Wed afternoon.) The doctor did a last MRI to discover the tumor was not present! Doctors were confused, no one could explain! We had been praying strongly for them. Gary had very difficult time accepting that this could be a miraculous event. He is a man of little faith and thanked us for praying. Heather is a Christian by background and she had  minister come over to their home to prayer with her every evening before the laser surgery.

When visiting Angie’s neuro-optomologist this week, I asked if there were any medical developments that can help her with her stroke. He said that Jesus walked the Earth 2,000 years ago (implying that she needed a miracle). I said that if you believe in Jesus, he can perform a miracle today. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He laughed.

I spoke to a young man who works in Home Goods who I’ve been speaking to for a few years now. His car was hit and damaged in the parking lot. God’s hand led me to him that moment, and I ministered to him. He was able to listen to and learn about God’s goodness to sustain us in times of trouble. He gave me his email to add to a daily devotional list. Praise Almighty God our Father! Thank you, Jesus.

I have a friend who used to be a satanist, and over time she has turned away from that lifestyle due in part to conversations we’ve had. She is presently a seeker of God and His will against great opposition.

A guy came up to me in Starbucks and said, “Hey you go to Nyack College, right!” I said yes. He saw my keychain that said so. He told me that he was a textbook dealer and does some work with Nyack College but he asked me if I was a Christian and I said yes. He said he didn’t know where he was. He said he believes in God but not really. Then he asked me to tell him about Jesus. So I told him my testimony and told him what Jesus did for us.

Invited our neighbor to come to church, and to bagels and breakfast. She came and was blessed. Since then we have been in conversation about prayer, and the power of prayer. She is seeking employment and it keeps us connected as I share my prayer for her daily. She is not a believer and is seeking for more in her life.

I went on a walk with my 91 year old atheist neighbor on Tuesday. I sent him Hebrews 11 via email and a sermon message I had written because he was interested to read it. He asked good questions and said he had never really read the Bible before. I shared quite a bit about my struggles of faith and doubt, and he was definitely listening! Please pray for him.

I was able to write letters to each of my 19 students. It is a public school so I can’t actually say “Jesus.” But in those letters I spoke life over their innocent hearts. These past 8 weeks, I’ve seen the lies that they believe about themselves. In my letters, I spoke God’s truth over these lies.

While taking a walk in town, my husband and I met an acquaintance walking her dog. We stopped to chat. I had prior knowledge that she had recently been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s. Asking how she was doing, I could see in her eyes a sense of despair, but bravely sounding optimistic. I asked her if we could pray with her for a blessing. She agreed. At the end, she was smiling and thankful for us.

Visited a mosque with students for an ATS class. We asked a woman to explain the sermon to us. She did and also told us some of her story, including how her 20-year-old son had died and she tried to do lots of good deeds. We mostly listened but also blessed her and have prayed for her since.

A conversation about Jesus and what the Gospel means–truly means–versus what TV illustrates. This was someone who was asking me a question about Jesus. This was a teacher I work with from time to time. She asked how Jesus is different from every other religion and I was able to share what He has done for us.

Met with a couple that is entering into a new season of life and is encountering challenges and joys. We were mutually encouraged.

We had a painter come over to give a bid on a very small job, and he ended up getting a contract for a much larger job because we had realized we needed help with something else. We thanked him for responding to the small job when others hadn’t. He told us he worked for the King of Kings and wanted us to know what God looked like because we had seen his child. Of course a “party” followed we had such a nice time of prayer before he left.

Spoke to a friend in GA about going to church with my family and how it has brought my family closer together.

We were able to pay for the Laundry of 33 families at our Loads of Love event. Each one of these was a conversation of Faith.