A large gruff looking man with a shabby beard stands up and picks up the microphone from off of the stand. He tells everyone a miraculous story of how God brought his daughter back who had been missing for close to two years. He and his wife were in another country visiting the sites when their 5 year old daughter turned up missing. They had been looking up to take a picture and when they were done, she was gone. “It all seemed unreal. It’s not like we were ignoring her, we were just looking up then my wife and I were disagreeing, trying to decide where we should go next. When we finally decided our next route, and finished looking at our map, my wife began looking around for her.
I thought nothing of it, until my wife started shouting her name. Immediately my heart dropped. I have never had a feeling like that before. I knew when I heard my wife calling her name that she was gone! I could feel my chest overfilled with physical pain like my heart was failing. I held my chest and ran about calling out to her, while my wife ran the other way. My thoughts already was stuck with the worst imaginable thoughts. As a man I had thought of everything to make sure that we enjoyed our trip, but never could I have imagined this. I did not know what to do. I did not even know the language enough. I had learned basic words, but who learns the word ‘kidnap’ on a routine visit. I was devastated. We did everything we could think of--the police, the embassy, private organizations, hospitals, orphanages, private detectives. I did everything!” The man is holding his worn baseball cap tightly in his clenched fists.
“My wife quit her job and would not leave. I came back and tried to work, but I was so ineffective, I knew I would end up losing my job, so I decided to cut my losses and instead of paying bills, I gathered up all of our money and we moved to the country illegally. We began searching the city. Barely eating and drinking we were able to save money while staying in the cheapest places possible. It amazes me now as I think about it. We learned the language so quickly—in record time! We are average people, but now we were both so aggressive.” His eyes begin to swell up as he continues.
“The type of people you meet when you are on a mission is baffling. We literally went through the entire city on foot. Determined we did everything possible to get involved to save our daughter. One night while it was raining I turned to my wife and I could see the tears rolling down her cheeks in unison with the rain outside. It hurt me as I told her that we had no more money. I could not even look at her. I kept my eyes focused on the leaking boards above our heads. Everything around me seemed to be crying, and all I could think about is, ‘Is my baby crying too?” He lowered his head and fumbled with his hat as he continued speaking slowly, trying to express himself. It is obvious that he is not the type of man that sheds tears often.
“We knew that the following day was our last day.” Suddenly his voice cracked as the pain of that moment filled him up. “I had prayed so many nights but that night I beckoned to the lord like I never done before. I don’t even remember falling asleep……My wife was gone when I finally woke up. She left a note stating her location and that if this is our last night she wanted an early start. So I gathered the rest of our things and I began looking, like I’d done every day for months. I went everywhere!
When our last night began to consume the sky I started back to the place where we slept that night. When we did not plan where we would stay, my wife and I would always meet where we last slept. Because it can be dangerous at night I would always make sure she was back early. And sometimes I would go back out and look in the dark. As I walking I was numb, because in my mind it was all over. My family, and my life was really all over. I began to call out to the lord again. My soul cried out from every fiber of my very inner being straight to God. I knew that it was out of my hands.”
Tears are still flowing as he wipes his face with the back of his sleeve. “All I kept saying was Jesus to myself as I walked. Then I said his name loudly, to let out my complete disappointment. That’s when I heard her cry. I could not believe it. I heard my baby! I ran to where her voice was. There was a party going on and I burst in. What I saw….,” his voice trails off as he immediately closes his eyes tightly. “I still can not speak of….what I saw” He finally opens his eyes up toward heaven. Each of his emotions is being displayed as he speaks.
“My anger made my adrenaline flow in my veins, as I pulled a grown man away from my daughter. I can’t act like I am a saint! I would have killed him! But before I had a chance, someone with a gun began shooting at me. I quickly grabbed my daughter and ran. I am a heavy man and was never very athletic, but I got away. God must have also sent me an angel. He must have carried me, because I got away so quickly that I only heard three shots and I know he kept shooting. He was close enough to get a direct shot at us. God directed each bullet away from my little girl and me. Neither one of us ever got hit.” He quickly swipes his face with one hand as he shifts his weight from one leg to the other.
“What we have gone through has been unbelievable, but our daughter is back. And I know that it is only God that allowed me to hear her. The music was too loud for me to have heard her muffled cries. I was not thinking where I was going, I was just walking and crying out to the lord, so my exact location was only in Gods guidance. She was not suppose to have stayed in the same country, but God directed everything to work as he worked.” For the first time since he took the microphone, he looks out at the congregation.
“I am here as a prayer warrior! I cry out to the Lord and he really hears my pleas and directs everything accordingly. I want everyone to know that God is ready to do a mighty work so none will be lost. We are here to do countless work that God himself will ordain to be ordered perfectly. Jesus knows our heart and he will put everything in place. He will send angels to guard us and send us on our ways. He knows the cries of the people. He knows the deepest desires and pains that only he can cure. We are here to show the people Jesus! The one true God that is not afraid to prove himself. Jesus the only son of the most high God! Jesus, the savior of the world! Jesus, the one who will come to you no matter where you are mentally or physically! Jesus, the owner of the keys to death and hell! Jesus, who is alive and testifying on our behave to the father! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”
His voice shakes the building as he repeatedly shouts the name of Jesus! The microphone vibrates, making the name of Jesus ring through everyone. He holds up the microphone and Sister Kelly, who is wiping her tears away from her face comes back up, grabs and hugs him and takes the microphone. She looks around the room which is emotionally filled up in God and the evidence of his glory! Without saying a word she holds back up the microphone. A woman comes up and begins to sing an old negro spiritual, which brings down the house. Making everyone rise up out of their seats and sing along and praise the lord. Singing and shouting resounds from the church making the actual building shake.
People come up one after another testifying of the glory of God and singing song after song. This time Sister Kelly does not stop anyone from coming, but she does say when it becomes late that the church will stay open all night long. “If anyone wants or needs to leave you are more than welcome to leave or stay. At
The rest of the night prayer, songs and praise are lifted throughout the night as most people stay. At
When they finish Sister Kelly gets up and gives the microphone to Deacon Kelly, who prays so intensely that God’s presence is undeniable. As everyone is in one accord in his name, Gods power and anointing blesses everyone. When Deacon Kelly finishes he opens his eyes, lifts his head up and states, in a commanding voice, “It is time!” Motioning for everyone to stand, he gives the microphone back to Sister Kelly who enthusiastically exclaims, “It is time for us to be used as Jesus’ vessels! At every exit people have set up maps of the city. There are also water jugs, directions to various spots like hospitals, our death and blind school, homeless shelters, malls, safe neighborhoods, bad neighborhoods, mental institutions, orphanages and someone has set it up so that our local jail will have a meeting from
Chapter 8 (It Is Time!)
Smiling down with perfect weather and a soothing breeze, the time has finally arrived and each person is prepared and ready to go out into the world and make a difference. Sister Kelly goes to the hospital that she has been going to for the last three years now with specific things in mind. She mentally repeats the words she has told herself daily. “Everyday I must: Heal the sick, raise the dead, give sight to the blind, make the maim whole, lose the bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, cast out demons and devils, preach the gospel to the poor, heal the broken hearted, set at liberty them that are bruised, recover the sight of the blind, preach the acceptable year of the lord and preach the year of jubilee.”
Today is the day that she has been dreaming about for years. As soon as she walks into the building with 10 other ladies with her and 15 ladies with Sister Burney, her normal feeling of ‘maybe it will work this time,’ is completely erased. Sister Kelly completely erases that thought knowing that this time, God is with her ordaining her moves. Determined Sister Kelly walks the familiar halls, quoting scriptures to herself as she goes to the main section of the hospital. Sister Burney turns toward the ER, without hesitation she smiles at Sister Kelly then heads for the sound of the flat line.
Since Sister Kelly comes to the hospital so often, some of the nurses know her and wave hello. They finally reach the main elevators when a nurse comes up and tells her about a special case. “Oh Sister Kelly, you have to see this little girl. She is fifteen and she is such a sweetie! She has such high spirits she wants to be a veterinarian. I told her you are coming. So I am so glad that you’re here today. She came in yesterday. She is in critical condition. She needs a new heart. Her heart is not growing with her. It is not pumping enough blood and her circulation is so poor. This will be her second surgery. There is something in her system that is keeping her heart small. I told her that you can come and pray for her to get another donor.”
The nurse is leading the group up to her room. “Her parents are going crazy, they are willing to do anything including looking at trying experimental treatments. The mother even said she read somewhere that maybe a pigs heart can work. That’s why I told them about you. They said that when you come in I should take you straight to them. So this is perfect timing.”
When they reach the room Sister Kelly and four others come into the room while everyone else stays outside. The nurse introduces the family to Sister Kelly. Immediately Sister Kelly gives the parents and older sister a warm hug. The mother holds onto Sister Kelly’s hand, “Oh my God, I am so happy to see you. I would love for you to pray for a donor for my daughter. There is a wait list but they say she could only have two more weeks to live. Her body just keeps rejecting everything! Please pray with us for a donor! The nurse says you come here to pray with people often and sometimes you get results. I pray that you get results today, because we need it.” The mother is so nervous and upset she is slightly shaking. Her eyes are swollen and red and her hair is undone. Sister Kelly smiles and calmly pats the mother’s hand. One prayer warrior asks the family to come outside to pray.
Willing to do anything they go out to speak with the others that will talk to each one individually about the plan of salvation. As soon as the family is gone, two prayer warriors goes to each side of the girls bed. The other prayer warrior stands at the foot of the little girls bed, all interceding through prayer. The little girls complexion is discolored making her face and arms look bruised. Sister Kelly goes to the girl and touches her hand, waking her up. “Hello sweetie, my name is Sister Kelly. How are you?” The girl opens her eyes and looks around the room. Speaking weakly and slowly she responds, “Oh, I am so glad that you’re here Sister Kelly! I prayed you’d come by. I wanted you to pray for me to get a donor.”
“Well, I’ve heard both your mothers and your request of God, but I can not help but to adjourn you. Would not it be better if your current heart is healed instead?” The little girls eyes widened as a tear slowly slides down one cheek. “With everything that has happened to me, it doesn’t seem right to even believe for such miracles anymore.” Understandingly Sister Kelly gently squeezes her hand. “If you are willing it can be true!” The little girl blinks rapidly and slightly nods while closing her eyes and responds with, “Yes, I am so willing! Please pray for me!”
Sister Kelly puts one hand on the little girls head. “I have permission, and authority to command you brain to work together with the heart for total restoration of this body.” Moving her hand from the little girls head and placing it on her chest. “Heart! Heart! You take on your full responsibility. Grow, and maintain the health of this body, through the name of Jesus the Christ body be restored and healed this self same hour.” Then Sister Kelly lifts up her hands.
The nurse who has been watching everything is shocked. This is not what she expected. She pulls on her stethoscope to check the girl’s heart. The little girl’s discoloration is already changing. The nurse does not say anything as she looks at the little girl then at Sister Kelly. Immediately she leaves the room to go get a doctor. The little girl smiles and thanks them all for their praying. “I feel better already.” The family comes back in when they see the nurse running around calling for a doctor. The mother is ecstatic noticing the changes in her daughters complexion. Soon a doctor comes in to check the girl out and confirms that there is indeed a change in her heartbeat. Sister Kelly and the three others leave the room. One of the ladies prepared to go through the plan of salvation, goes into the room and stays with the family.
Sister Kelly goes to the elevator and hits the up arrow. She is ready to up and work her way down. God is smiling down on everyone that will let them into their room, as God heals them all. Even those that are not patients are being healed and blessed. When a man sees that his son whose leg is broken is healed he asks for prayer for his receding hair line. Sister Kelly smiles and asks the hair follicles in his head to be renewed and to grow hair. He jumps up for joy, believing Sister Kelly’s words and happy that Sister Kelly did not scoff at his desire.
With every healing Sister Kelly immediately departs, leaving someone behind to speak to the family, patients, nurses and technicians about God and tell them the good news. They go to room to room until they go into a room and asks if they can pray for them and the people inside answer back that someone already did, and they are now fine. Smiling Sister Kelly heads back to the elevator, praying and thanking God.
The nurse that took them to the first room, calls out to Sister Kelly. “Oh my God! I am so glad I caught up with you. Her heart is better! Her heart is better! I can not believe what happened! I am a Christian, but I never would have expected this. I have some other people I’d like you to come see!” Sister Kelly smiles and reports, “Well there is a large group of us so someone from our group might have already prayed for them.”
The nurse is shocked again. “You mean there are more of you?” Sister Kelly opens her hands and motions to the ladies around her. “Wow! This is amazing!” The nurses mouth is still open in amazement. For the first time, she really looks at the ladies with Sister Kelly. “Where I am going to take you people are not allowed to just come into. So I doubt anyone else has gone through it. So just in case no one has, can you please come with me?” Sister Kelly nods her head as they follow the nurse.
When they arrive a man comes to the door and the nurse goes in. They speak for about five minutes then the nurse comes back out. “Your right someone has already been here and the room is empty. These people are dead and now they are all gone….” Her voice trails off as the words she has just spoken baffles her. Sister Kelly turns to leave while one of the ladies stays back to speak to the nurse about God and His desire for us. Sister Kelly, and five out of the ten ladies leave the hospital together. Sister Kelly gives God praises as they all sing and lift up their voices concerning Gods glory, while they drive to a local park in a poorer part of town.
Other group members are there passing out food and talking to everyone—those that get food and those that do not. Sister Burney’s daughter is with them. She is happily handing out food when she sees Sister Kelly coming over. Excited she exclaims, “Oh Sister Kelly this is so wonderful! I can really see the difference all of this is doing in peoples lives. One lady said she did not know what she was going to do to feed her two set of twins tonight. This is so amazing!” Sister Kelly stands on the opposite side of her, behind a lady getting a plate fixed and says, “I am really glad that you are participating and decided to be apart of what we are doing.”
Sister Burney’s daughter thinks about it and hands a plate to someone then walks over to Sister Kelly and enthusiastically insists, “I always knew my mother was a good person, but the majority of the church people that I met are just as bad as everyone else. They are all such hypocrites! But now I can see all of you are just like my mom with at good heart. Really wanting people to be helped. If this is what it means to be apart of Jesus, then I want to do this!” Sister Kelly immediately hugs her and whispers in her ear, “Now that is what I want to hear!”
Sister Kelly calls to one of the ladies with her and the two of them discuss who God is and His real plan for her and the world. Sister Burney’s daughter is very open, willing and accepting of the words that is being spoken to her. Sister Kelly passes out a couple of plates and then leaves with only seven other ladies, heading for the jail house. After going through security, Sister Kelly hears the end of Corey’s speech.
“Peter’s life is our example. Peter consistently did and said things that are wrong. He is strong in the lord but he is also weak. Peter is the one that denied his own involvement with Jesus right before Jesus was crucified. Peter has many talents and a heart that allowed him to do great things despite all of his mistakes. When you read the bible you will see several circumstances, attitudes, mistakes and problems that the people had, yet God still used them. Despite, everything Peter or any of the people in the bible did, didn’t do, said, and desired that is contrary to God, God was still able to use him mightily.
I came here to specifically tell you that you can be used by God no matter what is or has happened in your life. God is not wanting you to become perfect for him to work with you. He is just waiting for your desire for him to be strong enough for you to allow him in your life. There are several people with me to help guide you, pray for and with you. Allow yourself to get to know your creator.” Several inmates line up to speak to the different people. Sister Kelly stays for 20 minutes speaking with a couple of the inmates. Then she leaves and Ginny and Teri come with her as she goes to the local orphanage.
By the time that Sister Kelly makes it back to the church it is evening time. She asks a lady to put up a note on every exit and on the cars to remind people that if they are fasting to make sure they introduce food back into their systems slowly. A young man hears the conversation and states that he has a list of acceptable foods and a process plan that everyone should follow considering this seems to be everyone’s longest fast. Sister Kelly tells him where the copy machine is. The young man nods and goes out to make sure it happens. Sister Kelly is heading toward the sanctuary when Tim rushes by. Seeing her, he stops and comes back to hug her. “Thanks Sister Kelly, I got an unbelievable story! Also my crew is out in the sanctuary right now taping one of the Pastors speaking. God is okay with me taping. I realize now that God just wanted me to get this story. I would have missed it because I was focused on my will more than his. God is truly alive and well.” He smiles then runs down the hall.
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