Category: Faith Stories

Faith Stories: Where God Wants Me to Be

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and I will answer you. You will search for me and find me, when you search for me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-­13

Almost every day I would pass by St. John’s UMC. I could be on my way to work, shopping, or running errands. Each time I passed by, I would hear the voice of God saying to me, “Here is where I want you to be.” My reply was, “One day, Lord, I will visit but I can’t leave my church. I have so much to do there. I sing in the choir (as if they really need me). I’m the Children’s Coordinator, I teach Sunday School (ok, so what if Devin is the only child who shows up every Sunday) and I direct the youth choir (ok, ok a trio but they sound really good).” This went on for over a year! God telling me where I’m supposed to be and me giving excuses for my disobedience.

God gives us free will, and that’s good. When God tells us to do something and we disobey him, he won’t force us to do it. Instead, we experience the Jonah syndrome. God will allow us to be swallowed by a BIG FISH until we decide to obey his will. That’s what happened to me!

Every time I went to church it was a struggle. I didn’t want to go. (That was so out of character for me!) I couldn’t understand why I was feeling this way. It took Jonah three days to come to his senses. It took me a year to come to mine and thank God I did! When I finally decided to visit St. John’s, the peace and joy that I had been missing for over a year returned.

I know I’m where God wants me to be. Praise God!

Darlene Dickson

Faith Stories: The Unfriendly Neighbors

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5: 43-45

The young professional couple that moved in next door kept very much to themselves. They rebuffed welcoming gestures not only by me but by the other neighbors as well. They turned away the vase of freshly cut flowers I delivered one day and told one neighbor who with her small child had come to pay a visit that they were not interested in being welcomed to the neighborhood.

The young man removed a bird feeder I had placed on a tree between our yards and in the middle of the night repositioned the trash can that I had placed at the edge of my driveway to the very center of the driveway because he thought it was on his grass. More actions, both subtle and overt, spoke of their closedness and their unwillingness to be a part of our friendly, family-oriented neighborhood.

I found myself thinking unkind thoughts as I looked at their house on my morning walks and knew that was not the response Christ would require. So, instead, I began praying for this couple each time I passed by their house or looked at it from my kitchen window. As the months passed and the prayers continued, I felt a change come over me!

My heart was filled with love for this lonely and isolated couple. I persisted in my overtures of friendship. Gradually, smiles were returned, waves exchanged, and then the shared experience of devastating Hurricane Gustav offered an opportunity to give caring assistance and neighborly aid. Because of the persistence of prayer, this couple has embraced and become an integral part of the neighborhood. Praise God!

Prayer: Loving God of all, help us to recognize all people as our brothers and sisters. Help us to pray, even when we have no idea what words to use. Amen.

Betty Schroeder

Faith Stories: God is Amazing!

As I struggled for years with the choices our son made, I always prayed for him. This particular day was different. He was doing so well getting back on track but was beginning to lose hope trying to find a job. That morning he had an interview. As I waited to hear the outcome of the interview, I kept hearing “pray without ceasing.” So I focused that morning on praying for him.

I receive Joel Osteen’s daily messages. That day there were three back to back that said the same thing. “You may feel like you’re stuck, but get ready. God is about to shift things. Doors are going to open that have not opened in the past.”

WOW! I then scrolled up and went back to that message and it was only there once. I knew then God had answered my prayers. My son started work the next day. God is amazing!

Chris Stubbs

Faith Stories: The Transformative Power of Prayer

God was up to something in my life when I decided to participate in St. John’s Neighborhood Prayer Ministry a couple of years ago. Praying publicly had always felt uncomfortable to me. When I heard of the effort to go around to the neighbors surrounding St. John’s to pray with them, I was not inclined to participate. However, there was a nudging to do so, which at the time I attributed to helping my friend Kathy who was organizing the effort. Plus, I had heard they were going out in threes and not everyone had to pray. As I reflect, I realize God led me to that experience to learn the transformative power of prayer.

I ended up praying out loud with the neighbors a couple of times. But what touched me more than I ever anticipated was listening to those who were praying and the response of the people being prayed for. There were many examples that moved me but two have remained in my memory. I remember the woman who was alone and troubled and needed our presence that day. After praying with her, she broke down in tears. Our presence gave her the opportunity to let loose and let others share her burdens. Another day we found two men outside their home. They smelled of alcohol and appeared inebriated. But they accepted our offer of prayer and one of them started praying aloud himself. He said the Lord’s prayer so fast, it was almost comical. But at the same time, it was moving to hear him confess to being trapped in alcoholism and asking God for help. This experience praying with our neighbors shaped me in unexpected ways and prepared me for the next task that God knew was coming, even if we didn’t.

When Theresa Sandifer was contemplating her call to “feed my sheep,” Pastor Juan advised her to ask a handful of people to pray for her. Theresa asked me to pray about her calling. My prayers were about asking God to work it all out with Theresa. I was nowhere in that mix. After praying like this for Theresa and her calling, God spoke to me and asked me where my place was in this. He was preparing me to take the part I’ve had in the Shepherd’s Market so far. The next thing I knew I was leading the prayers at the opening of every Food Pantry day. I recently learned that some have said I say beautiful prayers and have been asked to lead prayer in other places. I look back now and see that God was shaping me through those prayers in the Neighborhood Prayer Ministry. I feel like it has all come full circle.

Deirdre’ Halliburton

Faith Stories: There Are No Coincidences

Read Mark 11: 22-24

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

– Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

I wanted to enhance my service to God and was considering two possible volunteer opportunities. Both services seemed good but even after several days spent pondering over the choice, I was unable to come to a decision. Finally one night, I turned to prayer to seek God’s guidance.

The next morning I opened my daily devotional and found in that day’s reflection excellent guidelines for making a choice of ways to serve Christ. The author asked the reader to consider two questions: Would the service feature me or would I be a quiet part of a larger effort? Would the service involve surrendering my will to God’s or would it be something that I wanted to do? As I read the author’s words, a clear picture of the best choice came to me. The guidelines seemed to have been written specifically for my situation! I was amazed and elated. What a coincidence that my daily devotional should address exactly what I had prayed about!

Then my eyes moved to the top of the page and I noticed the date of the devotion.

It was dated to be read more than a month later! How had I turned to that particular page instead of the one for that day? What an incredible and simple way for God to answer my prayer and show me how to make my decision. What an awesome God we serve!

Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for your guiding hand. May we always be able to

hear your voice and follow where you lead. Amen.

Betty Schroeder 

Faith Stories: A Grateful Giver

Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver.-2 Corinthians 9: 7

A lady and her husband own their own home just off Perkins Road. They are in their 70s and retired – both of them currently have health and mobility challenges. In their younger years, he was a day laborer and she a stay-at-home mom. She has told me that these days it is hard to live on their limited income. The groceries she gets from the Shepherd’s Market make it possible for her to pay for medicine and utilities she would not otherwise be able to afford.

Despite her troubles, this lady has a beautiful and caring spirit. One day recently, she rolled into the Shepherd’s Market toting an electric bread maker. She told us it was an appliance she no longer needed and thought that St. John’s could raise some money selling it in our garage sale. She also said that a neighbor was giving away a kitchen table and asked if she wanted it.

Again, this lady wanted to give back to St. John’s. She told me she took the table, not because she needed it, but so that she could donate it to our garage sale. Despite her challenges, this caring lady was thinking of ways to give back in response to what she’d been given. She is an inspiring example of a grateful giver.

Deirdre’ Halliburton 

Faith Stories: A Rush of Love and Compassion

I never realized the importance behind the concept of foot washing until I was the one on my knees doing it myself.

The Wesley Foundation at LSU went to Nashville, Tennessee, in January where around 30% of the population is, as they like to say, “unhoused.” While we were all on the mission trip, they told us one day we would be doing a “foot clinic” at a charity called Loaves and Fishes.

As young college students, we were all freaking out. We knew this was way out of our comfort zone, and we couldn’t fathom the amount of germs and dirt that may be involved. But we put on brave smiling faces and went with hope that we would make a difference.

When I entered into the building I felt a rush. It was a rush of love and compassion, and for the first time I felt that God was calling and pushing me to do this act of humbleness. That was a day that I will never forget because I learned that so many of these people who had only their feet for transportation were so similar to me but with greater struggles. They were able to truly open up to me and talk about their lives because they felt at ease. They opened up because I was the one serving THEM. They were able to look past the fact that I had a car and a loving family and look at me as an equal and as a friend.

After washing their feet, one gentleman called Tennessee gave me a cross that was made of twig and string. I tried not to get emotional because someone who had absolutely nothing was giving me a present. God’s love was so great in that moment that I truly felt His grace and mercy all at once.

I never really understood the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples until I was the one doing it myself. I invite you in this time of Lent to reflect on different acts of giving. Whether it’s giving your time just to talk, or giving your time to clean someone’s feet! Whatever it is, I guarantee you will feel not only a greater love for the other person, but also a greater sense of what God’s love is like for YOU.

Mary Hannah Prevot 

Faith Stories: I Feel Like It’s Christmas

“I feel like it is Christmas,” she exclaimed. Except it wasn’t December, and we weren’t standing in front of a sparkling Christmas tree with beautifully decorated gifts. We were looking at her choices of items from the Food Pantry.

Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of my well stocked pantry at home. Now I was walking with her pointing out that she could have peanut butter or jelly, sugar or flour, etc. She kept remarking how she felt she was really shopping! She never stopped smiling and she was so gracious.

The Food Pantry serves as hope to many in south Baton Rouge. But that day this joyful woman, who was so happy to receive milk, bread, rice, and beans to feed her family of five, filled me with hope that I could spend more time thanking God for the many blessings in my life and less time worrying. 

Lord, grant me faith to trust You in my day to day life knowing that in all times and in all places You are there. Amen.

Cindy Adams