fight the good fight.

Today I went with my friend Damaris to the public school where she teaches. She had invited a Christian band from New Zealand to come and play a show at her school today, so I tagged along to check it out and help however possible. I didn't really know what to expect. But I prayed at 6am just before we left that the Lord would use me, and keep us all reliant upon His Spirit. And He did!

The school had about 1000 kids from ages 10-19 or so. The concert was outside on a parking lot/basketball court area. And even though it's been cold and rainy and miserable the last few days, the sun came up bright and early as we drove to the school, and stayed out pretty much all day long. I ran the merch table, helped with little things here and there, and got to practice some German skills with the kids and teachers. And otherwise, I just shot up prayers now and then that the Lord would do a faithful work in the kids' hearts through the concert. 

The kids got pretty into the concert after a couple songs, which was encouraging. During a little interview with the band, for which Damaris was translating, the lead singer started sharing a story about growing up in New Zealand. Basically, he and his brother almost drowned while swimming at the beach, and just before they went under for good, he remembered his mom telling him when he was a child that if ever he should need help, he just needed to pray to God and ask Him. So he did, and the next thing he knew, he was on the beach and his little brother was running around, unharmed.

So that story got his foot in the door to share about the Lord, and he was pretty straightforward. I was a little nervous, just because the entire school was at the concert, including most or all of the faculty, and this is a German public school. Then after the story, he asked if he could pray for the kids. He did, brave guy, and afterwards they finished with a few more songs.

After the show, Damaris was pretty shook up after some teachers commented negatively about the message. But we had a sweet time of prayer, just giving the whole situation to the Lord, and especially praying that Damaris would have strength to trust the Lord and have wisdom to say the right things when the time came. 

Before we left, she and the lead singer were able to talk briefly with the headmaster of the school, and they came out smiling. He already had all his pictures online, and was very complimentary, and said that the kids loved it. There probably will be discussions about this tomorrow and Wednesday as Damaris goes back to school, so if you think of it, pray for her! The Lord totally opened this door for the Gospel to be shared at the school, and for her to be courageous in her faith. Pray that the kids will ask questions about the Lord, and that the teachers will have softened hearts too.

On the way home, I was encouraged to have been part of it all today as a prayer warrior. When we have open hearts and willing hands to serve wherever He puts us, He really can use us to influence the people we meet! A thousand kids and a bunch of critical staff members heard about Jesus today, whether they were comfortable with it or not, because He loves them. 

So, I'm encouraged [and I hope you are, too] to stand fast in prayer, and to trust the Lord in doing so. It's a blessed ministry.