Home  Newsletters Molly Molly's May 2006 newsletter
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Molly's May 2006 newsletter |
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Dear Friends,
“I’ve known… uh… ‘saved people’ before,” Paul [not his real name] said hesitantly as we sat at a coffee shop last fall. Paul was a new friend of mine, and we had just begun talking about God. To tell the truth, he looked as if he would be more than happy to sink through a hole in the floor if it meant he could escape the conversation. He later admitted, “Talking about… God… well, it makes me really uncomfortable and kind of scared.” But as we were quickly developing a close friendship, you might imagine that avoiding such a topic with me would prove rather difficult.
As we grew to know each other better, Paul gradually seemed less reluctant to discuss spiritual matters. In fact, I began to see drastic change in this area. You may remember that in December, I wrote about some of the opportunities I had had to speak with people about God at my job at Target. Well, one of the stories I mentioned was about Paul: At the end of one of our workdays, he had pulled me aside and said, “I have a friend I want to pray for. How do I do that?” I was astounded at the softness of his heart, the beauty of that simple request, and the humility it took to ask such a question. Since that day, I have had no doubt that God would reach him.
Over the next few months, Paul began to gratefully accept (and even request) prayer instead of feeling awkward about it. Moreover, after weeks of pestering him, he finally began coming to The Salvage Yard, and even admitted later that he was glad I had gotten him involved. He even offered to help with some of our website work, and continued to attend church while I was in New Zealand. Before I left, I gave him a Bible, which he later reported that he was reading.
At times I start to feel as if God answers prayers except the ones I care most deeply about, and it becomes difficult to continue trusting that he can actually bring about change. But a few weeks ago, while Paul was out of town visiting his sister, he attended a church where an altar call was given. He responded and gave his life to Jesus, later telling me that it felt like coming home. He also said, “I bet the guy you knew six months ago seems like a totally different person.” When I reminded him about his comment about knowing “some… uh… ‘saved people,’” he laughed. I marveled—and continue to marvel—at the fact that God really does make people new.
That is easy for me to forget. I spend so much of my time in a place that seems to stay perpetually cynical and closed to the Gospel. I am almost confused to see such clear movement of God in Paul’s life. I find myself wondering if it can be real. But it is; I see changes and growth in him every day, and he is excited about his new faith. I am so amazed and grateful to have been able to see God reshape this person before my eyes, and it gives me hope that he can and will do the same in the lives of other people I care so deeply about.
The truth is that, even when I feel discouraged, I do continue to see God moving. I have had numerous random encounters that have resulted in deep discussions about God. I have seen God answer prayers and guide me in where I should be and whom I should speak with. One of the baristas at Hard Times Café has asked me to help him find a good study Bible, because he’s interested in starting to read the Bible again. Both Paul and another of my co-workers now consistently attend the Salvage Yard. It is exciting to know that God is faithful and will continue to use me to act in people’s lives when I am follow him.
I want to encourage you not to give up. God is faithful. I continue to remind myself of this fact, because there are many others that I want to see respond to God’s call like Paul has done. And they will. God is good. Thank you again for everything you do in my life. Please see important prayer requests on the reverse.
Take hold of the life that is truly life!
Molly S. Waggoner
- Please pray for Paul and his new faith. God is speaking to him in new ways, and I am excited to see what God has in store for him. Please pray that his life would show continued evidence of God’s work and character.
- I am still trying to decide how to handle my involvement in the international aspects of Steiger. I am realizing more and more that my heart is in Minneapolis, and my passion is for the ministry here; I do not want to take on so much internationally that I have nothing left to give locally. Please pray that I would know what my roles are—what to take and what to leave.
- Next month, I will be going to the Rainbow Gathering again. It will be my fifth time going on this trip. I am well aware both of the spiritual danger there and of God’s power to overcome it. Please pray that God would prepare me, protect me, and use me to have an impact among the people at the Gathering.
- Recently, the woman who leads our food packaging ministry returned home from work to find that her house had burned. Please pray for her—for her insurance to pay well and for her peace of mind. She has been planning to go to Malawi to help distribute food and teach metalworking to orphans, and she needs to be able to go despite this tragedy.
- I am working on raising more support so that I can only work half-time starting in the fall. I really need your prayers for this, because I do not know the best ways to go about it, and I need God to provide opportunities to speak and people who are interested in supporting me. I am entirely dependent on God for this, so please pray that somehow I will be able to raise the needed finances.
Thank you!
MSW
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