The Art of Interruption
Today, the 26 amazing people I’m a part of CGA with and I did some evangelism in the Gainesville Square.
We started off with about 30 minutes of worship in the square being led by two of our fellow friends. The square is quiet in the morning yet filled with people on their way to work. We sang our hearts out and worshiped Jesus!
After worship, we broke up into groups and walked around Gainesville talking to people about Jesus.
Racquel, Taylor, and I went together and met many people along the way.
We were walking through the courtyard of the courthouse and I came across a rugged looking man sitting on the park bench. I walked up and interrupted him as he was rubbing his scratch cards with a quarter and a pack of cigarettes in his other hand. I asked him if there was anything he needed prayer for, and he replied with a hesitant no, but I sat next to him and asked him where he was from and learned about his life. He came from a line of four pentecostal preachers and he has far strayed from pursuing the path the former men in his life took. He knew Jesus but wasn’t in great terms with Him at the moment. I asked him once more if I could pray for him but I received another soft “no.” I thanked him for his time (never got his name) and caught up with the girls in my group who were praying with a woman who only spoke Spanish and her two young kids.
While walking to our next unknown destination (letting the Spirit lead) we took time to pray for the man I met on the bench. Even though the man wasn’t with us, we know God heard our prayers for him.
While walking along the sidewalk we passed a cancer hospital and felt led to go in and sit in the lobby. We broke up and sat with different people. I met Bobby who just walked in and was waiting for someone. He looked lonely so I walked up and asked if I could pray for him. He said, “I need prayer for everything.” This is a man in about his eighties with lung cancer and a huge oxygen tank by his side and missing a majority of his bottom teeth. It pained him to breath and to move and even to talk yet he kept talking. We chatted for a while and I also found out that he was a Christian, but oh how he regretted his past decisions of smoking and felt that he had destroyed his life. I placed my hand on him, prayed healing over him, prayed for the immense amount of pain he was feeling, and for his fear of pain coming up with is chemo sessions coming up. Tears welled up in his eyes as they started pouring as he came to recognize once again that Jesus was sitting next to both of us on that bench and absolutely loved and adored him. Seconds after “Amen” the “someone” he was waiting for, his daughter, walked in and I said my goodbye as he headed out. Perfect timing by Jesus I would say.
I found another woman named Hilga who asked prayer for continued healing over her walk with breast cancer. She was in her mid-50’s with short hair currently regrowing from the most recent chemo she went through. After praying with her she said that God’s provision has been evident and that people in parking lots, grocery stores, and now in the hospital have all walked up to her and prayed for her.
Racquel and Taylor found others in the lobby and prayed over them and had long talks. All 26 of us regrouped in the square, one group actually had a man accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior and can’t wait to find a Spanish speaking church in our community of Gainesville.
God is always on the move my friends!!
Be bold, you have something that people all around you desperately need! The hope you carry is far greater than any awkwardness or rejection you might face in trying to give it away. Sharing Jesus will always require interruption, so interrupt boldly and share the joy you were chosen to give away!
