SUNSHINE

As an employee of Jericho Road, I have the privilege of facilitating our Discipleship House, where men are changing their lives as they pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ.

One of the weekly aspects of the Discipleship program is what we call ‘street ministry’. Just as Jesus met a physical need as well as a spiritual need, we give out granola bars and juice boxes and, when possible, share our stories and pray for the people we meet on the street.

I want to share just one of the street ministry moments that has broken my heart:

Sunshine is what we see after a storm or when the dark is gone and a new beginning is coming.

We were pretty much finished street ministry for the day, handing out the last of our ‘goodies’ down near the Shepherds of Good Hope. As we were walking away 50feet behind us or so 2 women were yelling in our direction. No one was ahead of us so it was definitely directed at us. I felt like we needed to put our heads down and speed up our walk to make our way out of a compromising situation. Something in me decided instead to quickly turn around, walk towards them and yell “hey are you talking to me?” They seemed startled, then began to laugh and wondered aloud if we had any more juice boxes.

We gave them what we had left and started to ask them questions. I noticed one with beautiful hair, but her dirty black feet and the hurt on her face didn’t match. I asked if she was ok and immediately an avalanche of pain fell forth through her tears. She said she was sick of this life and the men she uses to make money from. She wanted out. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt her pain. I began to tell her I understood; that I had been there and found a new way to live. I told her there is hope in a relationship with a God who loves you and created you. There is a way out of here and that way is with Jesus. I asked her if I could pray with her, and she nodded yes.

As her tears poured down I was reassured that God has a plan and a hope for this beautiful creation named Sunshine. Two weeks after we prayed for Sunshine, I miraculously found out that she is in jail and is being ministered to by a friend that works in the jails telling women the good news of Jesus Christ.

Take a minute a pray for SUNSHINE.