Pottsville, PA.
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The following report comes to us from team leader Josette with our St. John the Baptist team in Pottsville, PA:
At the beginning of our 2nd outing at our local farmer’s market. both evangelists felt it….the sting of the enemy, manifested through irritation, anger, bitterness, resentment, and a lack of desire to love others. When we honestly and humbly admitted our feelings, we recognized it as a possible attack from the enemy. After prayer involving repentance, renunciation, and faith, we were able to see that God had His own (mightier) plans in store for us this day! It began with an answer to the team’s prayer for God to lead more evangelists to us. A team member was shown a face (someone the team member knew but hadn’t seen in a while), and didn’t have her contact info. Today, God brought that very person to us as soon as we arrived. We explained about SPSE and that we’re in need of team members, (no pressure…but God told us YOU would come!). The new member accepted our invitation, and said she’d love to attend the next training session we had scheduled, which happened to be that very night!
Next, a woman (“Pam”) sheepishly approached our table and confessed that she “is in need of some direction”. We reassured her that she’d come to the right place at the right time. Pam tearfully admitted she’s not been living a good life, but has been praying to get her life back in order. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to come into Pam’s heart and the team members sensed that God wanted to remind Pam she was a beloved daughter, to remind her of the gospel message, to forgive those who hurt her, and invite her to reconsecrate her life to Him (she was a baptized Christian). Pam advised she was short on time, but was open to prayer, so the team shared the gospel in 3 min., led her in a prayer of forgiveness, and invited the Holy Spirit to come into her heart and continue to lead and guide her. She was given a “Good News” pamphlet (and shown the prayer of consecration to pray at a later time), a Miraculous Medal, a rosary, and a “How to Pray the Rosary” pamphlet. She said she’d stop by in the future and let us know how she was doing. By the end of the encounter, her countenance had changed, she appeared calmer, more hopeful, and joyful.
This is why we love sharing the gospel and doing this work. We get to take part in God’s plan for others and the world. There’s nothing more rewarding than to realize you and Jesus are walking hand in hand and recovering lost ground from the enemy. We pray for all those we encountered today, and we pray that God continues a good work in us to make us better evangelists.
Praised be Jesus Christ!
How wonderful to touch the Heart of another as you did here. Continue spreading the good news that Jesus is present with us if we only look for him.