As I entered my then church home it strategically so happened that a young man of somber countenance met me and asked if I could direct him to the men’s room. In so doing I introduced myself and told him I was headed to the ladies room and to just stay put afterwards and I would sit beside him during the service.
As we headed toward the sanctuary I asked why so somber and he replied as to what was going on. His wife was currently (and had been) in the crisis unit at a hospital in close proximity to the church and so he felt to come hear the preached message. They were from Somalia. Her family was not in America to support them in this critical hour and his family disowned him because he had become a Christ follower.
She was pregnant with their first baby but unfortunately went into early labor. She was just a mere few months along and needless to say much too early to deliver a fully developed healthy baby.
The young man later went up for prayer from the pastor and his team.
Normally, I don't involve myself in matters within the confines of the local church as they deal with personal individual matters from their members and/or visitors since the local church body already has specific departments, pastoral ministers or lay teams already in place. Which means that under normal circumstances I would have left anything more than our initial meeting in the church’s hands upon his visit there.
My ministry serves a different function and anointing and is not a pastoral work whereby one shepherd's sheep.
However, as I was listening to the sermon the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart “to go” and “do” what the young man asks of me to which God apparently already knew in advance.
The church dismissed and we walked toward the doorway together, as soon as I placed my hand on the door to leave the young man asked, “will you come with me to the hospital?” I said yes, only upon remembrance of what the Holy Spirit had already spoken to me which was (to go and do) what was requested therefore I went.
While en route the young man took out his phone and made a call and opted to speak in his native language. I asked him about it because I needed to know what I was walking into and shared he called his wife and told her I would be coming. I also asked him why me? Seeing there were certainly others and he explained he had spiritually discerned some things about me.
As I walked into his wife’s hospital room I was greeted warmly. I introduced myself and shared with her a little about me and disclosed a little about my family to try and ensure that she felt safe and comfortable. After all, we had never met before. I sensed they were both absolutely calm and just fine.
From there the Holy Ghost gave me the process on what to do and I followed his lead and carried it out with hand washing, holy oil, speaking the word, and the laying on of hands over her belly with her permission. Finally, I wrote down a few words on a small piece of paper which the Lord gave me by the unction of his Spirit and handed it to her. Yet, in the meantime the young man was completely crushed with tears streaming down his face seemingly without hope as he knelt by her bed.
As for me I had done what was asked and felt was required of me. My mission was completed. Just before I left her room I declared that "I will hold your sweet baby in my arms one day."
There was much that happened along the way. Nonetheless the good news is that she was able to carry her baby a few months longer and not miscarry. Because he still came early, he had a long road ahead of him but he did get a little healthier and stronger each passing day, which gave them hope and encouragement.
Fast forward. Months upon months later one Sunday while at church they came in as a family and they introduced me to baby Samuel, which means God has heard and I had the privilege of holding him in my arms as I previously declared when it did not seem possible. As I was holding him, she whispered to her son, "this is the lady who prayed for you."
And to God be the Glory!
Postscript:
-After Samuel's birth his wife shared with me that she would read the words on the small piece of paper I placed in her hands while she was in the crisis unit. She told me that she read it almost daily to help her go through the long journey during her dark times.
-The couple would share their testimony concerning their baby and everything that took place to others from their homeland who were in shock and in disbelief that God would use a woman as a vehicle.
-The young man shared he was a pastor of a large church about 1,000 members strong in his home country. He shared pictures and slides with the entire church of his work, his flock and him baptizing the people. He later went on to become a part time church leader and teacher at my former home church.
Scripture reference:
I Samuel 1:20 “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
In bible history:
Samuel functioned as a priest, prophet and was ancient Israel’s last judge.
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