The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18

Thrilling Evangelism

Christ had no home, no job, moved from place to place, ate dinners with the most interesting outcasts of society, performed miracles, cast out demons, healed hearts, gave others purpose, and felt the reality of His Kingdom coming while confronting the evil at work in the world.

Jesus calls us to do all of that, and it’s thrilling the encounters you’ll have when you step into it. If there is a God who created it all and moves in us, then anything should be possible and normal (see this sermon we heard once we got to Vegas).

 

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these – John 14

---

: Drawings I did of our inspiring friends who led our time with YYAM Las Vegas. With them we did a whole lot of evangelism, as you will see…

The strip club 

Read Lauren’s blog on this

“You can’t make that stuff up” – my mom said one day after I explained the 24 hours before. 

We arrived to prayer walk around a strip club one night (Scarlet Hope is an incredible ministry liberating women). It was closed. Before we even get the chance to pray, an outgoing woman, J, looking for a job there came up to us.

Lauren asked to pray for her in this moment. After we did, with tears and true joy “I hope you guys will be telling others about this, because I certainly will be! God works in mysterious ways“ she said. Our host showed her a cafe job opening.

 

Continuously, in our street evangelism we start with the one God highlights and then numerous others flock to us, instead of us to them…

Right after J, was a smooth, chill talker. D’s back arched round, his cheek swelled round. He had just been beaten and had a rib broke. He asked “do I get prayer too?” He shared of past days leading in ministries. Of strange and sad stories. 

D, after he prayed for us and us for him, rolled tears. I had prayed that Jesus would comfort him as Jesus himself was innocently beaten.

”These aren’t tears because I’m sad, I just happy God brought you guys here. I can get back on the right path.“

He wanted to give up on taking his medication, but he said ”I got to be here for you guys. I can’t wait to do this for eternity with you guys”

We let him walk away, but then decided to go pick him up to find a place to sleep like he originally asked.

 

The next day, one particular interaction pierced my sometimes hardened and numb heart (after all the sad things we see) in pieces…

The one robbed, who sobbed at our feet

I thought I was fine as this suffering soul poured herself to us. But it wasn’t fine. Day later and still, I can’t get her out of my head. 

I could be her. 

I saw this skinny, houseless woman, E, across the street. I felt compassion and the Spirit telling me to go!

We went to her. She invited us to sit on her grass. Immediately she was choked up. Cookies offered, then two random women showed up and gave their pizza just then. She was overwhelmed. She said “I want to introduce Jesus back into my heart.”

She said the name of Jesus before we prayed healing over her eye. She said her eye usually doesn’t water yet it was!

She kept saying “you matter to me” “I love you guys” “I feel secure and safe” “you give me hope” (the night after she had been robbed) 

E used Raquel’s phone to cancel her credit card. She wouldn’t stop saying how much she loved us and making funny comments like your hot, your wise, etc.

I know we need to protect others with Covid, but some moments call you to like the Good Samaritan, take your own cost to love your neighbor (Luke 10). The neighbor who leaked her heart and suffering to us.

I touched her leg and she asked me to keep my hand there. She laid her hand on top of mine. A woman never touched or held, was held by us. She kissed our foreheads. And she prayed a humble, sincere prayer over us as well.

We gave her devotionals and told her to just say the name of Jesus when she’s facing tribulation. 

 

The Thrilling part….

 It was the end of our ministry day. You learn to be interruptible and late for the cause of the Gospel which is liberation to captives. 

Right as 3 of us started talking to E, a drunk man, fell in the street. Traffic was going. Sharon went after him to help without thinking twice.

 

This same man once back on the sidewalk, started taunting E. E started crying out and cursing at him. If he could only give her this one moment. She deals with this all the time. We asked our other teammates to talk to him – A.

Well guess what?!

Annie wrote 3 love letters the month before. God gives her names and words to write. Read about how this has become a calling in her blog and about the 2 specific letters she gave out in Idaho in my blog  

That morning Annie felt like the one love letter she hadn’t given out yet, with A’s name, was going to be given out soon. And moments before we met A, Annie felt like A was there.

A, the chosen one for a letter from God, just happens to be the drunk guy yelling at E!

Annie and Sharon sat with A, gave Him the letter, and watched him cry hard. Annie felt like God told her to tell him “whoever hurt him in the past shouldn’t have.”

In her letter before she ever met him, God led her to write “you have strong eyes.” Guess what, A pulled up a YouTube video of how he swallowed quarters, and then they would come out of his eyes! 

A said to Annie after she was just hoping he will remember, “I see your eyes, I am going to remember those eyes.” Pray that A will supernaturally be healed of his pain and substance abuse and for the hope and future he has in Christ.

A’s “street sister” kept coming up and saying very strange distracting things. Even so she ended up praying for my teammates and prophesying (speaking encouragement from God).

Not to mention, I didn’t hear in the moment. But while we were sitting with E, there was a woman from across the street yelling at us “you aren’t helping, you are just trying to make yourself feel good.” Kenz started interceding in that moment “shut up in the name of Jesus.” 
     
She did in fact stop after that.  

Vacheral from YYAM told us during debrief that it is so common when a salvation is about to take place and when the Holy Spirit is moving for the enemy to send a distraction and opposition like that.

 

Meanwhile, another not sober man came over.

It happened to be the one Lauren gave a water bottle to earlier. Kylie And Lauren asked if they could pray for him. He asked for deliverance from sex, drugs, alcohol, masturbation.

After the prayer, he said my soul feels filled up right now.

All of these conversations were happening in the same moment as you can see in the picture from my perspective sitting with E.

The Spirit was pouring out to desperate souls. Through obedience and trust, we got to be a part of the Kingdom advancing in Vegas here as it is in Heaven.

I felt so alive, adrenaline, joy. This is abundant life and purpose found in Christ. 

In the moment E prayed over us, I looked up at Kenz and both of us were tearing up.

 

Rewind…

We started ministry in a completely different area, but Lauren and Raquel felt strongly in their spirit to go to Fremont. Thank God we did.

For me, what set the entire day into motion…

We were praying for another homeless women with a sweet Louisiana accent. Out of nowhere, an African American young man rolled up on his skateboard and asked Can I pray for you?

Reuben, man of God. He was saved 3 years ago and ever since just goes around and prays for people. Makes sense, since the authority and power he releases in prayer over us filled my dry mood to drive. I could again freely flow in my prayer language and was praying in the Spirit up until the point I saw E across the street.

Reuben was the protection we needed – and the answer to our prayer that morning – to not only minister to others but that they would minister to us!

 

The book worm 

Honestly on this ministry day I didn’t know if I could bare another story about getting robbed or beaten up. But thank God, we met M. 

She has 30 something great grandchildren. She has been shot and died. She said she went somewhere that was amazing, restful, and peaceful; she’s not scared to die anymore.

She loves history/mystery books, reads the Bible everyday except for the past two days since she’s been in so much pain. When she said it, Lauren and I looked at each other and knew what we had to do…

1. Buy her books since she only had one. 2. Pray for her healing. We did both. Of course their was a thrift store right down the street. Lauren and I had so much fun picking out books for our friend. 

 M was so happy. We passed by in our van two more times, and each time she was reading. We honked, and she waved gladly! God sees you and loves passion

Casa de Luz

Our first ministry day we worked in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Vegas, where molestations and drug dealing happens.

At the same time, the man who works for Casa de Luz said that investing into these people has actually restored his faith in humanity – as he sees them consistently look out for each other.

He had a big shot career but was completely unsatisfied so the Lord called him here. He emphasizes the importance of hearing the need from the locals and addressing it with them sustainably. 

Along with using Spanish again to carry conversations and our friend from YYAM highlighting specific verses for people in their new Bibles, my favorite moment was a man we met walking through the gate alley.

I prayed someone would open their door who needs God.

Out of a house comes a distraught man, but oh I got to share with him how a personal relationship with Jesus matters more than church.

I could see the sort of joy-filled awe on his face of being born again after we prayed and shared how reading the Bible transformed us. He said he just went to church after 10 years, “I am just realizing that God works in mysterious ways.”

 

Fremont Apologetics  

We went to the one. Then, 3 others came over. Two of them share a sign that says God bless.

One wanted to make sure we knew not all houseless people are addicted to drugs or mentally ill. The other, a black homeless hilarious guy, was telling us why we should vote for Trump and how he plants seeds to the younger generation and trusts that God will water them. 

They were frustrated with the one who they tried to take underneath their wings that came over to us with a “I bet you can’t get me drunk“ sign.

He showed us his wrists that said hail Satan (just at the time we were going to pray for healing for the first man). Raquel told him God knows your heart; well be praying for you.

 

Lastly C, the thinker approaches us, “you guys talking about God; I want to know about that!”

We tell him the Gospel: the intangible God made tangible in Jesus who gives us the Holy Spirit – Jesus the long prophesied Messiah who overcame death and evil. The picture above is us talking and walking as we needed to leave Fremont street. 

He tells me all the objections he has about Jesus being the Most High. It’s men like him that I feel alive talking to. As all that theology and questioning and apologetics that I’ve spent time researching prove worth it.

I’ve learned to listen first, and not to be defensive. But from both peace and passion share the evidence for my faith.

I could see his face was moved that I had answers, and he kept on passionately sharing his beliefs too. He received the New Testament we gave him. On it I wrote research Lee Strobel and the empty tomb argument. 

We prayed for him, and throughout he added prayer requests. He said, his hand motioning in eagerness so we could talk more, so can I have your numbers?? 

Sharing with my new friend Sharon 

Sharon inspires me. She’s from India but has lived all over. Ever since she was a kid, she would wake up with scripts for movies and write them down. She has seen the demonic manifest in others. Yet, her spirit is joy and she has an eternal perspective. 

We loved loving on people together.

Kylie, Sharon, and I talked to an older Greek man named George at the entrance of a Casino. We talked and talked. When we needed to leave, he asked We can’t keep talking??

Before ministry, sometimes we pray for God to give us specific words or images for the day. 

I imagined a paper airplane and was led to Mark 10 where Jesus welcomed the children, and said to receive the Kingdom like a child. I thought I’d either give it to a child or to a man who needed to return to his child side. It would seem we encountered the latter.

He kept on wondering how we weren’t paid, and why we were going to share about Jesus at our age. He did not believe we have souls or that prayer matters or that Jesus is God. Money is what mattered to him. Sharon boldly asked what can we take to the grave?

I kept trying to give him the paper airplane, but he wouldn’t take it. So I set it on a casino chair.

But as we watched George walk away, quickly, trying to hide it, he grabbed the airplane.

And there in lies our hope. That a stubborn and lonely man is seeking for more, is seeking for the treasure and the pearl of the Kingdom that Raquel had prayed about that morning.

 The photographer at the Vegas sign

I saw Y earlier and told her we were on a Christian missions trip when we took a pic by the Vegas sign. A little whisper in my mind – “you should pray for her.” I saw other people from YYAM talk to her so I moved on.

I asked Sharon to come with me to grab my bag that I left behind with my wallet and my Bible that’s traveled with me across the world.

Sharon and I walked past her again, I told Sharon “I was thinking of praying for her”…Sharon quickly, “I thought the same thing.”

We give each other that look; we don’t say anything; we just turn around and head back to her.

Freely offering her lighting services for our picture earlier,  I saw the same generosity and outgoing personality. Her accent is thick.  

We learned her struggle to get by and how hard it is to see so much crime and do nothing about it everyday. I could have judged the way she was dressed and assumed things, but I would have missed such an inspiring soul and moment. 

Sharon prays a beautiful prayer about the Truth of Jesus. Y voiced her own prayers with eagerness. She explained how the times she didn’t pray were the times that lacked needed provision. 

We encouraged her “you have a beautiful soul and a willing spirit that honors God.”

As we say bye – my favorite sign of God touching a heart…

tears in her eyes – a face marked by joy, awe, gratitude, amazement that there is a God who would pursue her in this way in her time of need! 

---

Tears of Zion

 Annie woke up one night at 3:00 AM with a dream of me with tears streaming down my face, heart broken. She felt God tell her to pray and speak in tongues for me. She said He was speaking “woman of Zion” over and over for me.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 
– Isaiah 61  

For days experience after experience, like the one with E, added up, and I cried tears I didn’t know I had to cry.  

I was convicted that I consider it so powerful every time someone cries in front of me. Yet I want to be strong and not cry in front of others.

Continuously the love and prayers we share with strangers moved them to tears. I count it as a beautiful sign that the Holy Ghost is touching them. They are in awe of that God brought us to them to say I care about your pain.

 One of the most painful things for me, is “disowning“ my previous life and mindset in order to give over all of me to all of Him.

In San Fransisco we stayed with the girl who had given me the most powerful prophecy I had ever received back at training camp. After leaving her and her husband, she wrote me a note to be rooted in Him alone and do His Will not my own.

In losing your life for the cause of the Gospel, you will find it (Mark 8:35). But it does not exempt you from pain and trouble.

I once lived for my own ambitions and enjoyment of my life; I now live for something so much bigger. I went from empty longing for purpose and belonging to full.

I can no longer turn a blind eye to the black man spread across the sidewalk with flies swarming around him. That could be me. And I don’t know why it isn’t me.

Life not fair, that’s why God sent His Son to unfairly, innocently, be nailed to a Cross. To overcome death itself and restore humanity to it’s original intent – perfect relationship fully known and loved with their Creator made to steward and reign over the earth.

Evil is at work in us and in spiritual beings, and as children of God with resurrection power inside of us, we’re here to counter that. 

     

Listen to these podcasts to understand Heaven and Hell with a contextual reading of the Bible. 

I am currently experiencing Heaven on Earth and Hell on Earth. I used to be able to share a few experiential proofs of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection now I could talk to you for days. It feels scary that not only is the world darker than I could ever imagine, but God is infinitely more accesible and powerful and good.

It’s scary because now that I’ve experienced it, I have the call to not look back but to press on deeper and bolder in the faith.  

To die to myself, and let the peace of Christ rule in me (Colossians 3:15). To press in through the challenge of 24-7 community and to stay on the field when sometimes I just want to be with my family in Colorado pursuing a career and stability.

To go where he sends me. 

God would welcome me so joyfully back into his arms if I were to go my own comfortable or disobedient way for some time. The Cross was enough, no matter how far we sin. You stand forgiven with victory when you turn to Christ. He is better than even the best of earthly parents, like my own. 

His goal will still be to work out good for whatever you choose. And as you know Him more (spend more time in prayer and with his words in the Bible and with his people and putting into practice by the Spirit what he instructs) your desires will become like His. 

In doing His Will, we walk in the abundance of freedom and purpose and fruitfulness and loving character and true comfort from the Holy Spirit. (all this was brought to clarity when we stayed with Britt and Jason for one night)

“This is eternal life to know Jesus Christ” -John 17:3

A YYAMer, Dara, told me that God lets us feel the weight of burdening the world’s problem, but we have to know when to give it back to God.

At the Vegas sign, a woman told us God will move where our affections are, because we asked. And as a good Father, He loves to respond.

At a healing room, again for the 3rd time that week themes of strength and  authority and miracles came up. They spoke “mother of nations” over me.

Candace in Idaho also prophesied midwifing many in the birthing of their spiritual walk and intercessor of the nations over me.

Zion was once a place of hopelessness and destruction mourned by God at the injustice (Psalm 137).

But this is the promise for the people of Zion and for the nations once Jesus comes back and establishes a new Heaven and Earth:

 

So have the courage to cry

Tears are the expression of being alive, of being more than a body and more than matter. They are visible representation of a person’s heart and cabinet of experiences. 

We have to mourn, and we get to feel. 

Did you know many cultures spend weeks even years dedicated to mourning?

Job, the oldest dated book in the Bible, is considered a righteous man yet he loses everything at the hand of Satan and the allowance of God. God trusts Job to be faithful through these trials.

Do you feel despair and hopelessness? Job did too. And his friends sat with him for 7 straight days, cried with him, and didn’t say a word. Then he questioned God, and God answered with Grace And Wonder.

Watch this! “Who give a black man permission to feel?”

One of our hosts said she appreciates us deep feelers that feel the darkness of Vegas and push through. God is not our feelings; God is bigger than your feelings. So take your feelings to God she said. It’s ironic that the first thing we talked about at our training for World Race America was the important of having a soft heart that cries.

The exact moment when I sobbed in Vegas, my good friend texted me asking how she can pray for me. He continues to show me that this is who God is:

 “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” – Psalm 56:8

I have seen my racer community have the courage to powerfully deal with pain as well. They said things like this: 

“I thought my heart had gotten too hard to cry.” “I have never dealt with my emotions my whole life” – now they are coming out like a geyser that will bring water to others. “God called me a keeper of His children’s tears.”

Even if you feel like this…

Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” – Psalm 42:3 

Know that God feels and felt like we do, as we were made in His image And God chose to become flesh. Every part of who He is – the Father, Son, Holy Spirit has emotions. Whether it be anger at injustice and evil or crying at the brokenness….

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.“ – Ephesians 4

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. – Psalm 7:11

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he (Jesus) wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”– Luke 19

Jesus wept – John 11:35 (at his friend’s death, though he was about to bring resurrection)

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. – Luke 22

 

Pain and tears do not have the final word (1 Peter 3:22). Christ has swallowed up death, sin, and evil in victory (1 Cor 15:54). And we live in victory when we live in Christ who said It is Finished on the Cross (John 19). One day He will wipe every tear (Rev 21:4), and we will rest in perfect peace and love in fellowship with Him and the Bride of Christ forever. 

 

Greetings and blessings from California, pray for us!