Gathering with other believers to pray to our Almighty God is a privilege that truly never gets old. I find this even more impactful when you are blessed to be in a diverse group of internationals. Last night, again, I had such an opportunity as I joined believers and friends at the home of my brother, Santhosh Abraham. He and his family have been hosting a prayer group for several months. We try to get together once per month and focus on prayer and fasting, sharing our needs, and celebrating the answers that God sends to us. Last night, we also heard two powerful testimonies about how God can heal and empower us for a life on mission. Then we heard an original song by a young college student about how we, as believers, are grafted into the True Vine… Jesus. The recording is not the best, but I have it available below to listen to. Credit for “You are the Vine, I are the Branches” goes to the author of the song, Jackson Mooney, and I appreciate his permission to share it with you here.
Last night, we had people attending from these nations: India, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Thailand, and… California and Tennessee 🙂 We shared prayer requests and praise reports. As usual, I asked for prayer for CEF and on this occasion, I gave thanks for how God supplied us with our first summer intern. He did this for us after weeks of searching and – honestly – after I had given up on the search. Yes, I do believe that God does this for strong-willed, type-A people like myself 🙂 When we are at the end of our rope, so to speak… He steps in and makes a way. Yessir, you know what I mean.
About the two testimonies, the first was by Jackson Mooney and centered on how he was healed from a chronic, debilitating condition during his childhood and where God has led him thus far in his life. This situation had interesting connections to his earthly dad, California, Mexico, and ultimately to Union University here in our area. Jackson is grappling with how the Lord may use him in the music field and sharing his testimony near and far after he graduates from UU. I sense in my spirit that Jackson has many wonderful and interesting days ahead.
The second testimony was by a man named Brad White. I was amazed to hear his story, a man from the Brownsville, TN area… not too far from my hometown. Brad was introduced to our prayer group through another Union University student who testified a few months ago about a missionary that had led him to Christ, if I remember correctly, in his homeland – Thailand. Brad was that missionary, and he relayed his story about his time traveling, singing, and playing piano in the professional realm of Southern Gospel music with the The James Blackwood Quartet and how he was later broken for the nations and the need to share the Gospel around the world. If you are interested, here is a video found on YouTube that an SG fan recorded at the NQC many years ago where Brad is singing with the group.
Continuing… Brad shared about his missionary travels and how he has witnessed God do so many amazing and miraculous things in his life. I could not begin to relay all of it. However, perhaps he would be the subject of an upcoming podcast for the Nicholas Narrative? I may just reach out to him to see if that is possible. Stay tuned!
I’ll finish by posting a few photos from the evening and an encouragement to you. If you do not have a small group to share this kind of experience with, find one… or start one. Trust me, it will greatly enrich your life.
