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I drove to Westpoint of Evangelism in Simi Valley, California, on Monday morning, December 4, 2006. As a lay person, I really wasn't sure why I was even there, but I prayed several minutes in the parking lot before going in. I prayed that God would show me what he wanted me to learn or do. I asked Him to make it very clear to me. I walked into the meeting room. It was still 30 minutes before the start of the meetings. A man immediately came straight to me and told me that I should go to the Ukraine next September to do evangelism. This man turned out to be Mauri Bascom. He explained the program and I wrote down all of the information. My immediate reaction was shock and terror. I really dislike public speaking, and public evangelism is the last thing I thought God would want me to do.
That very day, I providentially had lunch with several people who were all evangelism veterans, and they all encouraged me to sign up. I believe God was confirming His answer to my prayer. I was convinced that God had answered my prayer, but I was still "dragging my feet"
and didn't sign up right away. Nevertheless, people started popping into my life who had done international evangelism campaigns and/or had some connection to Ukraine. After Westpoint, I knew I should sign up for the Ukraine campaign. I didn't, and because of that, I had no peace. I finally signed up in March, and then I had peace.
After I was signed up, several things happened which would normally have discouraged me and I might have dropped out. But, I couldn't doubt God's answer to my prayer, and that belief helped carry me through the whole experience. Looking back on the experience, I can see God's hand guiding everything. What a God we serve! |
