Day 26

Savannah Church | Re:Hope Southside

This answered prayer is a special one because it has been answered by all of you! 

I have been a missionary since 2019, but a majority of that time, I have felt alone in the journey. God has given me pockets of people in His kindness over the years so that I always had some community, but I never had a steady church community to rely on. I actually had quite the opposite. I faced opposition from the church I grew up in and by my entire family, who didn't believe that as a woman, I should be a missionary. But I trusted in the word that the Lord spoke to me to continue in His call! The added layer to being a missionary is that I often move around. I invest in people and communities and then have to say goodbye, at least for a time, often with little consistency, stability, or support to go with me. 

I started to pray in 2020 that God would provide a church community that I could call home, and would be a stable place that I could consistently come back to. I prayed specifically about community, honesty, vulnerability, discipleship, friendship, etc. I was not praying for a perfect church home, but I was praying for a genuine one that loved well. 

In 2024, I was still praying these prayers when I was invited to come help with Scotland Bible School at Re:Hope. Not knowing anything about Scotland, I felt a clear yes from God to come to Glasgow. Little did I know, God was answering my prayers! I came to serve where there was a need, but I left being served, given a family, selflessly loved, and cared for by every person who makes up Re:Hope. I left with the testimony that God is faithful to answer prayer in His timing and His way that is so much better than my own. I am so thankful to have a church home to come back to and a community to be sent by. You all have shown me I am not alone on the mission field! Church is a GIFT! 

Deirdre O'Reilly | Re:Hope West End

Early December. I wanted to attend a short morning service but I was going to be very late if I went by foot. A bus was due so I popped round to the bus stop. Waiting rather impatiently, the bus seemed to be late. Maybe I should run and try to catch another bus elsewhere. But another traveller had the app and said there is definitely a bus on the way. 

More waiting. Eventually the bus appeared but when I arrived at the church I could see from the door that the service was drawing to a close. The final hymn was about to begin. So I did not even go in but, rather disappointedly, began to leave. Crossing the road outside the church I heard someone calling my name.

I turned to see a young man whom I bump into every so often. He is facing some challenges and usually allows me to pray with him. We chatted about the challenges and then I asked, ''What about Christmas? Will you be with people or will you be on your own?''

''On my own,'' was the sad reply. So when I prayed with him I included a prayer for peace at Christmas; it can be a challenging time for many people.

A couple of days before Christmas, I was crossing Dumbarton Road near the bus/train station when again I heard someone calling my name. Again I turned (despite the traffic!). There was my friend on the other side of the road.

I went back over the road to chat and I could see that he had a travelling suitcase with him. ''Going somewhere?'' I asked. 'Yes,'' he said. 

I was so happy that not only did God help him to arrange something to cope with this challenging time, but God also allowed me to know that this young man would not be on his own. 

God had answered the prayer and let me know that He had answered the prayer. Thank you God!

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Do you feel alone, or know someone who does? Present this to God and trust that He is the one who brings the lonely into families!