Being The Church of Hope

Life on the field can get hectic. Between travel, getting used to new cultural norms, and full days of ministry, it can be easy to miss the needs in front of you. However Megan Kennedy discovered, sometimes God places people that need care right in front of you.

The night Nehemiah showed up, I was distracted. The internet hadn’t been working all day. I had a million things on my to-do list. After a long day of ministry, I sat down in the office of our compound, exhausted, but ready to work. 

I barely said hello to this man I had never seen before as he walked through the door. I looked up, said “Good evening,” and went back to work.

As I continued my work, the sound of worship echoed from the dining hall and God said, 

“GO. Put down the work and go.” 

In the next room chairs were placed in a circle and my friends sang out praises to God. The man I had seen in the office sat with his head in his hands.

After a few songs, he looked up, and through tears, he introduced himself as Nehemiah and stated flatly, “I would like to tell you what happened.”

Nehemiah shared about his work in a specialized police force unit in Cape Town and the violence that ensued the night before. 

He shared the horrors that resulted in the death of three of his closest colleagues right before his eyes.

With his heartbreak so evident, we began speaking words over him. We told him who he truly was — a man of courage — affirming his worth, how much he was loved, and the hope in his life.

He cried and we prayed. We sang. We continued to speak words over him, and he continued to share his heartbreak with us.

He told us he didn’t want to come at all that night. His mother had heard about a group of World Racers staying nearby, and she brought him to us so we would pray for him. 

“I was upset with my mother. I told her that you people couldn’t possibly help.
But I was wrong.”

By the end of the evening he was laughing, calling us friends, and telling us how glad he was that he came. Over the course of three hours that night, God began Nehemiah’s process of healing. 

I almost missed Nehemiah that first night. I’m glad that God gently nudged me towards him, reminding me that the church isn’t only a building or service on a Sunday. He reminded me that the church is a forever thing, unable to be separated from any part of our lives. 

We are the body. We are the church. 

 By listening to God, Megan and her team were able to be vessels of God’s mercy. Her obedience lead to healing a wounded heart. Are you feeling the nudge to go do something for God? Sign up for a trip today.