More Insight

Insight

(Dragonfly Ministries President, Mary Hamrick)

July 2007

"Bringing the Lost ... "

In March 2007, I met a little girl named Shelbi.  Shelbi lives in Texas with her family.  She is 10 years old with blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin – to look at her, she might be mistaken for an angel on earth.

Shelbi has a heart for Jesus.  She invited Jesus into her life at a young age (yes, younger than 10) and she wanted all of her friends to understand about how Jesus loves them and how He paid the price for forgiveness of sins.

Shelbi began to pray for two of her girlfriends when she was 8 years old.  Each Sunday during the morning worship service, when the invitational hymn was sung, Shelbi would walk to the front of the church, kneel at the altar, and pray for these two girlfriends.  Shelbi’s mom shared with me, “I was afraid that people inside the church would think we had a terrible home life or something bad was going on, because this would happen every Sunday.  I decided to leave it alone and not say anything; I left it in God’s hands.”

After a year of praying for her friends, Shelbi invited her two friends to go with her to church camp so that they could hear first-hand about Jesus.  At camp, both of her friends invited Jesus into their hearts.  Shelbi smiles as she shares the story of how her two friends are now believers and she continues to pray for other friends who are lost and need Jesus.

In our church in Maryland, we have an altar at the front of our church. As in most Baptist churches, at the end of the Sunday morning worship service, an invitation is given by the Pastor for anyone needing prayer or wanting to ask Jesus into their hearts to come to the altar and pray.  That altar is oftentimes without believers kneeling to pray.

A young friend at church recently shared that he had a friend who needed Jesus and he asked, “Miss Mary, will you please pray for my friend?”  Shelbi’s story was fresh on my mind, so I shared with him her story and the burden she carried for her two friends and how she prayed for her two friends, week after week, knowing that God would honor her prayers.  I shared with him how, after a year of prayer, these two friends had asked Jesus into their hearts – I shared with him about the boldness that Shelbi had in walking the aisle every Sunday morning, not caring what others might think, but thinking only of her friends coming to know Jesus. 

The week after sharing Shelbi’s testimony with my friend, he made his way to the altar of our church and he prayed for his friend to come to know Jesus.  He has committed to pray for his unsaved friend, just as Shelbi did, and I have committed to join him in prayer, praying for those that the Lord places in my life who need Him.

We have been praying at the altar for three months, week after week.  It does not get easier to walk to the front of the church, kneel down, and pray – knowing that the entire congregation is probably wondering, “what is going on with them?”  This is a very  I have humbling commitment and requires  that, week after week, I shut out voices that say, “the church will think you have a problem; people will think you’re showcasing your faith, etc.”  Every Sunday, I hear these voices that try to deter me from keeping this commitment to pray for those who are lost and need Jesus.  Every Sunday, because of the testimony and faithfulness of a 10 year old girl and a God  hears and answers prayer, I make my way down to the front of the church to honor my God and my commitment to Him.

I asked, “Lord, why must I pray at the altar on Sunday mornings in front of everyone?” His answer was, “Is eternal life for your friends worth the letting down of your pride?”  “Yes, Lord”, I answered.  “The sacrifice of your pride is necessary so that you understand the value of these prayers; when we make a sacrifice for something, we more clearly understand the gift when received.”

I call Shelbi’s testimony, “The Shelbi Ministry; taking the lost to the foot of the cross.”
After a couple of months of praying at the altar for the lost people God has brought to my mind, I’ve had a few people from the church tell me, “I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but I’m praying for you.”  That statement opens the door for me to share with them about the Shelbi Ministry and to invite them to join me at the altar to pray for the  lost people in their lives.  A few church members have joined me on Sunday mornings; others have answered, “I don’t think I can do that, but would you add my loved one to the list that you pray for on Sunday mornings?”

We can change the world, one life at a time, if our commitment to those lives is one that will let down our pride and allow us to sacrifice outward appearances for inward commitment and obedience to Christ.  Will you join me in praying for the lost and changing the world for Christ?

(Note: In November 2007, one of the young people we had been praying for since this Insight prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord. Those many trips to the altar to pray were sure worth this precious one receiving eternal life.)

Mary H.