Scarred By Abuse
A few months before Christmas we had been praying Lord send us the most hurting children.
Shortly after, a friend called us about doing a special outreach for blind children who had been forgotten. When we discovered their plight, we knew we had to give these children the best Christmas party they’d ever experienced. It seemed so tragic, some were blind and others were both paralyzed and blind, having to suffer their disability and not be given the love and attention they deserved.
Each child had their own story, some that would break your heart, like little twelve year old Jerome. He had been born normal but was physically abused by his parents, to such an extent, that he suffered
hearing loss and was made partially blind.
At the end of the Outreach Party we showered each child with as many presents as they could carry. As we were about to leave, Jerome came up to us and said
something we had never heard a child say before. He said, “you know, you didn’t have to like us!….you didn’t have to come today, but you did. Thank you. Thank you. This has been the best Christmas
I‘ve ever had.”
“You didn’t have to like us” is etched in our memory forever. Because of their disabilities they felt we might not like them. As Don sang so beautifully and sensitively the Shepherd Boy song, it ministered to them how important they were to Jesus. David was only a lowly shepherd boy, but God could see the potential in him to be a great king. As we shared Jesus they were enthralled by the message. When we said we are never ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a spontaneous cheer erupted. We were enveloped in the midst of our Lord and His angels… His love was everywhere.
Can you imagine what it is like for these precious blind children.
Try switching off the lights at night and see how well you function for ten minutes in the dark. You will then be able to empathize with the world they live in. These kids are separated and excluded for so much of their lives. Another young boy said, “this was the best day of my life,” all because he was given a chance to sing in the choir. The relationship we established with these children that day changed our lives. Every child needs to know that they are worth the death of Christ, and that He is resurrected and alive and calling them!
Light In The Darkness
Some of the places we go into resemble dungeons.
You can’t imagine how many times we find kids left alone in dark lonely rooms. Watching the movie Nicholas Nicholby recently, the narrator commented, “when in life you lose a parent, we may wonder if we are lucky…we may find someone. We wonder, even dread, whose hands will catch us now?“ That really depicts the ministry of Angels for Christ. We try to catch the children who are having to grow up without the care of a protective parent. We, the church, are the hands of Jesus.
Angels Of Christmas Eve
We did an outreach on Christmas Eve at a rundown motel occupied by many drug addicts and alcoholics. We wanted to distribute our remaining presents and make sure no
child was missed. As we gave out the presents, we were approached by a lady who asked if she could bring her crippled daughter for a gift. Of course, we said yes.
She then carried this skeleton (maybe 80 lbs.) of a girl, who looked like she was dying. Our hearts sank, it was hard not to cry openly. This young lady, probably only in her twenties, was in a terrible state. We asked her why her daughter wasn’t in a wheelchair? She then told us that they had lost all their possessions when they couldn’t pay the storage. Miraculously, we found a new wheelchair for her and delivered it that evening. When we arrived, all the neighbors from the motel came out to see. There wasn’t a dry eye anywhere. Everyone believed this was a Christmas Miracle. There was a sign on the side of the chair that said, ‘from Jesus.’ God’s provision and kindness truly does cause people to break out in thanksgiving to Him.
The Amazing Work Of The Holy Spirit
They both looked like they had been through Hell. Lisa was only 33 but looked older. Her grandmother sat beside her as they listened quietly while we
shared the gospel. Homelessness and a hard life on the street had taken a toll on what was left of her life.
She had three children, all from different fathers, but they had been taken from her and were now in foster care. As we laid out the plan of salvation, the grandmother cried, but Lisa looked stoic and unmoved. When we asked her to confess Jesus with her mouth, she started to groan almost like she was in pain. We rebuked the demons…but the groaning and squirming went on and on. After a long time we ended the session with prayer. We were disappointed, and didn’t think she had found deliverance or made a commitment to Christ. What we didn’t know was that the Holy Spirit was doing His work in her heart. A few days later we discovered that Lisa was saved, set free, and on fire with a real zeal for Jesus. It was beyond our comprehension.
She has been attending church for three months now. Recently she told her pastor, “I was in a coma, I was bound by Satan.”
We can never go by what we see or what we feel. God’s Word cannot return void. Even though Lisa couldn’t get the words out that day, “he who the Son sets free is free indeed.” Now she cannot stop talking about the Jesus she’s in love with. Let’s always remember we are on the side of HIM who has ALREADY won!
Harvest Time
We are seeing Muslims, Hindu’s, and even Jehovah Witnesses find the real Jesus and commit their lives to Him. In spite of the secularization of our society and rampant
immorality, this is a wonderful time for evangelism. Truly as evil increases, grace shall abound! After viewing the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ, a women left crying.
Over the years she had become lukewarm in her Christian walk. She said simply, “I’m sorry, I forgot.” That made such an impact on us; never stop telling and reminding people of all that Christ did for you.
John Wesley said, “give me 100 men and women who only love God, and hate sin, and we will change the world.” Please continue to pray for us as we train others to Go, and for protection as we minister
in dangerous situations and hostile areas.
Blessings Upon Blessings
Please remember that the stories we share in our newsletters are real, and are made possible because you support this ministry.
For your prayers and financial support we say, thank you. Every offering is prayed over and lifted up before the Lord. This is His ministry, and he keeps it going through His people and their hearts for those He loves.
Don & Carol Ann Waisanen
© 2004 Angels For Christ Ministries, Inc.