Such Is The Kingdom Of Heaven -
In January of 2004 we prayed, “Lord, bring us the most hurting children.” Little did we realize the extent to which our prayer
would be answered. In December we had over 300 attend an incredible day of ministry at the Knott’s Berry Farm outreach in Buena Park, California. The following week we were overwhelmed by emotion
at the Castle Park outreach, when we saw scores of children march up to the stage without even being asked, to commit their lives to Christ.
In a moment, the Holy Spirit caused them to flood the alter to come to Christ. It is joy unspeakable when hundreds of children come forward at these outreaches to have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Yet, many adults around them seemed oblivious and hardened to the message. There is a connection, an openness, a hunger for more of God that we see in these children that cannot be explained other than the work of the Holy Spirit. As we see them come forward, we believe that each child is being sealed to Christ for eternity.
Some of the children who came were so abused that they couldn’t even be placed in foster homes.
Children came whose fathers were in jail, leaving them in horrendous circumstances. Others were from homeless families where poverty and depravation of basic necessities were all they knew. One child had to watch as the father beat the mother almost to death. There were boy’s and girl’s with cancer, autism, seizures, lung disease, various medical problems and other disabilities. Some had only known a motel room as home. As the children lined up for a feast (Luke 14) many commented that they had never had a meal as good as the one prepared for them that day. We should never complain again.
The impact of these outreaches continues to yield benefits. A pastor from a church in Anaheim, reported that he has seen their numbers double since bringing a bus load of children to the
Knott’s Berry outreach. We’ve received beautiful letters and telephone calls with stories of how God ministered to both children and volunteers.
She Didn’t Want To Live!
Only ten
years old, but she had attempted suicide twice.
Why would a little girl with everything to live for, with a full life ahead of her, want to end her life? These questions are difficult to answer, but we know that the pressures and influence of an evil world are sometimes too much for the very young. We have a generation that are living under the influence of evil. Bill O’Reilly, said on Fox News, “it’s open season on children in this country.” Even the secular media seem to know this. As we prayed for this child, we sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit and believe that she has been freed. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Rescued By A Child:
A young women came to our office and shared the story of her foster child.
She had agreed to take in a little girl who had been severely abused by a drug addicted mother. This child was beaten so badly she was paralyzed from the waist down and in a body caste. She had to crawl everywhere. The uncle she lived with was a miserable person, always complaining and unhappy. After the child arrived, she noticed that the little girl’s infectious smile and joyous disposition had a profound effect on this grumpy old man. Somehow seeing this child dragging it’s little body around, knowing the pain and suffering she had endured, impacted this man. The Lord had used this broken little child to teach a lesson to this old man. Happiness is not found in circumstance, but in the condition of the heart.
Duty Is Ours, Results Are God’s
We see evil as never before invading our public schools and through the media.
George Barna the social researcher, said in his book, Transforming children into spiritual champions. “Children as early as two years old, develop an understanding of all moral and spiritual values. From there the process progresses quickly and is almost fully developed by age nine. Most children have their spiritual moorings by that age.” If we introduce them to Christ, His deity and His reality, then they will know His love and be fruitful. But how can they know Him, unless we freely share the riches of the gospel.
From Angels?
At one of the outreaches, a small boy came up to a volunteer and asked, “did you get this from Angels?” “Yes,” she replied, “even the shoes!”
You will never know how much your support means in the lives of these children. A meal, a backpack, new shoes and the message of the gospel change their life forever. For all the volunteers, financial supporters and those who continue to remember this work in prayer…thank you. Let’s continue being ambassadors for Kingdom work, changing earth, for heaven and offering the best for nothing!
In His Service & Because He lives,
Don & Carol Ann Waisanen
© 2004 Angels For Christ Ministries, Inc.