After we took the church to the people at Easter, our spiritual sister Hannah,* led by the Holy Spirit, initiated a 40-day period of prayer and fasting.   Here are some of the things God did during this church-wide fast:  

• First of all, we learned how pathetic we are at praying and fasting.  But look what he did when we cried out to him more… 
• Hector, Roxy, Hannah* and their kids have been urgently sharing their faith, and doing it without us! 
• God enabled me to train these disciples to share the Word through Discovery Bible Studies.  Ed, Katie, and Meri are providing life-on-life mentoring and training during the week and as needs arise. 
• God allowed us to share His Word through oral and written Discovery Bible Studies with three more neighbors.  One man said he dislikes religion but since he met us, his family has been praying for their meals.  “We want to spend more time with you because we want our family to be more like yours,” he said.  The next day we went to the park and started studying the Bible together.  This family joined us for a special Mother’s Day breakfast, and we’ve continued to share life and God’s Word together. 
• Some neighbors went camping with us, including a family who have given up on church.  At the retreat everyone played and told their stories, and we shared God’s Word.  The dad participated in a group prayer, giving thanks for the experience.  Since then we’ve been building friendship and discussing faith with them.
• In total, during the fast God blessed us to be a blessing to 28+ households and groups (and counting) – praying for them, serving them, listening to them, eating meals with them, building relationships with them when others would not, sharing God’s Word with them, and building spiritual relationships with some of them.
• God granted us favor despite our many inadequacies.  We are learning to cross several cultures in a day.  Katie & Meri felt prompted to ask God for more influence among Muslim women here.

Please keep praying for God’s Word to go forth in LA. Ask for protection for us and the new believers, for spiritual warfare has increased. Beg God’s Spirit to bring a church planting movement. We serve a merciful and powerful God!   

*[Names have been changed.  All other details accurate.]

Categories: fasting, Discovery Bible Studies