I was a student at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and my room-mate and I were invited to preach/lead music for a youth revival in an east Alabama county. With two main churches, we alternated churches on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. Sunday evening all youth gathered in the high school football stadium for the final session. Ken led music and I was to preach. We were on a flat-bed trailer on the field and there were several hundred youths in the stands. There were comments by the organizers-special music-testimonies-and then the sermon. I preached from John 3:16.
I stepped up to the microphone and read the scripture (so far, so good). I began to “preach” but as I spoke the words, there was emptiness in my spirit. I simply wanted to disappear. I wanted that excuse for a sermon to be finished, and soon, very soon. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and more. Then we sang “Just As I Am.” My perspective? Get this over and get me back to my dorm room.
And then young people began to come down the steps of the stadium and out onto the field to stand with counselors in front of the trailer. Some knelt on the grass in prayer, others were obviously bringing a friend to pray about believing. There were rededications. And, some came to openly say that they had chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior…28 of them.
That was when I learned, “little can be much in Jesus’ hands.”
God has made a way where there seemed to be no way,
He worked in ways we could not see, He has made a way to see.
He will be our guide hold us closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He’s made a way, He has made a way!
(Don Moen, adapted by Jim Wayne)
I stepped up to the microphone and read the scripture (so far, so good). I began to “preach” but as I spoke the words, there was emptiness in my spirit. I simply wanted to disappear. I wanted that excuse for a sermon to be finished, and soon, very soon. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and more. Then we sang “Just As I Am.” My perspective? Get this over and get me back to my dorm room.
And then young people began to come down the steps of the stadium and out onto the field to stand with counselors in front of the trailer. Some knelt on the grass in prayer, others were obviously bringing a friend to pray about believing. There were rededications. And, some came to openly say that they had chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior…28 of them.
That was when I learned, “little can be much in Jesus’ hands.”
God has made a way where there seemed to be no way,
He worked in ways we could not see, He has made a way to see.
He will be our guide hold us closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He’s made a way, He has made a way!
(Don Moen, adapted by Jim Wayne)
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