Here are some of the responses we received:
- “The girls enjoyed each one of the sessions! I was so amazed how much each one was eagerly participating!”
- “We loved each of the skits! They enhanced the teachings so very much!”
- “My favorite part was getting to participate in the live Zoom session with Sarah and Grace!”
- “I was able to talk to my mother about things I greatly struggle with, and I have been most helped and encouraged by her advice, and by no longer hiding it in my heart.”
- “I recommitted myself to the Lord as a result of the conference.”
- “I really enjoyed the skit about the mountain climb and its relevance to struggles in our lives.”
- “[It] gave us uninterrupted time together to focus on things that matter.”
- “The girls expressed that the skit about the media and the girls on their phone spoke to them greatly, because that is exactly what happens to them: comparison, discouragement, believing lies, etc.”
- “Love the scriptures and the practical steps to help us grow in our relationship with the Lord.”
- How do I know if my faith is enough (to get to heaven)?
- What suggestions do you have for reading the Bible consistently?
- What Christian biographies do you recommend?
- As a single woman, how do I pursue a career to support myself and not lose sight of undivided attention to Christ?
- How can I encourage my younger siblings?
My Prayer Target (by Sarah Hancock)
When I was growing up, there was an elderly couple who lived next door to us. Sometimes they would babysit their granddaughter, Karen, who was about my age. I liked it when she visited her grandparents because she was a kind friend and a lot of fun to play with. We would climb trees, and play games. I don’t remember ever sharing the gospel with her, but she knew I was a Christian, and I made a few spiritual comments to her when we were kids. After we entered our teen years, Karen and I didn’t see each other much anymore.
When I was about 18, I decided to choose a person to specifically pray for when I was distracted by something (such as when I was thinking too much about a guy, growing discontent, or wasting my time daydreaming). I decided to choose Karen, my childhood friend. I called her my “prayer target.” 🙂
I began to pray regularly for Karen’s salvation. When my mind started to dwell on something I didn’t want to focus on, I would choose to pray for her instead.
Years went by, and I didn’t see her or hear from her. I eventually moved on to other prayer requests. Then one day when I was in my twenties, my mom told me that she had run into Karen and that she had become a Christian!
When Karen was in college, some Christian friends invited her to a Bible study where she encountered true believers who really loved Jesus. She understood the gospel for the first time, and she trusted in the Lord as her Savior. She began going regularly to a Bible believing church, married a Christian man, and had two children whom she decided to homeschool. When Karen’s daughter, Katelynn, turned 10, she started coming to my Bright Lights group, and it’s been a blessing to watch her grow in the Lord as well.
I’m so thankful the Lord led me to pray for Karen, and gave me the privilege of being a part of her story! It encourages me to keep praying even when I don’t see results.
The truth is that we often don’t get to see results to our prayers in this lifetime. Prayer takes time and energy. It’s a spiritual battle. It’s hard. It requires faith. We all need encouragement to persevere in prayer. I hope this story provides some extra encouragement to you today. God is working in the world today, but the battle is raging. Perhaps you also would want to choose one person as a specific prayer target for the upcoming year. May we as God’s people pray, pray, pray!
Here’s a picture of Katelynn, Karen, and me. 🙂
