Prayers For Chattanooga

Exactly one month ago I decided to go to a certain strip of businesses. I wasn't sure exactly where I would start but there's tons off HWY 11 and continues onto Brainerd Rd in Chattanooga. I took the first exit off the 153 and found a strip of businesses. These business included a cellphone carrier called Cricket, some restaurants, and a bunch of military recruiting offices. I don't know why I decided to start there but all the times I passed it, it was like God was telling me "start there."

In Cricket I talked to several of the employees who were interested in cooking classes and financial seminars and I then proceeded to go towards the military offices. There are several offices, each for a different branch of the military and I went into each one to talk to the officers. My ultimate purpose for going into these businesses was see if people were interested in Bible Studies. Although no one was interested in studies, there was interest in other things such as Bible Prophecy Seminars. Most of the officers tried to recruit me and a bunch of the recruiters gave me their cards and I in turn handed them a GLOW tract.

After finishing that strip of businesses I got in my car to drive to the next strip right around the corner, but before I could leave the parking lot I had an overwhelming conviction that I needed to put GLOW tracts on the cars. I didn't know why but the thought wouldn't leave me. I got out and put some tracts on the cars and then proceeded to drive out. But then I saw more cars and the conviction hit me again. As much as I tried to just continue on, I just couldn't, and ended up parking once again and passed out more GLOW.

I didn't think much about it, but yesterday that day suddenly came to my mind when I heard about the shooting at those exact same military recruiting offices. It had been about a month since I was there but it feels like it was just yesterday. The faces of all the recruiting officers flashed vividly in my mind as I listened to a news broadcast about the shooting. I wondered if that's why I felt like God was telling me to pass out those little tracts that would tell other about God. Then the thought crossed my mind, "What if I didn't listen?" I don't know whether the men who were killed actually read the tracts, but God gave me peace to know that God helped me give them an opportunity to get to know Him.

Yesterday I kept thinking, "I wish I did more." On my lunch break I decided to watch a live broadcast of the news to see if there were any updates. The newscasters announced that several churches were opening their doors for prayer vigils. They related back to 9-11, and how in tragedies people feel their need for prayer the most. I remember watching George W. Bush making an announcement asking the nation to pray. I was reminded of that when the newscasters were openly announcing the community to pray and to come to the prayer vigils.

Suddenly an idea popped into my mind. I grabbed my phone and texted my friend and fellow It Is Written Bible Work partner, Yaniz, and asked her if she'd like to join me with this idea. "Several churches are holding prayer vigils, what do you think about going? We can pass out GLOW and talk to the people." Yaniz agreed and we drove to several different churches holding the prayer vigils. The newscasters were right, when tragedies occur, people suddenly feel their need for God, especially when the tragedy happens so close to home. The truth is, especially right now, people are hurting, and now is the best time to reach out. Are you willing to reach out and let God use you to help this hurting community?