Monday, June 9, 2008

Life Changing Experiences

Wow this weekend has been one to remember! On Saturday we were preparing for our Sunday Concert 'Evening of Worship' with Lia Mathews. The Concert was absolutely incredible, the power of God moved so strong, I was standing in awe of what was happening before my eyes. I saw people that didn't even have the Holy Ghost getting involved in the worship, clapping their hands, singing the words and sometimes even dancing in the isles. Wow, what an incredible evening of worship we had!

After rehearsal on Saturday the choir spent about an hour handing out over 1500 invitations all over the city of Elk Grove.
This is me trying to give some one an invite.
Me: Hello Ma'am how are you today!
Lady: {holding her kids hand, walking to her car} "Fine"
Me: That's great! I would like to invite you to a free concert at the Rock Church in Elk grove tomorrow night.
Lady: {Walking faster, dragging her kid by now trying to get away from me} "I'm Busy"
Me: Oh really well if you would like to know more about our church and where we are I would love to give you this card.
Lady: {Shoving her by now crying kid into the car} "Thanks" {She does take the card but was trying to evade anyone giving her anything}

How many times do we get this kind of response from adults in America about church and the revelation of Jesus Christ? Why does the rest of the world seem to get the revelation and grow exponentially in numbers and even having underground church just to be able to know the truth and be able to worship God? It made me mad to see this kind of response from Middle class American's, but maybe this prepared me for what happened Sunday morning.
This Sunday Morning for the first time in my life, I was blessed to be apart of the 'Bus Ministry'! As I woke up on Sunday {rather early I might add} I wasn't prepared for what was about to happen. This picture is of the beautiful little children we picked up on our route. They all live in Oak Park, one of the most dangerous places in Sacramento. They all live in one apartment complex and who knows if any of them actually have a two parent home or 'don't' know someone who does drugs. They were all so excited about getting on the bus! All the kids were patiently waiting outside with their breakfast of brownie bars and soda, {yeah made for a wild ride..SUGAR!!!} as soon as they saw the bus come around the corner, you could see these scrawny little legs jumping up and down with glee just waiting to get to Sunday School.

As I sat on the bus looking at these beautiful children, the thoughts of the previous day came into my mind of how a grown middle class American woman did everything in her power to decline God, while these sweet children who had nothing from broken homes were so excited they couldn't wait just to get on a Sunday School bus.
Tears started to come to my eyes, and a little embarrassed of anyone seeing me I put my sunglasses on and quietly let the tears fall down my face just thinking of how precious and innocent these little children were about accepting Christ even in the small way of Sunday School.
I will never forget this experience and how it will impact not only my life but the life's of these beautiful children. This has to have been one of the most humbling and eye opening things that has ever happened to me, and I will never forget this moment.

I challenge everyone that reads this to find your 'bus ministry' and commit 100% for the kingdom of God. What would happen if we all found that 'ministry' and let God take over. Something tells me that revival is just around the corner...

6 comments:

Beth said...

Great post, Maria.

Love you!

Faith Maria Lopez said...

Thank you Beth, I love you more!

Michelle said...

Very touching! I'm thankful for the World Class training you are going through Maria. We didn't have much growing up, but we certainly had more than most of these children.

Give them the best you can and God will give the increase.

Can you write some children's songs with them in mind?

MoM

MERBEAR said...

Well Maria,
I sit here in Calgary with tears! Thank you! Thank you for sharing that with me. Those babies are too beautiful! You can see even through likely the messed up lives they have been thrown into; they are looking their Sunday best.
Did my heart good this rainy Wednesday morning.
Thank you again!!

Faith Maria Lopez said...

Mer,

It was definitely something I will never forget, I wish everyone could feel the same way.
Thank You!!

James Wilder said...

Beautiful post!