On Friday, August 11th RAHAB held a Revival at our Canton Drop-In after our Director of Adult Programming, Michelle Smith, had a vision for a night of worship and devotion at the house.
Preparation
Driving up to the house, the rain splattered across my windshield, and I wondered what a rain-fraught revival might look like.
We had planned to start at 6:30 and just before, like clockwork, the clouds parted. The rest of the night, you could see the ring of dark clouds encircling the city. But the circle of sky over the Drop-In Home was bright and clear. The only water that came on revival night was the baptismal set up in the yard.
Women flooded in, too many for the small house, so we set up chairs in the backyard. Some brought blankets, others sat in the grass, and some stood apprehensively in the driveway. Close enough to hear the worship, but unsure of their own desire to participate.
Michelle prayed over the night and the women there, telling us about the vision God had given her of a night fully devoted to His worship with women sitting in the backyard, just like we were, singing loud enough for the neighborhood to hear.
Worship & Prayer
The neighborhood stirred as we began worship – sounds of dogs barking, another party, and loud voices competed for the peace in the backyard. Soon all the noise drifted away, and you could only hear the sound of praise being lifted. I thought about the houses nearby, many with windows open on the warm summer night, and wondered what God was doing in those places with just the sound of our voices.
We stopped in the middle to pray for each other. Groups of women, some who had never even met, joined hands and lifted each other to the Father. I watched as one woman introduced herself to another for the first time, and then moments later told her, “I feel like God wants me to tell you – He sees your children. He knows them.” The woman on the receiving end prayed her own prayer for those exact children and some of the pain they were going through. Another group prayed for faith, even if just the size of a mustard seed.
We heard testimonies, and prayer, and more worship. It was calm, and peaceful, and holy. I’m convinced it was the calmest some of us had felt in weeks.
Restoration
Aside from worship & prayer, Michelle envisioned one other thing at this revival – baptisms. Theresa Tiggs, our Drop In Programming Specialist, stepped up to pray before the baptisms began. She asked for anyone who had never given their life to Jesus, but was ready to do so tonight, to repeat the prayer after her. In the silence between sentences, you could hear a handful of quiet voices begin to speak her words. Tears streamed down many faces – some for the joy of hearing those voices, and some at the surrender of being the voice.
5 women were baptized on Friday. They all came from different spaces, with different stories, and different reasons for attending that night’s revival. But they all made, or re-made, the same commitment to believe in Jesus as their risen Savior.
RAHAB sees a lot of pain, heartbreak, and brokenness, but it all pales in comparison to watching those you love declare their love and freedom in Jesus Christ.
Continuing the Harvest
THANK YOU! We are grateful for every prayer lifted for the revival – it was felt and heard. We know God worked miracles on Friday and that heaven rejoiced with the sounds of prayer and worship. We continue to pray for every woman who didn’t make it on Friday, that they would find the calm and loving restoration available in Jesus. There is always still more work to do, but we are immensely grateful for the miracles God let us witness and be a part of on Friday.