I love how the Lord works and puts things and people together. This was a favorite of mine during my latest U.S. trip. I had the privelege to minister, sharing my work and my pictures, with a lovely church in Jacksonville, GA. After service, this precious lady approached me; Sis. Jerrie Crowe is her name. I had never met her and knew nothing of her, but as she spoke, Oh, how the tears filled my eyes for I was so moved by all that she said. Surely the Lord had ordained this moment and put us together by His doing!
Sis. Crowe began telling me that every year at their church, in the month of January, they have a 21 day fasting and prayer. So in January, as she was making her prayer list and asking who she could pray for, a dear friend of hers (whom I’m also friends with on fb but have never met in person) mentioned that she could pray for a Missionary named Susan Templet. So, Sis. Crowe put me on her prayer list to pray for during that period of fasting and prayer. But, she said after that time had passed, she just continued praying for me, this Missionary that she didn’t know and had not met. She continued praying for me month after month, all year long.
My U.S. schedule this year took me to the beautiful church in Jacksonville in October, and Sis. Crowe was invited to this special service. (She does not attend this church, because she lives in another town about an hour away and her husband is Bishop of the church there). She was told it was a missionary service in Jacksonville and discovered that the Missionary coming was Susan Templet. She told me, “I absolutely had to come.” She was so excited that the Lord was sending the very person that she had been praying for all year long so close to her. She would come to the service and meet me and tell me her story.
And this night in October, she shared with me her beautiful story. This precious, selfless woman, that I had never known or even heard of, but who had spent all year long calling out my name, Susan Templet, in prayer each time she talked to the Lord. And as she told me, all I could do was weep!!! Tears of joy; tears of awe; just so humbled and so amazed at how the Lord works and puts things together. It surely was ordained of the Lord that we meet that night. And for me, to know that someone is sincerely praying is the biggest blessing I could ever receive. For you see, prayer is the biggest contribution anyone can ever make to a ministry. Yes, I cried big alligator tears and hugged her numerous times, over and again.
As I tread through dangerous areas, wade through deep rivers, face spirits of darkness, battle principalities in high places, and stand on the front line of war every day here on the mission field, I’m sure there are many occasions that the enemy has just wanted to take me out. I’m sure there are times that sickness has tried to afflict my body. I’m sure there are many times that I wasn’t even aware of the dangers that were lurking around. I’m sure that many times when I thought my strength was nearly gone, that there was someone who was down on their knees praying, crying out to God, covering me with His love, pleading the blood of Jesus over me and my people; someone who was awakened at late hours of the night or early wee hours of the morning to get up and pray for me, for Ecuador….. those are the ones that I can never repay, those are the ones to whom I say, “Thank you more than you can ever know, I am truly grateful that you prayed!” It was a special moment in my tour this year meeting this prayer warrior, Sis. Crowe, and knowing that she is touching the throne of God for me. I love you, Sis Jerrie Crowe!!! Thank you to all who pray for me, for Ecuador, for the beautiful souls here. I love you all and ask the Lord to honor and bless you for it!
