Prayer Warrior

Marie Nellums turned 95 years young on December 12. The year that she was born milk cost 8 cents per quart. The same year the first electric home refrigerator was put on the market in Chicago for $900. The Federal Income tax began nine months before her birth. Gasoline was anywhere from 8 cents to 17 cents per gallon (according to the source you look at).

Gas prices are not the only thing that has changed in Spring Hill during Marie's life. There have been big changes to this community all the way from Whitwell's gas station to a Super Target. But there have been changes to the church family that Marie loves so much as well. She has seen the Spring Hill congregation move from Depot Street to its current location on Main. She saw the church bustling with many children from the Orphan's Home when the attendance was 200+ strong every week. She has seen many people move away, friends pass away, and the church grow smaller.

Although Marie regrets that she is unable to attend services regularly, she told me Wednesday afternoon that she is ecstatic about all of the growth, the new families, and especially all the new children at Spring Hill. She is excited that our church is approaching 200 in attendance on Sundays again. Marie told me that she had been praying hard that God would bring young people to Spring Hill again. "I know He has answered my prayer," she said. Marie was overjoyed when her kitchen was full of children and young people (and parents) singing carols to her this Christmas.

But Marie told me that she often wonders why God is letting her live so long. "I can't really do anything anymore," she said (for those of you who don't know Marie, this is coming from a woman who regularly had people in her home for Sunday dinners). "What does God want me to do?" she asked me. I told her to keep doing what she is doing...keep praying. I am confident that much of the spiritual and numerical growth we are experiencing at Spring Hill is the direct result of Marie's prayers, and others like hers.

The Apostle Paul commended Christians who were "helping" the cause of the spread of the kingdom simply by dedicating themselves to prayer (2 Corinthians 1:11). In fact, Paul was convinced that the spread of the gospel was the direct result of diligent prayers: "Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified..." (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Amazing things happen in God's kingdom when faithful people dedicate themselves to prayer.

One of the great works of the kingdom consists of people who have made it their ministry to dedicate themselves to continual prayer. The early church apparently had a "list" of older woman (widows) who dedicated themselves to the ministry of "continuing in entreaties and prayers night and day" (1 Timothy 5:5). Churches need preachers, elders, deacons, Bible class teachers, etc. But churches also need "prayer warriors;" especially saintly older Christians who are ministering in prayer daily for the kingdom.

Marie, you are doing untold good for the Lord and his church. You just keep praying. That's what God wants you to do and that is what we need you to do.