Praying Into Existence: A Reflection on a Conversation in Starbucks


Let me paint the picture for you.


The year was 2013, it was around the beginning of April and I had just made a decision to move across the country to Colorado with a group of people that I barely knew. I had scheduled a meeting with Ernest Smith, the guy who would become the Pastor of the church we were moving out west to plant. 


 I nervously walked into the Starbucks on Long Point Road and waiting anxiously for Ernest to arrive. I remember wearing my Georgia t-shirt because I knew Ernest was a fellow Bulldog fan and I wanted so bad to impress him. I guess I was scared of him rejecting me or something, I'm not sure. I'm sure I ordered some sort of macchiato because thats my go to drink at the 'Bucks. As I got my drink, I sat down and internally processed my decision and everything that it would mean. 


When Ernest arrived and sat down, I told him about how the Lord placed it on my heart to be a part of the move out to Colorado. He actually made a comment about how I was always wearing my UGA shirt. Looking back now I can't help but to laugh at how silly the idea of Ernest rejecting me and telling me I couldn't come to Colorado actually is.

I remember Ernest saying, "Before you commit, ask yourself two things: Do you trust the leader? Do you trust the vision?" At the time I only knew Ernest as the preacher at The Well, a college and 20-something ministry in Downtown Charleston. Of course I trusted him, I had no reason not to. The vision? Sure, why not. 

At some point, I brought up that I worked with youth in Young Life and how it was my dream to start a youth ministry with what would become Front Range Christian Church. Ernest, being a former youth pastor, seemed pretty excited about the idea and so was I. That day I started praying for the youth of Castle Rock, CO...

That was 2 years ago.....

This past Sunday, on April 12th, I sat in a room full of middle and high school students and was overwhelmed that the Lord gave me a dream that I was able to pray into existence. The Lord not only answered my prayers but did more than I can imagine. 

As the students sang worship songs and then heard an incredible message by our youth pastor, Brandon Yates, I couldn't help but keep thinking about that conversation Ernest and I had in the Starbucks two years ago.

Not only am I able to go to and be a leader for Front Range Christian Church's Youth but the Lord blessed me with a position in Young Life to directly minister to the students of Castle Rock. 

How incredible that we serve a God that not only desires to see our dreams come true, but joins into it and gives us more than we were even praying for to begin with. On Sunday, Brandon talked some on the book of James, chapter 5. One of the verses says this:


"Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard the steadfastness of job and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11)

I can't sit here and say these past two years have been easy, but I can say I have seen the purpose of the Lord. Even in the difficult times, I remained steadfast and the Lord blessed me. I have seen how the Lord is not only compassionate and merciful to me but also to the youth of Castle Rock.

The very middle and high school students in that room on Sunday. I started praying for them two years ago. Before I even knew their names or what they looked like. 
Thats why I moved half way across the country, away from my homeland and family, so that they may know this Jesus that I love so much. 






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