Clairton Ministry
I've
had the privilege to minister to some wonderful ladies in studying the
Bible. It has been a little over a year that I have been digging into the
Word with them. We started with Hannah's prayer and we have just finished
studying the book of Ruth.
These ladies live in the projects of Clairton,
right in the heart of chaos and crime. Most times my arrival is met with
drama. They live in default mode. Their social life revolves around
this community of ladies who all live on the same street very close to each
other. In the summer you will find them outside hanging out on their
street. They get into each other's lives, raising each other children.
For me, this is a very different way to live. I am having to learn a new
culture and a new language, yet they have won my heart.
It has been wonderful watching these ladies grow
each at their own rate. When I arrived, a good many of them were nominal
Christians at best. They wanted to keep their worldly habits and still be
called a Christian. But over the last year I have seen such a
transformation in them.
Two of these ladies rededicated their lives to the
Lord and were water baptized on a very cold fall day. Two weeks later,
they had their babies dedicated to the Lord. Each of these ladies let
their light shine wherever they go and share the Word of God as the Lord leads.
I am so proud of them.
Another young lady has such a hunger for the things
of God. She is quiet, watching what goes on around. But as of
recent, she is beginning to come out of her shell. When I can, I take her
to the church I go to Sunday evenings, which is about every other week.
She loves that little store front church. There she can be herself.
It's a small enough group of people that we can be free to worship as we
choose. We laugh, we cry, we jump up and down, we bend our knees or even
lay on our faces. She feels right at home there. And I'm beginning
to see such a change in her.
Recently, I was referred by one of these ladies to
a friend who was going through some difficulty. She lived on the next
street up. She just asked me to listen to her and see if I could be of
any help. I had never counseled an adult before. I've mentored,
befriended, and lead Bible studies before, but this was again something new to
me. My pastor encouraged me to go ahead with it. He said that I did have
it in me. So that's what I did . . . I listened. I visited her
often, sharing the Word with her and again just listened. I would often
say a silent prayer asking for wisdom as to how to answer her. She was so
hurt and bitter, I felt I needed the wisdom Solomon to help her. She was
not a believer, but as time went on she asked Jesus to come into her life and
show her His Words. Immediately her countenance changed. I gave her
a little booklet called "The Roman's Road to Salvation". She
couldn't get enough of it. She has been asking questions and learning.
It's been a joy to meet in their living rooms and
fellowship with them each week. And it's exciting to be a part of God's
work and to be where He is moving. I do ask you to pray with me for this
ministry. The enemy is such a great force there and darkness abounds.
Along with my ladies' Bible study is a children's ministry and a youth
group. I work with a great staff! God put Clairton on Pastor
Brent's heart several years back, he works with the teens. Brittany and
Megan work with the kids. They can have up to 40 kids at one time.
We are currently looking for a building right on that street to house the
ministry. Pray that we have favor and that doors will open.
