God's Faithfulness

I am a new staff member at Open Door Mission and came with my own expectations and hopes. From my past experience I never thought of a job as a place where you could gain support in your Christian walk. However that support is exactly what I have received. It has been my privilege to ask another staff member, “Can we pray for a client” or, “Can we pray for Christ to reign here at the Mission?” I have never had that experience in a work place where staff can come together in unity and change the spiritual atmosphere. It is SO powerful to have staff unity.

Now, my fault is that I tend to get focused and just pour into the lives right around me. However, I hear that unity is not only going on where I work but all through the Mission. As we continue to grow our goal should be to continue to really pour into other staff members lives. I think unity is where true strength comes from and requires vulnerability and trust with one another. That unity will keep the devil from coming in and destroying the amazing things that God desperately wants to do in each of our clients lives and don’t forget…in OUR lives.

I’ll share one of the many stories I have experienced over the last few months. I was working a Saturday morning which tends to be pretty laid back because the clients have no classes. I walked to the emergency wing and there was a lady who had just come to Open Door Mission the night before. This lady was standing in the hallway tearing up and seemed very guarded therefore didn’t want to talk. I debated what to do as I was walking towards the office. Finally I turned to her and said, “Is there anything I can do?” She said, “no” as she started to cry again. I wasn’t going to leave her alone so I waited a minute with her. I asked her again, “Is there anything I can do?” She didn’t say anything as she started crying a little harder. I sat down on the bench in front of the office and so did she.

I was so excited because I knew she was starting to open up because she sat down next to me. I waited a minute as she was crying and finally asked, “What are you dealing with?” Finally she opened up and told me how she couldn’t find a job even though she had a master’s degree. Her son was in the military and normally calls every day but hadn’t called in two weeks. The last time she had talked with him his tank was destroyed while he was in it and they were afraid of more retaliation from the enemy.

I have a brother who was a Calvary scout for 4 years and know how hard it is to have family at war so I tried to encourage her. I asked her if she believed in God and had faith that He would protect her and take all her cares. She said she used to believe but because of everything that had been going on she was finding it hard to have faith in God at all. I told her how He can take all that pain and fear of the unknown from us if we trust him. I asked if we could pray. She agreed and I asked God to give her a peace and if her son was still alive that he would contact her.

I gave her some tissues and we both went on our way. I went to the recovery side of the Mission and came back fifteen minutes later. The Lady came to me with this glow and said, “I have to tell you something! I don’t know how this happened but I just want you to know that my son called me five minutes after we prayed and he is ok.” I rejoiced with her and thanked God for letting her experience His faithfulness!

Alicia Riskowski
Recovery Services Case Manager