Mariel Villareal has served with Take the City since last June. She serves as the leader for the ministry team at theDoor and often serves as a leader on Take the City Bootcamp weekends, a time of evangelism training to equip people to share the Gospel in there schools, workplaces, and cities. Below is a powerful story on the way to a Bootcamp in South Carolina.

We were at a popular restaurant getting ready to leave when Jason comes up to me and says,

“I feel like  Jesus told me that one of the women behind us has wrist pain.”

I turn to look and see two ladies, a mother and daughter, wearing hijabs sitting at a booth behind us. Nothing about their appearance suggested that they were in any kind of pain. “Wanna go talk to them?”

I thought about it for a moment and replied,

“Let’s do it!”

We walked up to the table and introduced ourselves. The two women were very warm and kind, and they told us they were from Iraq. The younger was a daughter in her 30s with her mother who only spoke Arabic. After a few moments of conversation, Jason boldly asks them,

“Does one of you have wrist pain?”

The mother and daughter exchanged puzzled looks,

“How did you know that?! My mother has had wrist pain for about a month!”

Jason responded, “Jesus told me because he wants to heal you! Can we pray for you?”

The daughter translated to her mother,

“Yes!” They replied.

We prayed and the pain left by 50%. We prayed again and the lady said the pain was totally gone! PRAISE JESUS!!!!

“How did you know that she had pain in her wrist?” The daughter asked, both of them smiling with joy and amazement.

Jason began to explain the redemptive work Jesus did on the Cross and how God sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. It’s through a personal relationship with Him that we can experience salvation. The daughter continued to translate to her mother in Arabic the story of Jesus Christ.

“Do you have children?” I asked the daughter.

“Yes,” she responded, “I have two and one on the way.”

“When we were walking over here, I felt like the Lord wanted us to pray for your kids. I also feel like he has given them special artistic gifts.”

Her eyes got wide in amazement,

“How did you know that?! My daughters are very gifted artists and I even asked my little girl to draw me a picture this morning!”

“I only know this through Jesus,” I replied, “That’s how much He cares about you because He knows the very little details of your life and the things that matter to you!”

We continued our conversation and prayed with them over their family and for some other prayer requests they had. All four of us exchanged hugs, and they thanked us for meeting with them as we thanked them for their time.

As we got up to leave, I noticed that many people in the section of the restaurant we were in were watching us, smiling at us. We all witnessed the kingdom expand as the Gospel spread that afternoon in a restaurant in Atlanta.

                                                                                                                                                        -Mariel Villareal

We have a mission field all around us. We don’t have to go overseas to tell people about Jesus, although God may be calling you there. Sometimes all it takes is walking into a store, your place of work, or your home and asking God,

“I’m here God. Show me what You want to do and let me be a part of it!” You can ask the Lord to show you how you can encourage someone, and as you step out in faith with what He’s given you, you’ll find His love meet you. As we grow in relationship with Jesus, we can begin to discern His voice.

It says in John 10:27, ” The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” (AMPC)

Jesus desperately wants to reveal His love to those around us. Often times I feel like we ask God, “God, please do something to help the suffering and pain in the world!” With love dripping in His eyes, I believe His invitation in return to us is, “My sons and daughters, I have given you my Holy Spirit, will you change the world with me?”

How can we say no to such a kind, generous, and exciting invitation?

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8