I had been praying to God for help discerning which way to go in my life. But who knew that God uses e-mail – and that it could end up in the spam folder. When I did find the invitation to fill in for an opening on the Prayer Support Team at this week’s Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, I was amazed. It was not something I had even thought about doing. I really did not know what to expect. But I took a leap of faith and said yes. It was an incredible experience that I believe has and will change my life.
Most of you know that Rachel’s Vineyard is the healing ministry for anyone affected by abortion. Many of you have heard Nancy speak. So you will know it is totally confidential. Even team members use only their first names during the retreat. I can tell you we had a good number of retreatants – nothing more. But over the years men and women of all ages from all walks of life have been healed.
Those of us classed as support members do not take part in the group sessions led by trained counsellors – we do not know what happens behind closed doors. It is a totally safe place for the retreatants.
What we do get to share is prayer, meals, hugs, laughs, tears and celebrations as they chose to share with us. We do get some small sense of the incredible amount of multi-dimensional and multi-generational hurt in the world.
We do get to observe the indescribably beautiful and healing final ceremonies. We do get to see the incredible changes in them as they progress through the sessions. And we do come away with an overwhelming sense of God’s infinite mercy and incredible power of healing.
I came away with the profound conviction that this healing ministry is truly an essential part of ending the culture of abortion. I can best describe it as my knowledge and beliefs moving from my head to my heart.
I don’t know if God will every need me again in this ministry and that’s not important. What I do know is this. He wants me to encourage each of you to pray for all those working in Rachel’s Vineyard ministry; to pray for those from other areas who are trying to organize a team in their areas. But most of all please pray for each and every person wounded by abortion that they may find a way to the healing that God wants and holds for them.