Kay is a very special lady to our family. Ten years ago, our family was preparing to sell everything and move to Africa for the gospel of Jesus. But before that, I joined our Grace Church prayer furnace - a group who would be praying Sunday mornings during our church services. We were encouraged to invite 2 other prayer warriors to be part of this praying group. After learning that the people who I planned to invite were going to be invited by others, I asked the Lord to show me who to ask. One Sunday, during church service, the Lord pointed Kay out to me a variety of ways. The story has many details that display the love of our Heavenly Father, but would be too much for a message here.
As I introduced myself to Kay, a stranger for only a few more minutes, she told me she couldn't physically be part of our prayer furnace, but that she IS, indeed, a prayer warrior for Grace Church - that she is praying and will continue to be praying with us. When she asked my name, I told her both my first and last. It was at that moment she told me that she'd been praying for my husband for the past year and a half because she heard he had gone to Africa with our pastor and she heard that he had gone again. She had been praying for the Lord to raise up men to share the good news of Jesus in Africa. She had no idea that our family was in the process of selling our home and would be moving to South Africa in a matter of months.
Over those months, Kay shared about how she's been praying for Africa most of her life. Ever since that day, she's been a part of our ministry in Africa. She has longed to be with us physically, but we always reminded each other we were together in the ministry, through her prayers.
Little did I know that on August 7th, as I was speaking to a women's group in Zimbabwe about Kay and her example, that my sister was already in the Presence of Jesus. I shared the beautiful story of Kay being our family's prayer warrior. I encouraged them to trust the promptings of the Lord and explained how before Kay ever knew us, she had been praying for us and has continued to for over a decade. Through Kay's example, I reminded them they can always be effective for the Kingdom, despite their age or physical limitations.
I rejoice that Kay is with Jesus. She is worshipping her Savior at His feet. And even after she breathed her last breath, her life was encouraging others in Africa to be bold for Jesus, to never stop praying, to always know you can be effective for the Kingdom.
Thank you for always holding our family up in prayer, dear Kay. Thank you for always praying for protection against the snakes here in Africa. Thank you for being bold for Jesus. May the life you lived on this earth always continue to point others to the One who has redeemed us all.
Until we meet again, dear Kay!
