Have you ever questioned your ability to make a difference? Lately, I have doubted my own effectiveness in ministry. This took me to a sad place in my heart and I hung my head in doubt for weeks. On a very rainy Friday, before Club, a young mom with daughters asked if she could speak with me. She was obviously very ill and it took all she had to walk her girls to the meeting. She didn’t want the girls to miss out. She asked if I could find the girls a ride home because she didn’t have enough energy to walk all the way back to pick them up. As she headed out into the rain, I offered to pray with her. She agreed, dropped her bags and we prayed together. Then she walked home. Oh yes, we did get her girls home safe and dry.

I didn’t understand what had just happened until I was on the phone during our year-end calling campaign. The gentleman I was talking with shared how he wished people at his church who would greet a single mom like that at the door, and love on her and her 4 kids. That they would reach out with the love of Jesus and make them feel welcome. At that moment the lights came on and I began to smile. That’s what we do here at 71Five City (formerly City Life). We provide a safe place where the message of hope is shared week after week thru loving relationships.

In a short period of time, the Lord answered my doubts. Paraphrased from Psalms 3:3 … the Lord put a shield around my heart and lifted my head. LARRY LICATO, 71Five City Director larry@71Five.org