Growing up in a Christian home as a PK, I was taught from an early age about the love of Christ and am grateful to say that for the most part, although very imperfectly, I have been passionately seeking Him as my treasure ever since I was a little girl. I chose to go to Eastern High School to be a light (Matthew 5:16). My goal at EHS was #1: to be on mission for Christ, and #2: to get an education, in that order. While looking at it from that perspective I was able to go to EHS with my purpose in mind. Although I was not perfect and I wish I could do a lot of things over, the Lord did use an often self-focused and immature teenager to make a difference.
Junior and senior year I was a part of the yearbook staff at Eastern. At one of the meetings early in the year I happened to sit next to a cute, spunky girl named Madi. At that time Madi was a self-proclaiming atheist and I would later find out she used to describe me as the “weird religious girl.” She had a pretty fun and easy life and was not interested in any sort of sacrifice or life-long commitment to Christ.
I prayed for Madi and loved on her not knowing that eventually she would send me a message on Facebook asking if we could meet to discuss some “religious questions” she had. Eventually, through several people encouraging her, she accepted Jesus as Lord.
After Madi had fully surrendered we made it our goal to kind of tag-team and really pursue a relationship with several people in the class who needed Christ. All we did was love on them, have spiritual conversations when they asked or when it was appropriate and pray like crazy! Katie was in the class and both Madi and I admit to truly praying for her. However, we hardly even believed in our own prayers because of how anti-Christian she was.
I recently heard a chapel speaker at Moody Bible Institute say that Satan believes in our prayers even more than we do. Wow, that is one thing the Lord is teaching me through this journey: to pray in faith, believing that He can and will accomplish what we ask for.
Every other word that came out of Katie’s mouth was a cuss word. She hated Christianity and was mildly accepting of our faith only because she liked us and we were nice to her. Other than that, she didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. Graduation day came and went and Madi and I continued to pray and try to keep in touch as much as possible with some of the friends from yearbook including Katie. We kept hearing things about Katie that were not good. She had gotten into drinking- a lot. She now considered herself a lesbian and she was getting more and more bitter and angry, even hostile towards Christians.
Madi and I kept praying. Madi reached out on a regular basis through texting, calling and Facebook and I felt a burden to pray and fast for her on certain days for a whole month. We didn’t give up even though the likelihood of any sort of positive change seemed impossible! Eventually, I got a call from Madi saying that Katie had been invited to a Bible study and decided to go. Out of a miraculous series of events Katie surrendered and gave her life to the Lord. It still amazes me- which it shouldn’t! I praise God for answering this seemingly impossible prayer to show me that I can ask Him for incredible things.
There are several other people from our class who still need Christ and we will not stop praying. Better yet, now Katie is praying too. I can’t wait for the story to continue.
My challenge for you:
1. Ask God for BIG things, believing in your own prayers!
2. Don’t stop praying for people. It wasn’t until after graduation that we saw fruit from our labor.
3. Find a like-minded believer to work with you in this task of evangelism and discipleship. When Madi and I were finally on the same page, it made it so much easier to reach out to others because we had each other. Plus, it’s way more fun!
4. If right now you are the only Christ follower in your class, your workplace or your neighborhood, hold out hope. I never imagined that someone I would help lead to Christ would become my best friend.
He is always faithful! Thanks for your prayers. Mom had a tough week with a painful gallbladder as it continues cleaning all the toxins out of her body. Due to this, weight gain has been up and down, so the 100%-100% prayers are still appreciated. We will keep you posted! Love, Olivia
…until I am no longer breathing! Great teaching, Ms. Olivia! Great reminder! Love and prayers to you and yours! Believing MORE than satan!
Hey Sweet Olivia,
Loved reading about your fellow students!! Praising God! It so gives me hope for our Prodigals.
Also loved seeing you & your sisters at the Hats Off . Your Mom knocked it out of the park that day.
Prayed all day as I gardened, for your family, (MOM), then I kept remembering…….the RAIN!! It did rain!!! Know it’s going to RAIN AT THE SAUDERS.
Sure do love all of you,
Hugs and more hugs,
Cassie & George
Kristen and family,
Today as I sat on the patio at Oaklawn (I’m in rehab for a complete knee replacement) as the downpour of rain fell from the sky, I was reminded to pray fervently for healing for all of you and especially for Kristen. If you haven’t read Larry Crabb’s book entitled “Shattered Dreams”, I would highly recommend it. It’s not a book I would recommend for just anyone. Until you’ve been on a tough journey like you’re on or like I’ve been on, I don’t think one could understand it. Praying, praying for you. In His Love!
Hi Olivia, so good to hear from you on here. As always, very inspiring stuff!! I am encouraged in a few ways tonight by your post.
*what you learned from that speaker: Satan believes in our prayers more than we do! wow! this really spoke to me tonight and helps me to remember when the enemy attacks it’s because he knows that God will keep His promises to the faithful, all the while we waiver in our faith. This will help me to press on when Satan is hitting hard.
*your perseverance when praying for others to know Christ. this gives me hope in continuing to pray for my nieces that they come to know Christ like I have come to know Him. I am thankful that you and Ivy are in their path at Mark’s Feed Store and there are others there who can be good influences on them. It doesn’t matter who waters the seeds. I just pray for God to make them grow.
Thank you for your post and encouraging words to all of us to spread the love of Jesus!
p.s I have a question for you but I will text you tomorrow…
So thankful to know more of the story behind Madi’s decision to follow Jesus. Wow praising Him that I got to be a small part of it as her decision guide. Keep up the good race and pray on Olivia! I’m right there with you cheering and begging for the 100%, you and yours as well as those He brings to us.
Dear Olivia, THANK YOU for the challenge and reminder to NEVER GIVE UP on anyone because JESUS never does! I am sharing both your and Drew’s posts to encourage my kids as they often wonder if the Lord really uses them…and I LOVED what you said about how Satan views our prayers to be more power-filled that we often do…an eye-opener! Always praying for all of you! Deborah Neilan (and family)
Olivia – what a great post – in so many ways! That was so encouraging, and a great reminder to never give up praying for someone, no matter how impossible it seems to us of limited sight (and sometimes imagination!)
Great reminder about Satan – reminds me of James 1:19 “….Even the demons believe that – and shudder.
Praying 100/100/100, and for shuddering demons.
With much love.
Thanks so much for this encouraging post, and Drew’s as well. I have shared them with my kids to build up their confidence in prayer, so it is a real blessing for us. We continue to pray for your mom, and your whole family. Thank you!
Jennifer Nevins
(my daughter McKenzie is a friend of Ivy’s)
I too went to EHS (30 plus years ago) My response to Olivia is on my website boomrethink.com http://boomrethink.com/2013/06/05/sixdegrees/
Well I just spent my quiet time with the Lord here in pawleys island and while doing so spent a big chunk of it reading ALL the blogs and yes I mean all of it comments and everything. I laughed, cried, made facial expressions and the whole bit. I want to praise and thank God for teachers of His word. I read and read and was reminded in it all how powerful we are for His kingdom. Our words and our teachings that we receive from Him are life changing because He is life changing. Thanks be to God for further still ministry blog and all writers. We are inspired, encouraged, equipped and excited to live today through Him and expectantly wait on Him. He is our rock, redeemer and love of all loves. I praise Him for it all. God bless Kurt, kristen, liv, drew, ivy and Ellie!!!!! May the love of Christ fill them completely right now!
Dear Olivia,
Your post was so inspiring–I read it to our family during our morning devotional earlier this week. This past year was a year of great change for our family. We moved from Louisville–the only home our children had ever known–to Paducah, KY. We moved away from our family and friends so my husband could start FCA here in Paducah and all of Western Kentucky. Also, after homeschooling our children for nine years, we put all five of our children in public school here. Your goals during your days at Eastern High School are exactly the goals I pray for on a daily basis for our family here. We want to impact and be a light for Jesus at the schools here! How beautiful and encouraging to us to read about your faith to persevere in prayer and obedience! And then to see the fruit that resulted! Thank you for sharing that testimony! Please know that at least once a day–often more–we are lifting up prayers for your mom and your family. Intercession from my husband and I down to our six year old–as your post is called ‘multiplication’, I guess you could say our prayers are ‘times seven!’ Thank you again so much– Maria Grogan Phil. 1:3-5
These are excellent things, Olivia! So encouraged and impressed by God’s work and your teachable heart.
Love and many prayers,
Carrie H.