In November 2009, one of our women traveled across the ocean to share Jesus’ love with women in Lebanon. Hallie Garrison has been a member of First Presbyterian for several years and has been very active with the Women in Ministry this past year. Many of you know her and were thankful for her hard work with our High Tea in December! We want to share with you Hallie’s own words about the doors that the Lord graciously opened for her throughout this experience in global missions. Enjoy!
A Letter To All of You From Hallie
Dear First Presbyterian Women,
As I think about First Presbyterian's mission: "Deeper into Christ, Further into the World," I recall my recent trip to Lebanon. When a long-time missionary friend called and asked me to go to Beirut to speak at a conference, I instantly knew in my spirit that this was something I was to do.
In spite of the obvious dangers of being in the Middle East, there were other hurdles to jump. I was in the middle of life (as I knew it) falling apart and I was trying to make sense of all that was happening to me. How could this be the time when God would want me to speak to other women? However, I sensed that the Lord was asking me to go because He wanted to use me to speak into the lives of women in the Middle East, even in the midst of my brokenness.
In addition to this most unusual timing was the major issue of raising financial support. It would cost thousands of dollars to participate in this mission. Watching God raise the necessary money quickly and without my help was a wonder all of its own! The ways He went about it have continued to give me courage to face my still unknown future.
Furthermore, the way He brought into focus what He wanted these ladies to hear was nothing short of a miracle…it felt like “parting the Red Sea” for me! By all logical reasoning, this did not seem like my time to travel to Lebanon or speak to anyone about anything. However, I have learned more deeply through this experience that He is able to equip me to do anything He wants whenever it fits into His grand plan. As He speaks to me, He is able to speak through me.
Part of His plan included visiting Iraqi refugees in their homes. A few hours after our arrival, we visited with nine different families. Their housing is probably what we know as "the projects" here in the States. They had no beds, very little—if any—furniture, and maybe a hot plate to cook on. There were numerous families living in one tiny apartment; as many as twelve people slept on floors in two small rooms. Their surroundings were quite bleak. They shared with us the difficulties of looking for work to put food on the table. We listened to their stories of how they were threatened and beaten and how they had watched people murder their family members because they refused to deny Christ (and convert to Islam). Many were forced to leave their businesses and homes and only brought with them the clothes they could carry at the time.
We asked them if things were better for them since the U.S. had intervened. They said that things were not better (but actually worse), yet they welcomed five American women into their homes. What gracious fellowship! We communicated through an interpreter, sang praises, prayed for them and left with hugs and a few smiles. We pray that we were instruments of God's peace, grace and love to them. We thanked God for the grace, love and courage that was so evident in their lives.
In the days that followed, we helped our missionary friend put on a one-day conference for these same women and many more. Our guide presented the gospel to them through an interpreter. Our team of four served food and coffee and we sang praise songs in Lebanese alongside our new friends.
The final two days were spent with Pastors’ wives from numerous Middle Eastern countries. We were humbled as we joined with several hundred women pouring out their love for Christ in song. Simply said, it was amazing! Each member of the team, then, spoke through an interpreter on the topic they had been assigned. This was affectionately referred to as the "stretch-and-grow" portion of our ministry.
Over the course of the next two days, I was able to speak individually with many of the women. Within these one-on-one conversations I saw that women everywhere are the same. They have different struggles based on where they live, but their hearts for God, their children, their parents were the same. It was such a privilege and so encouraging to witness God's power in the lives of women across the globe who speak and look so differently.
Although I had seen God fulfill His promise to equip me for His work in the past, I have never been more acutely aware of presence in ministry than I was during my time in Beirut. God sent me to Beirut when, in Baton Rouge, my world was falling apart. Under any other circumstances, I might have missed watching God provide for me and protect me far beyond my imaginings and my prayers. What a sight to behold—watching God work out His will for others as He does the same in your life simultaneously!
Here is my encouragement for all of us based upon the grace I received from the Lord: when God calls you to do something out of the box, out of the country, or even just out of your comfort zone, please say “Yes!” No matter how difficult or complicated your present circumstances, place yourself in a position to see His handiwork, His master plan for you, and His living church around the world.
Prepare yourself for gospel ministry by going Deeper into Christ, and ask Him to show you how to go Further into the World.
In Christ,
Hallie Garrison