Never?!

A call came in from California a few nights ago from a young girl in an abusive home. As with many of the abuse calls we get the HopeCoaches heart was broken over the girl's situation and the caller thought that their situation was completely normal. Our HopeCoach listened as the caller told her all about her abusive situation and several other things that the caller was dealing with. After hearing it all she had to tell this girl that there was an answer to all the issues in her life- Jesus. She asked the caller what she thought about Jesus and didn't get the normal response. The caller said, "Who?" Thinking that the caller didn't hear her, the HopeCoach said, "Jesus, you know, God's son." The caller again expressed complete confusion. "Are you telling me you have never even heard of Jesus or God at all?" the HopeCoach said surprised. The caller wondering what the big deal was said that she truly had not heard of this God or Jesus. Our HopeCoach, like most any American, became very skeptical and began to think this was all a joke so she pressed a little harder and actually said, "Never heard of God? Are you from America?". The caller calmly said no and explained that her family had just moved to America from Guam. Well, the HopeCoach was obviously a little embarrassed but did not shrink from this incredible opportunity to share the wonderful story of Jesus with a girl for the very first time. When she had finished the caller was elated at this good news and when asked whether she wanted to pray to become a child of God and be forgiven of her sins she said yes with no hesitation whatsoever. Afterwards, we were able to send this caller the very first Bible she had even seen. Praise God!!!

Planting and Watering in God's Sovereignty

On a Friday evening Amanda called the HopeLine concerned about her best friend. Amanda’s friend, Tommy, was gay and wanted to tell his parents. She told our HopeCoach about Tommy’s abusive home life and how he was terrified of the consequences that would come if he told them about his homosexuality. Tommy was so scared that he had actually asked Amanda to tell his parents for him, and she was struggling with what to tell him. Our HopeCoach, of course, gave her the practical advice not to get involved in this potentially dangerous situation. He went on to encourage her on how she could still be a good friend without doing Tommy this favor. Like all HopeLine calls it ended with the HopeCoach praying for the situation and asking God to do the things that only He can do. The HopeCoach hung up the phone and worked through the follow up we do for every call thinking about Amanda and Tommy. When he made himself available to take another call he saw one pop up on his screen from the same city Amanda was from. This caller hung up three times before having the courage to actually talk to someone. Amazingly, each time the call would come to this same HopeCoach. The fourth time was a charm and once again it came to him. The first words out of the caller’s mouth…“Hi my name is Tommy and I’m gay”. The HopeCoach was floored! After listening for a minute he felt it was appropriate to reveal his previous conversation with the caller’s best friend. Tommy said that he had not talked to her since early that morning, and had no idea that Amanda was going to call in. The HopeCoach was able to move straight to the heart of the issue and speak the truth in love concerning Tommy’s situation. Now, many calls that come into the HopeLine end with a defined resolution, but many calls do not. Though some great seeds were planted, Tommy did not repent on this call. At a glance this could seem very disappointing, but when we consider God’s incredible sovereignty in this divine appointment how could we be disappointed? This display should move us to a deeper trust in our amazing God to finish the work that He has started. We have a saying that we try to always keep in mind at the HopeLine: “We are responsible to each caller, but God is responsible for each caller.” We do all we can to listen and proclaim truth and offer help, but ultimately any really great or eternal work that is done is done by God. And He is still working when we hang up the phone. We praise God for the times He uses us to harvest, but we also praise Him for the opportunity to plant and water trusting in His perfect plan where His fierce love and power keeps working in every caller’s life!

Trapped in Darkness

I have to admit that I only read a very small percentage of the assigned reading from my high school years, but one short story that I did read I have never forgotten because I thought it was so profound (though it has been a while so forgive me if the details are a little shaky). It was an allegory by Plato about men who been held captive in a cave all of their lives and were told that the cave was all there was in the world. One man, eventually, managed to escape and find his way outside. When he first saw the light of the sun it blinded him. After his eyes adjusted he saw the wonder of a whole new world with trees, birds, streams, and beautiful blue sky. He was in awe and decided that his fellow captives had to see this, so he went back to tell them and try to set them free. As he explained it to them they refused to believe him thinking it was a trick! These men were trapped in their darkness because they thought that it was all there was; that it was completely normal. Mary called recently trapped in a similar darkness. Her mother was an abusive alcoholic. Mary’s life consisted of being slapped around and verbally bashed by her mother so often that she thought it was completely normal. She had never known anything else and was convinced that most people’s home lives were like her own. For most of her life Mary literally thought the only purpose for make up was to cover up bruises left by her mother. She talked about the shock she experienced when she realized that her relationship with her abusive mother was not at all normal. Mary was calling because she needed someone to talk to about all of this. The HopeCoach listened brokenhearted for a very long time as story after story about the things her mother had said and did came out. He encouraged her, told her how wonderful and valuable she is, and shared with her about the great love of God. Afterwards he connected her with our partner ministry that offers free professional counseling. Mary’s story reminds me that we live in a dark world where, for some, the darkness is so thick that the people in it have no concept of anything else; anything better. Her story reminds me that I am to “walk as a child of light” (Ephesians 5:8) and “expose” the darkness that has so many trapped thinking there cannot be anything different than what they know.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket; but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Come and See!

When I heard about Alexa's call I couldn't help but think of the woman at the well in John 4. Not because she had been married 5 times but because of her reaction to meeting Jesus. Alexa called because her mom was never around; the type of woman that spent her nights drinking and partying. The night that Alexa called was the night that she and her mother had a huge fight. Bravely, she confronted her mom about her lifestyle and got screamed at for her efforts. Alexa's grandmother came and picked her up after her mom went out. She was overwhelmed and flustered when she called in. Alexa talked about her problem and our HopeCoach caringly listened and tried to comfort her. Then, knowing the ultimate need of all our callers, the HopeCoach shared the wonderful love of Jesus Christ. He was suprised by how hungry this girl was for God, she eagerly gave her life to Christ! After praying, she told the HopeCoach how beautiful she thought the love of God was and that she couldn't wait to get to school to tell her friends about Jesus! Alexa, like the woman at the well, was filled with wonder at the real Messiah and did what people do when in wonder about something - they go and tell others about it. They do that because they desperately want others to know about this great thing they have found. So, the woman at the well runs into town, to the people she usually tried to avoid because of the shame she felt from her life's mistakes, and says "come and see the man who told me everything I have ever done". And Alexa goes without fear into the one of the most judgemental environments in America (public high school) and says "guess what happened to me last night, I found the beautiful love I have been craving all my life". I wonder how different the world would be if all Christians let their fear of what others think get swallowed up by amazement over this Messiah whose perfect, unstoppable love sets us free and gives us life forever with Him.

Cut or Call

It is interesting for me to think about how many times the message that God spoke through Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19 is seen in everyday life – “Today…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” He was calling them to obey the commands that God had given them, saying that if they did obey then they would receive abundant blessing and life, but if they did not obey then they would receive destruction. Lorie called and told us about a similar choice recently. Lorie was a cutter and knew that she needed help. She had heard Dawson’s show before and this Sunday night she was determined to avoid it. She had a terrible day that day. You see, her father was an alcoholic and her mother was not around. Her father tried to keep her from everyone, never letting her leave the house except to go school. Lorie knew that she was going to graduate this year and desperately wanted to go away to college, if only to get away from her father. He refused to let her go. This frustration and feeling of being trapped, coupled with terrible memories of things that had happened to her in the past, led her to the place she had found herself in too many times before. She was going to lock the door to her room and cut. But there was a part of her that didn’t want to; that was tired of cutting and wanted to get help. This created a real battle inside her, “Cut or call,” she would say to herself. She didn’t want to hear Dawson that night because she knew that the decision would be made if she did; she would call the HopeLine to get help. Lorie sat on her bed and tried to avoid the decision: cut or call. For a while she listened to music on CDs to keep her mind occupied. After a few hours of this she was tired of her CDs and thought Dawson’s show was over, so she turned the radio to her favorite station and found out that she was wrong- Dawson was still on. God brought conviction to Lorie through the show and the decision was made to call. She got one of our HopeCoaches who, as they always do, led her to getting the help that she needed, both in the situation with her father and her problem with cutting. Thanks be to God for using a caring voice over the air and then another over the phone to lead a young girl to choosing life!