By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
Scripture: When Jesus came into the Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16: 13-19).
Oh, my Friends, the storm clouds fell mightily and released great torrents of water on God s ministries which had been going on for several years. My first cousin, Gwendolyn Powell (Gwen), now deceased, focusing on one hospital ministry had placed a prayer box in the lobby with prayer slips beside it for anyone who wanted their needs to be prayed for to have something in which to record them; However, one day, someone noticed it in a very negative manner complaining to the hospital authorities, and
After we tearfully were informed by her of the unfortunate situation, we went to the hospital authorities and requested it to be returned to its original place. But to no avail. We noticed it cast in a corner in the office as if waiting disposal, asked for it and tearfully took it away with us. However, Gwen continued her God-given assignment delivering and filling the prayer slips out of those persons who wanted them filled out including some staff members who eagerly awaited her arrival. However, someone there must have chosen to report our God-dedicated mission to other hospital authorities because upon our arrival we were accused of disturbing the peace and not allowed on the premises again. At those hospitals, we verbally asked people in the emergency rooms and other provided waiting rooms did they desire prayers for themselves, and other family members and we prayed for them. Sometimes, when we returned, some of the same people who were there waiting for loved ones for them to improve reported their improvements, even though they had been told of their eminent demise. Some God had discharged to the amazement of some relatives. Some of the doctors had placed a lady under code blue, heard we were present, and they sent for me to pray for her. A couple of days later we entered the same door together. She reminded of God s blessing she had receive a few days earlier. God!
