So, an update on “Leah.” Once COVID-19 hit and our services went online for a couple of months, connections with Leah became brittle. We had been helping her find a job, and she did get one. But during that period where we were no longer picking her up for church every week and visiting face to face, she and her live-in fiance “Matthew” hit a rough patch, and he left. Another fellow soon came in his place. Very sad indeed. Leah truly was a ‘Samaritan woman,’ in desperate need of the True Man to set things right.
Once she had started her new job, it was hard to continue the Genesis study we were doing with her online. But we continued to reach out, and eventually my wife and I were able to have another even more candid, heart-to-heart visit about her cohabitation with “Matthew” and her bigger spiritual issues behind that. She came under conviction of sin and seemed to respond gladly to the call to repentance and empty-handed faith in a crucified Savior, with a resolution to begin to ‘make things right.’ Soon, I was also able to talk to Matthew, who had been more of a closed book. But I had been reaching out to him as well, and he seemed to respect me from early on. I urged them both to get married ‘yesterday’ in the eyes of God and man. I told them I would be happy to help make things right ‘legally,’ officiating a simple civil ceremony, and then we could talk about a vow-renewal ceremony looking more like a traditional wedding. Make things right, then make things special. They really seemed to latch on to that.
In late May, we were back to services at the building, and eventually Lisa has started coming back. But surprise, surprise! Matthew has been taking her … with the two boys, “Abel” and “Andrew” (again, not real names). Twice in a row they’ve been in God’s house, taking baby steps – or big leaps, better yet! And Matthew looked like a daddy, holding and caring for those precious little boys.
Later in the day last Lord’s day, I got a text from Leah out of the blue (no editing):
Pastor mike i am so proud of [Matthew] right now!! He did a selfless act tonight!!! He was on the road and he saw that someone on the side of the road needed help. So he pulled over and decided to help out even though his car doesn’t have much to it ….so he jumped their car!!! I think all this talking to him and you offering to listen really is getting through to him!!! Praise the lord they heavenly father!!! Amen!!! Thank you pastor Godbless you and the family and have a great night!
Of course, I see all my inadequacies and failures. But I bless the Lord that any of my sin-tainted efforts should be used in any way.
Now, I’m not counting chickens before they’ve hatched. All could go wrong tomorrow. But would you join me in rejoicing and especially in praying that this baby family would continue taking the right steps, even if baby steps in the narrow path towards Jesus?
West Port Experiment 
Leave a Reply