Dear God, help my dad to stop doing drugs....

I will make this short... but I don't want to. Tonight was by far the biggest break through we have had with our Rock Island Youth. There are lots of details that I'm sure Ron or Luke will blog about, but I'm going to talk about the prayer at the end.

At the end of our bible study tonight we decided to do a chain prayer. We have tried this before and the only three that pray are Ron, Luke and I. NONE of our kids have ever prayed out loud. I assumed the same tonight. I started the prayer off and waited for the hand-squeezing to get passed down the line so Ron and Luke could pray. Then I heard an unexpected voice. One of our kids... "God, please help my uncles stop doing cocaine and drinking beer". I was shocked.. I again waited for Ron or Luke's voice. A different voice... "God please watch over my dad while he is in prison.. most people don't make it in maximum security". My lip starts to quiver and I wait. Yet another voice.. "God, please help my dad stop doing drugs." At this point I'm feeling tears streaming down my face. Lastly a girl speaks up.. but the words don't come as sobs fill the air. We close the prayer with an Amen and I look up at our "youth group".. the boys who usually are quick to make fun of each other, threaten and use rough language just stand in silence. Many have wet eyes...

A few minutes after the awesome prayer the kids disperse and begin their video games.. the first one who prayed says "that's the first time I've prayed in my whole life" another chimes in and says, "me too" and yet another admits this fact. My heart is broken and I'm crying but I am SO excited.. The Lord has crossed another barrier with the kids. He is transforming lives right in front of my eyes!