Hosting Our First Ministry Night | June 2024
“Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.” -Isaiah 54:2.
The Lord put it on my heart to extend our ministry outside of what we’ve been doing & host a night where not just the BHP community can come, but anyone who needed ministered to. I knew right away who would be perfect to lead worship, I knew what the night should look like, but I wasn’t sure who to ask to give the message. When I was seeking the Lord about it, He gave me the answer, but it wasn’t what I expected to hear! He said, it’s you. You are to give the message. I was like, are you sure, because I don’t seem qualified. As I was processing the whole thought of preparing a message & executing it, my friend encouraged me when he said, “Mel, everyone is qualified to preach the gospel.” So that settled it.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.-James 5:16
Ministry night was a small gathering in a hotel room nearby and all the elements were in place, just as I had envisioned. We had a nice layout with BHP decor, we had the dynamic duo of worship leaders - Miss Ellie Delturco & my oldest daughter, Dakota, and we had a variety of people show up. There were volunteers, friends, & people I did not recognize in the crowd, which is always great to know we are reaching beyond our little circle! I paced in the back of the room, praying in the spirit, trying to calm my nerves down while everyone enjoyed the beautiful worship.
Acoustic worship can be so simple, yet so beautiful
When it was time for me to speak, I felt like I could throw up. I’ve been over the fear of public speaking since I started BHP, but this was different. I wasn’t just talking about my journey as the founder, I was to deliver a message from the Word of God. It carried more responsibility & seriousness to it. I also wanted to make God proud, by giving these people a word straight from Him. When I got the mic, I told everyone that God told me to do this & I’m just being obedient, so extend some grace towards me. Haha. I started off ok, then the nerves hit me again & I pretty much read my notes then said that’s it, does anyone want prayer? No one raised a hand, no one stood up, it was just awkward honestly. Then I decided that I needed to be more intentional about this night before it passes by. I went to every single person in that room & prayed for them from my heart. With each person I went to, I felt more of the Spirit working through me than me trying to find the right words. At that moment, I knew I was walking in my purpose and that would make God proud-which is all I ever want to do.
My whole life exists to please God. He is my everything. He is the reason I’m still here, the reason I am healed, set free & delivered from my past. I owe Him everything. The night didn’t turn out how I expected, due to me still trying to figure out this new role, but it still was beautiful. God honors our faith & obedience, and that’s what I brought that night.