Carol and I, along with our friends, Tony and Janelle, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in late 1997 to join The Watch of the Lord prayer ministry and to attend All Nations Church. Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda headed both ministries.
Each of us felt the Lord directed us to move there. Our billfolds lacked money and credit cards, but faith filled our hearts, believing God would somehow supply our needs.
We pooled out money together and rented a room with two double beds at the Charlotte Residence Inn. The room contained less than two hundred square-feet of floor space with a kitchenette, two beds, four chairs, table, and a bathroom.
A mortgage financing company hired the four of us as telephone sales reps on our second day in Charlotte. The company paid its employees on a biweekly basis, which meant our first paychecks arrived two weeks later. This posed a problem because we only had enough money for one week of rent at the motel.
Each morning the four of us gathered together and prayed for our finances, as in, “Oh Lord, help! HELP!”
We introduced ourselves to the church and ministry as soon as it was possible. The members said we were the answers to many prophecies spoken to the group about people moving from different parts of America to be a part of the ministry. Their words encouraged us, but our money still dwindled daily because of food and gas.
A couple from All Nations Church invited us to their home for a small group meeting and Christmas party on the last night of our motel rental. The four of us agreed not to mention our dire financial needs to the group, but instead, we were determined to trust the Father, according to Matthew 6:6 −
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
The married couple lived in a beautiful new two-story home located in a picturesque area with tall pine trees. It had a large living room, three bedrooms, fireplace, two bathrooms, and large kitchen. A perfect place for four needy, soon to be homeless, believers like us.
The meeting began with Christmas songs and prayers, with the group then waiting on the Lord to hear His voice. The group leader broke the silence by turning to Tony and Janelle.
“Do you guys need something?” he asked, looking at them.
Tony and Janelle shook their heads.
“Not really. The Lord is taking care of us,” said Tony.
The group returned to waiting on the Lord, but the leader was not satisfied and again turned to Tony and Janelle.
“I just don’t feel good about your answers. What do you need?”
Tony and Janelle answered again in the same manner.
“The Lord is taking care of our needs. Thanks for asking.”
The leader would not quit. He continued to ask them what they needed.
“Okay, here’s the story,” Janelle finally said, “we’re out of money for rent and groceries starting tomorrow morning. We don’t know where we shall go or how we’ll survive until we get paid next week.”
How do you think these joyous, Christmas celebrating Christians replied to her statement? And remember: it was December and cold outside.
The group’s leader digested Janelle’s statement for a moment. He motioned with his hands.
“Let’s gather around these two couples and pray for them.”
Tony, Janelle, Carol, and I stood in the middle of the living room while ten Christians placed their hands on our shoulders and prayed. They cried out to the Lord with passion for our circumstances.
I cheated a little by keeping my eyes open and watching the group. Oh Lord, I thought, this looks like the sum total of their aid for our needs. If so, I feel like puking all over their carpet for their level of Christianity.
The rhythm of their prayers reached a crescendo and backed off, waiting for someone to speak.
“I see the Lord raining drops of gold on the four of you,” prophesied a woman. “And all you have to do is reach up by faith and grab what you need. Just reach up right now.”
The prayers ended and we sat down again.
What a convenient prophecy, I thought. They actually believe they don’t have to help us in our time of need because of the woman’s prophetic words. Shouldn’t someone ask how much gold we were able to cram into our pockets during the prayers? Why did the Holy Spirit unmask our financial needs? To reveal our lack of faith or to reveal the group’s hypocrisy?
Various Christmas cookies, fudge candies, sandwiches, chips, and potato salad kept the four of us busy after the prayers. We stuffed ourselves and then graciously said our goodbyes and left.
(Excerpt from The Hunt for Larry Who by LarryNevenhoven, © 2014, Amazon eBook)
My prayer today:
Lord, break the hearts of American believers now to prepare us for the future times of lack in our nation so that we don’t answer people’s needs with our dead faith. (Based on James 2:15-20)
What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened.
Larry Who 
In a later paragraph to the above excerpt, I wrote:
“The small group was not the answer to our problems, it was the Man named Jesus. There was no use in stomping our feet, pointing our fingers, and blaming them when they wouldn’t help us. It was a waste of time. And guess what? Bitterness would have been disastrous for us.”
Thank,you. Mr. Larry , for another important prayer . Praying is good, but this has reminded me of the Faith without works is dead verse. God bless you.
How easy it is to talk the talk! Nevertheless, praise God for Psalm 37:25. It’s still our testimony.
Debbie,
Our walks include prayer and action. God bless you.
Roger,
I am thankful the righteous are NEVER forsaken. God bless you.