Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Adding a book to your story

By Angela Thomas

Published February 2, 2008 in This Week

The Bible is a story, not a fairy tale but God’s story of redemption. It tells who He is (the living God), who we are (poor, lost sinners) and how He entered our world and brought the light of His truth, mercy, and grace to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Every book and chapter of the Bible contributes to God’s telling of His story. And He has called us to tell others His story—starting in Dallas and extending to the U.S. and the farthest parts of His world.

In September 2004, God started a new book in my life. That is when I was introduced to Mariah through the mentoring ministry of Mercy Street in West Dallas. At the first mentor training session we were told to “just be a friend and encourager to your mentee, a caring adult in the life of a child.” Mercy Street would provide monthly activities to facilitate building a relationship. But what did that mean? I thought. God was about to show me.

Initially our relationship seemed forced and awkward. Mariah hardly talked to me, wouldn’t look me in the eye, and sometimes even seemed hostile. It felt like I was up against a brick wall. Our worlds seemed so different; what difference could I make? I took my questions to God, and I prayed more, especially when I felt discouraged, helpless, and hopeless. And every time the Lord would remind me that my only hope and Mariah’s only hope was Jesus. Then His peace, patience, and perseverance would fill my heart—again.

In July 2005 Mariah and 20 other Mercy Street kids attended Kids Across America, a week-long Christian summer camp in Missouri. It was her first time out of Texas or away from her family. While she was gone all I could do was pray. As she came off the bus the next Saturday, I could tell something had changed. She was laughing and excited. She hopped in my car and excitedly told me how she had learned to swim and about new friends and “cool” counselors. Later that week, over lunch at a Chinese buffet, Mariah looked me in the eye for the first time and told me, “I rang the bell!”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“At camp they told us about Jesus and His sacrifice for or sins and how we could have forgiveness. If you asked Jesus into your heart, you’d go to the front and ring the bell.”

Both our faces were beaming as I explained to Mariah that not only were we mentor and mentee, but now we were sisters in Christ!

To say that the last two and a half years since then have been easy would not be true. Many times it has seemed to be one step forward and two steps back. But even in the apparent setbacks and frustrations, I have been reminded that “God is in it.” Just as He was in the cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness, so I have learned to believe that He was leading me and Mariah even when I couldn’t see where. God has used Mariah to take my faith and prayer life to new places. Romans 8:26-39 has become more and more real to me. And God’s promise in Philippians 1:6 “that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” is proving true for both Mariah and me. Today she is a 15-year-old freshman at Happy Hill Farm Academy in Granbury. She is growing in her faith and “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). But that part of the story is for another chapter.

Ladies, you can be a part of the story of West Dallas, too. Make your plans now to attend Beyond Ourselves 2008, an evening of encouragement and a day of serving. There will be many ways to share hugs, hard work, and encouragement with some of our West Dallas friends.