I was fourteen. Swayed by the schoolgirl whose mom was non-existent; yet paid the mortgage so her daughter wouldn’t be homeless.
I longed for acceptance. My charismatic friend seemed to give it, while simultaneously criticizing my church-going parents; telling me I should be free, just like her.
I was ignorant, so I followed.
I ran away that freshman year, to the house of this rule-less girl; the one who sunbathed on her roof, wandered the streets under the moon, whose mother stayed out all night and never made her dinner.
Spinning lower, too young to recognize the world’s false freedom, like a prodigal squandering her inheritance; my dad waiting with the light on…but I never came.
Until one day, the phone rang.
She found me. My friend since birth, living states away. A few years older, like a sister. I respected her because she cared.
I listened while she didn’t condemn or judge, didn’t quote some scripture, or give me some churchy, “bad girl” sermon.
All she said was, “Don’t you know that you are loved?”
Still, sometimes I wonder in our world of mega churches, power preachers, conversion counting, and overseas evangelism; could we be forgetting…people are more than numbers, individuals need more than bulk formulas for conversion to bring them to the kingdom?
Don’t most people just need someone to love them, a friend who will listen, a Savior who never fails them?
(To keep reading, click HERE)
** This month I have the honor and privilege to be writing over at Missional Women. Missional Women isn’t just for international missionaries, it is for you, for me.
It is a site where thousands of women around the world gather to collect tools, information, inspiration, and encouragement.
And guess what? Today is an exciting day because they have launched the first ever, fully free, Missional Women App for your Android, Smart, or iphone! How cool is that?
Here is what it offers:
* Audio Bible
* Bible reading plans
* Helpful articles
* Discipleship material
* Lock screens
* And much more
Also, will you also join us for the launch party today over at Missional Women?