In April 17, 2017, after God called me to sell my house in coastal South Carolina, give away much of my belongings, and hit the road full-time for ministry with a big bunch of special needs and senior ministry dogs, I set off on what would become about 6.5 years on the road for Jesus.
It has been amazing, awesome, intense, terrifying, beautiful, phenomenal, indescribable, challenging beyond measure, etc. I have had countless opportunities to tell the world about Jesus, to share the Gospel, pray for people, encourage them, hand out my Gospel tracts, call people to repentance, help people follow Jesus while at the same time writing books and devotional messages via email.
I have been yelled at, cursed at, hated, rejected, assaulted, gotten significantly sick multiple times, had to flee danger, stayed in dangerous hotels, called police numerous times, ministered to criminals, helped people apparently overdosing, called 911 when people looked dead on the NYC streets or appeared to be dying, helped the dying, sick, disabled, hurting, heartbroken, and on and on.
I am humbled beyond measure – and exhausted beyond words.
In spring 2023, I went to NYC and had the best 6 weeks of my life ministering on the streets there before I got COVID which landed me very sick for 2 months in a hotel in New Jersey. At that time, as God did a mighty work in me, He let me know He wanted me to leave NYC behind, stop being on the road for Him, to visit family in Virginia, and to return to Florida to settle down there, be extremely focused on my writing which was hard to keep up with given being on the road, and do local ministry.
I was utterly devastated and heartbroken to leave behind NYC which is the only place in my adult life I have passionately loved, felt like I totally belonged, utterly thrived, felt like the perfect fit, and enjoyed streets ministry to the utmost.
And I was heartbroken, also, knowing God not only wanted me to forsake NYC, but He also wanted me to not remain in Virginia with my family there who are seniors who do not yet believe in Him and are dealing with some really big challenges.
Friend, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is to FOLLOW Jesus which involves dying to self, taking up our crosses, and living in obedience to God. It means no longer living for self but living for God. It means living with Jesus Christ as our FIRST LOVE and GREATEST PRIORITY. It means forsaking all He calls us to forsake for Him. And it means doing so with joy and thanksgiving not with self-pity and complaining.
I am on call for my family in Virginia if they need help at any point and hope to return for visits, but I have now arrived as of a few days ago in Florida where I am slowly settling in.
I am right now in a season of extreme rest and healing physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I confess I am so burned out that during my 2 months of really bad COVID as well as before and even since then there have been times I have felt as though I cannot make it any further. As though I am running a marathon and can’t make it to the finish.
But God will give me the strength to press on, and God has all I need including HIs love, healing, provision, protection, etc.
I would be extremely thankful for PRAYER and for DONATIONS and for NEW MONTHLY SPONSORS.
You can DONATE or become a MONTHLY SPONSOR at www.GoodNews.love or by contacting me at 843-338-2219 or lara@GoodNews.love.
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 NKJV
“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV