A Light in the Darkness

My Aunt Sassy (Sandy) gave me permission to share a little bit of her story. So, here goes!

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Sassy's son, my cousin, Shane is an AMAZING drummer in a melodic hardcore band (think metal but not exactly). My aunt, being a loving and caring mother, goes to his concerts to support him and his friends. However, these venues began to negatively affect her: it is a dark scene with lyrics that suggest things that go against her faith, kids who seem rebellious (note, "seem"), and overall the scene carries a "demonic" tone.*

*This is not my opinion on the music nor hers, but more the general experience she and others like her have had in this particular environment.

She was getting tired of the dark environment, and was about to leave her last ever concert when she heard God: "as audibly and as clearly as I ever have before" she says. What did God say to her?

"You are exactly where you are supposed to be."

Instantly my aunt realized that where does the Light of the world belong? In the darkness. For her, this means the bleak concert rooms with kids who feel misunderstood or betrayed by the adults in their life, perhaps even feel abandoned by God or are apathetic about faith and anti-religion. Kids who drink and do drugs because they have nothing else. Kids who, in my aunts own words, are going through what she went through.

Sassy isn't looking to go in and convert a bunch of kids, dragging them along to her church's youth group (where she also has been volunteering for a number of years). Instead, she wants to continue to go and spend her time praying for these youth. She is not going to passively stand around and hope for change, though. She also plans to make herself available to be used by God.*

*Prayer itself is not passive. However, if we do not connect our heart to God's will in our times of prayer, and simply ask for things, we may never see how God intends to use us to be the answer to our prayers. Prayer, as I understand it in scripture, often reveals to us God's desires.

One way she has recently obeyed God's call to love these kids is by allowing one of Shane's friends and bandmates to live with her. She is a single mom who lives in a modest home, yet when she found out he was living in his car, she immediately told her son to bring his friend to the house immediately. And this act of love has broken Sassy's heart even more for these kids (who, actually, are probably only a year or two younger than me.)

Sassy is remaining open to how God would use her. Given I have some experience with this age range, I suggested a pizza/movie night at her home after a concert.

How can you help??
1) Pray for Sandy and Shane as they love these youth, lights in the darkness.
2) Pray for partners to come along with Sandy, other Christians who want to show God's love and let their hearts be broken for this scene
3) Donate a couple bucks to help Sandy throw a pizza party. If you are interested, comment here and I will connect with you on where you can send money.

My dream is that this blog will be a resource to share stories--both to encourage, to support through prayer, and to network amongst individuals, connecting them in a way that allows each to better serve the Lord and further God's Kingdom purposes here on earth.

If you have a story you wish to share, I would love to hear it! Again, connect with me through this post and we will make it happen!

I am a dumb sheep, but I have a flock to partner with me.