As the Sunday school teacher to our high school ladies, I gave a few options on what we could study this fall. I was overcome with joy and encouragement when they opted to study A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor by Chris Seay. Unanimously, the ladies decided to fast from things in their lives that would force them to turn to God and think of those less fortunate than themselves. The things from which they chose to fast from are irrelevant. What impresses me is their willingness to become vulnerable and weak which forces them to seek Christ more often and more passionately.
Experiencing difficulties and temptation along side them has united us as sisters in Christ and strengthened our personal relationships with each other and, most importantly, with our Savior. Discussions on oppression, slavery, and poverty are numerous. We share information regarding human trafficking, water shortages, indentured slaves, generational slavery, extreme poverty and more.
What a joy it is to walk alongside others who desire intimacy with Jesus and are willing to go to—what some would consider—extreme measures in order to achieve a deeper relationship with our Creator. I am finding that my young ladies and I are co-teachers and we’re all students seeking and finding ways to strengthen the ties that bind us to Christ. As we near the half-way point in our 40 day journey, it is exciting to see God speaking and working in each of us in many different and awesome ways.
Contributed by Joy Lujan, Caldwell Friends
