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Years back, I suffered a failure of sorts. A dream I had, a “God thing,” I thought, just did not work out. I was humbled by the failure, tempted not to try again.

So when I felt impressed by the Lord that He wanted me to set up a “Drive Thru Prayer” in front of our church, well, I was reluctant. The thoughts of such a venture took me back to the failed lemonade stand of my childhood. You could say I was stubbornly disobedient.

A loss or failure seems to take your breath away and make you feel that perhaps you’re not as strong as you thought. But, for the one who perseveres, there will always be another challenge and something inside that says: “My God and I—we can do it! Let’s try again!”

At the beginning of summer, God spoke: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8, NKJV). I felt strongly that I was to offer “Drive Thru Prayer.” The Reimagine refund seed money was waiting to be used for an endeavor like this! It was time to pray and believe that God would provide the miracles.

The startup was intentionally simple. I chose a location where commuters could drive up and ask for prayer Monday through Friday, from 7 to 9 a.m. The materials were one pop-up canopy and two sandwich-board signs with the simple wording: “Drive Thru Prayer.”

I asked those who stopped two questions:

  • We’re going to pray in the name of Jesus. Are you OK with that?
  • When Jesus Christ answers your prayer, will you come back to tell us or tell your friends and family what He did for you?

The first person to come for prayer was a woman who dropped to her knees with her hands in the air, saying that she needed God, and that she was filled with bitterness. From that time on, a prayer partner and I prayed with joggers, pet-walkers, bicyclists and surfers, in addition to people traveling in automobiles. I know when people pull up that they have just demonstrated enough faith to receive a miracle. The requests have been for jobs, marriages, healing, relatives’ health, personal blessing and even a few dogs.

I’m not sure how long this ministry will remain. But I am happy to report the good feeling that comes from obeying, and the joy of seeing the Lord work wonders in people’s lives.

In ministry, we can’t let failure get the best of us. We have to get up and try again. Please remember, dear colleague: “The dream never dies, just the dreamer.” Dream on!

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jer. 32:27, NIV).

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is the senior pastor of Hope Chapel (Huntington Beach Foursquare Church) in Huntington Beach, Calif.
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