'Yes' God: An Unsung HeroMark Nelson - 26 Oct 2009
One ‘Yes!’ can impact the world.
Wendy Andrews’s life has been radically turned upside down again and again because she chooses to say ‘YES’ to God. Her work has impacted potentially thousands of lives on campuses across America, on visits to closed nations, in mentoring younger leaders and discipling new believers in the Kansas City Boiler Room. Wendy really is one of 24-7 Prayer’s unsung heroes. She is changing lives quietly and consistently by responding to God’s prompting.
Wendy first said ‘yes’ to Jesus at a small retreat in 1996; she was just 16 years old, sitting with a small group in a dark hallway lit with candles and holding a crucifix.
“I see who you are and what you've done and I want my life to change!”
God took her at her word and some time later, called her to relocate to Kansas City through a series of remarkable dreams to help 24-7 Prayer USA. Today she is heavily involved in the leadership of the local Boiler Room and 24-7’s Campus America dream. Here’s just one amazing story of how God is honouring Wendy’s readiness even today...
“Recently I spoke at the IA Intervarsity conference to over 130 students.” Writes Wendy. “A guy summed up the weekend by challenging everyone present to say, “yes” to God. To my surprise he used my life as an example. He told everyone that the amazing things I am involved in today are an accumulation of 12 years of “yeses”… most of those were choices many people will never know about. He went on, “Wendy said ‘yes’ on Tuesday, she said ‘yes’ on October 7th, 2003…” He seemed to throw out a completely random date then joked that I should check to see if it was significant. Prophetic? I thought I’d find out…”
Wendy Andrews’s Journal entry, October 7, 2003:
“What you finally allowed me to see and opened my eyes to, is that You long for me like I long to be loved – and more! Ohhh! I get it! Just a little bit, I get Your longing for me, for us, Your people! What a crazy, desperate love! I can’t believe its true… And so, Lord, I say that if You feel this way about me, I give myself to You! If your longing for me to run to You measures more than this longing deep inside of me, then I simply say, ‘Yes’. I’m all Yours’.”
“I don’t remember this encounter with God on October 7th, 2003 but it seems He does!” continues Wendy. “He was there with me, inviting me to say,“yes” to His love and I did”.
Reading Wendy’s account I am struck by what an outrageous prophetic encouragement and affirmation of God’s love it is. Days that may seem insignificant to us, seem important markers, important ‘yeses’, to our Father. God used that man to show Wendy how much he loved her and emphasise how intimately involved He is in her every prayer and response in our lives.
Wendy finishes by saying “God gave me perspective that for the past 6 years, He’s been working out my ‘yes’ to Him in my reality, getting me to the place where I know and believe His great love for me”.
“Yes, Lord, (say yes to him everyday!) walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah 26:8