A Story from our Team Leader
Our monthly staff prayer day was underway on Thursday, February 2 when I received a phone call. Stepping out of the GSF Chapel, I listened to an appeal from a local government leader. A mother had passed away after giving birth the night before. The family members are believers, involved in the local church, but their living conditions are poor and the extended family is in no position to help. The father is willing to take the child back, but right now he cannot care for a newborn. Could GSF come get the baby? Such calls normally go to our Social Worker, but she was onstage leading worship in the chapel. The ministry of GSF is large and we have many fabulous people serving here. Though I am the Team Leader, I normally hear about such things after the child arrives at GSF. Plus, babies rarely come to us that young – this child had only been born the night before! The call hit my heart powerfully.
A few minutes later, I stood to preach to the entire GSF staff. My notes were prepared about the birth of the prophet Samuel and lessons we get from his life. There was actually a blank section at the top of my notes, because I had no introductory story, no lead-in. Then God filled in the blank with that phone call. Samuel was a deliverer for Israel. Who knows whether this baby would be a deliverer for Uganda. What might God do with the life of this child, just hours old? We were all reminded that day of the value of each life.
Later in the afternoon, we prayed over baby Joshua in the GSF Babies’ House. Born just 19 hours prior, likely the youngest child ever admitted to GSF, having already suffered the tragic loss of his mother, what will the Lord do with his life? We are filled with eager expectation. Every life is precious!