Kingdom Connections

About a year ago I had an encounter with a new hair stylist, Rae*. My regular girl could not fit me in and suggested I try Rae, and it was a success! Rae cut my hair several times, and then moved on to a new salon. When I called the new salon to make an appointment, they said she had left and would not tell me her new studio. So, for months I have been praying for her. Praying that she stays clean, praying she reconciles and builds her relationship with her children, and praying we cross paths again.

Recently, I attended the Women’s Retreat in Kansas, and I had the honor of teaching the craft with my friends Kaitlyn and Kathryn. We set up, taught the basics of the project, cleaned up, and reset the room for the next group of 35 women. We had three groups and each of them was fantastic. The women were so creative and I loved hearing the conversations about what the Lord was teaching them, and watching them pick out a verse for their project.  

As we began the third and final group of the day, a woman at the second table caught my eye. We looked at each other and she said, “Candy?” and I knew it was Rae! She was at Women’s Retreat! We hugged and talked and took a picture together, became friends on Facebook, and she caught me up on what God had been doing.  

She got married. When she told me this I asked, “Does he love the Lord?” and with a beaming smile she told me all about how much her husband loves Jesus, how they met at church and how he proposed after the service one Sunday. She is married to a man of God who loves her and her kids, with whom she has a great relationship. She is working on shared custody, and knows it will take time, but she has reconciled. Rae is managing a salon and loves it! God is growing her and she is open to the leading of the Spirit in her life.  

Rae is why I do what I do! Her church is part of the Urban Church Association and they host the World Impact Mobile Medical unit monthly. She attended this Women’s Retreat with 160 other urban women! Our friendship is filled with World Impact connections! Praise the Lord for His life changing power in Rae’s life and in mine.

Please continue to pray for World Impact’s men’s and women’s retreats around the country, pray that the Lord will be honored and that more Kingdom connections will be made.

*Name changed for privacy.

Read more from Candy Gibson.