Anne's Transformation Story

A few weeks ago I met a woman in a large city in Tanzania. She was striking––both her physical beauty and her confident bearing immediately stood out. “Anne” was a very successful businesswoman. She traded in various grains, importing and exporting to various east African countries. My friend told me that Anne was, by Kenyan standards, a millionaire. Then he informed me that just three years ago, Anne was working the streets as a prostitute. Having just conversed with this self-assured, professional woman, I confess this was hard to imagine.

How did this seemingly miraculous transformation come about?

One night, Anne was working the streets. Like every other night she was simply trying to survive by selling herself to whoever would pay (sometimes she was paid, other times she was beaten instead). But on this night she met a few people who made a very different kind of offer. They told Anne how beautiful she was to Jesus and invited her to come to a restaurant with them where a good meal was waiting. They would pay her twice what she normally received in a whole night. When she nervously agreed, Anne stepped through the door to a whole new life. After the meal, they not only prayed for her, they offered Anne a “hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). It was not a far-off future, but one that began that very night. Anne had a safe place to stay and food to eat; but more than that, the very next day, she began to learn how to run a business. After some training, she was given a loan and started on her way to a whole new life. Opportunity releases the potential that God has put into every one of His children.

This same story has been repeated thousands of times. There are now businesses all over east Africa that began with believing men and women reaching out across their fears and discomfort in order to help rescue a broken, despairing life. Most of us think it must be hard to do this, but it isn’t. Rescue is often (but not always) surprisingly easy.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor!” (Lu 4:18 NLT)

Good news to the poor. Heaven is now. Jesus invites us to believe what seems impossible––but isn’t, because Heaven has broken in. We just have to see it and then believe what we see.

·       What does Good News to the poor look like in my city or neighborhood?

·       How can I bring Good News? Where can I bring it?

·       What would need to change for me to do this?

“Lord Jesus, give me Your eyes to see the poor, both where I live and among the poor nations of the world. Like King David, I ask you to give me a willing spirit (Ps 51:12).”