The Lord Hath Need of Them
by Maria de los Angeles Miller

As usual, the children of our church made preparations to go to our annual summer camp. They eagerly wait for this event with great anticipation the whole year. Knapsacks were filled with everything they needed: bathing suits, insect repellent and clothes for their favorite sport - soccer. They also packed their Bibles and notebooks.

The teachers also made their preparations: programs, classes, ideas, and above all, a great deal of prayer. What would be the point of all the effort, all the programs, and all the ideas, if God did not accept the stones piled up, the wood gathered, and the altar erected? If fire did not descend from heaven as a sign that the offering was pleasing to Him, all would be in vain.

In the mornings there were meetings, and the rest of the day was engaged in sports and games. Campfires were the evening activity. The theme of the meetings was: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;...(Psalm 143:8).

Confronted
At the first meeting, examples were given from the life of Paul. This man knew the Scriptures. He never failed to help in the synagogue. He sincerely believed that he knew God. But it wasn't until he was on his way to Damascus that he really met God. If this encounter had not occurred, his path would have led to the slaughter of many Christians.

Many of the children at camp were born and nurtured in the church. They thought they were saved because they attended meetings and had believing parents. They were shaken that morning by the anointed message of the teacher and cries were heard from many hearts.

On the second morning they were taught about the man who lived in Jerusalem and went down to Jericho. On his way thieves robbed and wounded him (Luke 10:30). But why did he even go down to Jericho? Why did he even leave Jerusalem in the first place?

Once again the children were faced with the truth: many had once given their lives to God, but now they were far from Him, or they had taken strange roads. The Holy Spirit once again brought light to their hearts. LIGHT! What a privilege! What a mighty gift from heaven for mankind! God took it upon Himself to speak to the children clearly and persuasively. The meeting finished with a deep sense that God had visited our children once again.

A Message
The service ended and it was time to eat, but we saw that one of the children did not stop speaking in tongues, so some of us remained and stayed close to him. He was speaking in perfect French and he kept repeating the same phrase over and over. There was something the Lord wanted to share with us and He was using a fragile and vulnerable vessel: a child. The message was this: "It's France's day. France, France, it's a great day for you! Return, return, return to the goodness of God. Return, return to God."

If you know anything about France, you know that only the grace of God can soften that hard land. Was it possible that God could be bringing such a message of hope to a nation that had turned its back on Him? Why was such a message given by a child? Yes, God was declaring His good will to a nation to which a visitation of God had been previously denied.

We were there waiting and waiting, but Gaston, the very same child that God shared revelations of the heavens at camp the year before, did not cease repeating the same words. Finally, in a low voice I asked the interpreter to ask him in French if he wanted to come down and eat. The interpreter did so, and Gaston answered us in French, "Yes, I am very hungry... for grace." Needless to say, Gaston does not speak French, and it took quite a while before he could speak Spanish again and join the other children in the activities which were programmed for that day.

At the meeting the following morning, the teacher referred to the passage in Luke 19:30,31: Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. What a morning of freedom that followed the message! The children whose hearts had been cleansed, restored and forgiven, declared God's power. They announced with a loud voice: "He is able! God is able!" Some fell under the power; others had their faces bathed in tears; while others, with great joy, did not stop repeating, "God is able! God is able!" What a holy clamor!

And we adults, the teachers and helpers, believed that God had turned His eyes to our little village and spoke to us through the Holy Spirit, "Loose them, I have need of them." We believed the Lord would put His holy garments on them and He would be proclaimed King of their lives.

Twenty centuries have passed since Jesus entered Jerusalem mounted on that colt. Today, He is still looking for colts to enter other Jerusalems, near and far... nations where the harvest of the Gospel is abundant, and in lands which are yet sterile.

More Messages
That morning the children enthusiastically declared what their hearts believed: "God is very, very powerful!" When you see timid children open their hearts uninhibitedly, fall under the power of God, and declare loudly what they believe, then you know for certain that what you are witnessing is not a product of emotion or of the general atmosphere. It is something divine.

Once again closing time came and children and adults went downstairs to eat. We saw that Florencia, one of the timid adolescents, remained under the power, so a teacher and I remained and stayed near her. Possibly she would soon get up. Minutes went by, and then an hour, and still she did not stop repeating, "God is able! God is able!" Her arms were raised the whole time. We wanted to know if she was conscious of what was going on about her so we asked her how she felt. She answered that her legs were asleep and she couldn't feel her arms and was unable to drop them. She also couldn't open her eyes. But she said what she felt was beautiful.

We left Florencia in that state and waited. If the Lord wasn't in a hurry, then why should we be? There were six witnesses in the now almost empty auditorium. In a corner, with great effort, Mauro, who was twelve years old, was trying to put on his shoes. The teacher asked him, "Mauro, what's happening?" Tearfully he answered, "I was forgiven! I was forgiven! Many times I had prayed to Jesus for forgiveness. Today I know for certain that He forgave me." He was one of those who had fallen under the power and he had not completely recovered the feeling in his legs. Two other witnesses were observing quietly and reverently. One was Gaston and the other was the sister of the girl who did not stop saying, "God is able!"

We called them both to the center of the auditorium just a few meters from Florencia. Then, in a low voice, I asked Gaston to tell me what happened to him the day before. He told me that he did not know what he was saying, he only knew that God told him he would go to France. Gaston saw the French suffering and this caused him great pain. God also told him he would do a work among the children of that country and that they would witness to their parents. He saw how other would go before him and have a part in God's work there and also how others would then continue that work. He saw that children who were at that camp would be sent to that nation and to other nations as well. He then lowered his head and said to me, "I am afraid!" Of coarse, how could a child of eleven grasp all this? We spoke about how God prepares us when He sends us and we prayed together. Before very long Florencia began to say out loud, "Gaston, fear not! Fear not! God is able! He will use you. He has chosen you to be an instrument for Him. God wants us for Himself to use us. He loves us. He has a double portion for everyone till it overflows."

Gaston had not only heard the words of God to his own heart, but now from someone else. Someone not related to him, and someone who could not have heard our conversation. Someone who did not know what had happened the day before and incapable of knowing who was in the room, had confirmed once again, what God spoke to him. Gaston burst into tears. The shy Florencia we once knew, now without fears or doubts, foretold other things that the Lord would do. A few days later her parents told me, "Our three children were transformed at this camp."

Separated
How many more testimonies could be written! We have to thank the Lord with all our hearts for visiting our children and young people again.

This is a time when from a very early age the children are relentlessly pursued by the world; through education at school, television, magazines and music - all of which leave their mark. But God also, from the time they are small, is separating them and marking them for His kingdom and work.

Do not be surprised when you hear how God is working and will continue to work among children. You will hear even greater things. God is sending His Holy Spirit through the villages of the earth to search for and untie colts that will be the bearers of the life of God.

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