Because I Heard You Pray
Kumba, Cameroon 2003
I had the
privilege of going on this amazing trip to Cameroon in 2003 and I will never
forget it as long as I live. I was a part of a missions team lead by Bro. Bert Farias.
The vision was to surround the city of Kumba with ten teams of evangelists and
preach at the same time. We would appoint home church leaders to take care of
the new converts. It was amazing! We had many souls born again in the three
weeks that I was there. I was so encouraged when one of the home church
Pastor’s Peter wrote me a letter. Peter was a very humble man and he wrote me a
letter about the new converts and how they were doing. I was amazed as I read
about how these new converts were doing and how they were growing in their
faith. Praise be to the name of Jesus!
Commissioned to Preach
I share this
story wherever the Lord sends me because I believe it was the start of my
calling to preach. My heart has always been to serve and I went on this trip to
do just that. I wanted to serve in whatever capacity the Lord wanted me. I had
no idea what was about to happen. As Bro. Bert was picking the teams out, one
by one evangelist’s were being picked. I remember saying to myself that I would
be happy to just serve one of the evangelists picked. I then heard my name,
Rudy Waters! Inside I was totally full of fear! I had never preached in front
of crowds like this before. I had always been content to be an intercessor and
pray. Yes, I had done some street evangelism and some brief preaching at the
local Salvation Army in Pensacola, but I had never preached in front of a large
crowd and let alone another country. I was like what would I say? What would I
preach? The enemy was trying to intimidate me! My team was being picked and I
was the leader. It was my time for me to lead and I was overwhelmed with fear!
Because I heard you Pray
I have never
forgotten this moment in my life. We had a major intercessory time before the
teams were sent out to preach across the city of Kumba. I always love times of
prayer and intercession because of my time praying with seasoned praying
warriors. I had two women disciple me in prayer and one of them was Bro. Bert’s
wife Sister C. She trained both my wife and me in prayer. I had no clue that
all of those years of training by seasoned mentors were going to be used by the
Lord for preaching. As soon as prayer was over, we were to be sent out. I was
still being attacked by the enemy with intense fear. Bro. Bert came up to me with one of the most
encouraging words that I have ever received in my life. He said to me “that he knew I could preach because he
heard me pray.” Suddenly the Holy Spirit came all over me! Immediately
boldness came over me and the fear was gone. I had received the commission to
preach and I knew that all of those years of praying had paid off! I had
something inside me that the Holy Spirit could use to reach the people that
were lost and broken. It was time to go reach them and He was going to fill my
mouth with what He wanted me to say and He did! Acts 4:31 had become a reality!
Every time I was about to preach, the Lord had given me something to share.
Many souls were saved, healed and touched by the Lord in those three weeks and
I will never forget it as long as I live!
