This Week in Prayer
Jeff & Gelya Whitney
07/23/07

"But God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chooses the lowly things of the world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one can boast before him."  I Corinthians 1:27-29


Hero in the Faith
     Sergei is a young man in his mid to late 20s, but he is not someone that most would consider a hero in the faith.  For Sergei is handicapped; his mental ability is in line with that of a pre-teen.  Yet recently at the church camp, God allowed me to see Sergei through His eyes, and what I saw was a person with whom God was greatly pleased – a hero in the faith. 

     Sergei has been coming to the church for many years and has participated in many of the youth programs, including the weekly home group that Gelya and I host.  At times he gets on people's nerves and may not always act in the most appropriate manner, but he is one of the most faithful church attenders that we have.  From September to May, when we have two morning worship services, he almost always sits through both services.  He greets everyone with a smile and a sturdy, sometimes painful, handshake.  During the time of worship through song, he sings along and claps his hands (though often off-key and out of rhythm), but there is no doubt that he is making a joyful noise unto the Lord.

     Sergei is also always willing to help, no matter the task and no matter if it is something that he can not do.  A number of weeks ago when a team from Heritage Wesleyan Church came to do some repairs and construction to our church building, we asked for volunteers from the local church to come and work along side the visiting work team.  There were a handful of volunteers that came for a morning or an afternoon to pitch in, yet Sergei came every day! 

     He is also not shy about inviting others to church or to youth events, and over the years many of his friends and acquaintances from his handicapped school have accepted his invitations.  Some only came once, others came for several months, and still others are still attending.      
     Although he always desired to go to our Summer Youth Camps, Sergei was never permitted to go.   Because of his limitations and because of his actual age, it just wasn't feasible.  When we began advertising the church camp and Sergei asked if he could come, he was told that if his mother and/or sister agreed to come with him, it would be allowed.  You could imagine his joy when his younger sister Masha agreed to come.  The camp was the first time that Masha interacted with (for any length of time) anyone from the church and she experienced first hand the acceptance and love that we have for her handicapped brother.  One afternoon she told Gelya and I how Sergei was always telling her about the church and the people and how he would invite her every week without fail to come to church with him.  She also told us that she was really enjoying the camp and was interested in coming to some of the young adult events.  We told her about the young adult cookout/volleyball evening that was taking place the day after the camp ended and she said that she would try to come.

It has now been a week since camp, and unfortunately we have not seen Masha.  Sergei told us that she was tied up with her boyfriend the night of the volleyball cookout and she also had an excuse for yesterday’s worship service.  Please pray for her that Satan will not be allowed to snatch up the seeds that were planted at camp.  Sergei continues to play his role and let us join him with our prayers.

In this culture, even more than in America, the handicapped are despised and rejected.  They are the weak and do not have anything of value to offer society.  Yet God sees things differently and He has chosen Sergei to be His son, and Sergei has responded in obedience and faith.  Sergei may not be able to do all the things that “normal” people can, but what he can do, he is doing it unto the Lord.  And in doing this he is an example to me and to all believers.  He is a hero in the faith.

Thank you for praying for us and the church camp.  And please continue to pray for the seeds that were planted in Masha and a number of other first-timers (friends and family of church people).

Serving a wonderful Lord,

Jeff & Gelya Whitney