Faith that Builds

It started out as a simple longing for pizza. Wheat and dairy: two products that most of us consume every single day, multiple times a day, even. But for one member of Trever and Joan Godard’s prayer team in Guadalajara, Mexico, pizza was on her forbidden foods list, its ingredients causing severe allergic reactions to her system.

The day was over, and Trever offered to pick up pizza for the group of 11 team members who came to Guadalajara in early May to pray fervently, listen attentively, and believe wholeheartedly in the promises of God. Prayer is an important part of the ministry of MB Mission. Churches are encouraged to gather a group of people to come alongside long-term missionaries serving on the frontlines to intercede for them. At this particular time, the team had just finished praying for the Matthew Training Center.

The Lord was asking Joan and Trever to take a huge step of faith – to trust God to provide the funds to purchase a building for the vision he had been stirring up in their hearts. This vision was to provide a cross-cultural teaching facility, the Matthew Training Center, to equip potential missionaries from Latin America and North America to go to the world. Moving in faith toward this dream, the Godards are trusting God for a September start date, and have begun preparing curriculum, practical ministry opportunities, living arrangements, and language acquisition studies.

With yearning in her voice, a team member mentioned that she would love to eat pizza. Standing at the building that they soon hoped would become the Matthew Training Center, MB Mission Regional Mobilizer and prayer team leader, Lloyd Letkeman, suggested that the group stop and pray for her healing. As they laid their hands upon this woman, the team chose to believe in faith that God would heal her allergies, and that this would be a testimony of things to come – merely the first of many miracles that they would see God perform at the MTC.

That night she sunk her teeth into the slice of pizza she was craving, and the following morning she ate toast and yogurt. Back at home one week later, she continued in her new diet including wheat and dairy

The team believed that God would not only be glorified through her healing, but that he would also reveal his future glory at the MTC. God’s power to heal was a catalyst to increase their faith in his promises, his sovereignty, and what he would accomplish through the Matthew Training Center and in the world. As they wait in hope for God to provide the funds and prepare the hearts of those who will come through, their trust is in the steadfast love of a God who is more than able to exceed our greatest expectations.

What is calling you to believe? Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Choose today to live by faith. And as you cling to hope in Christ, wait expectantly for God to reveal himself in glory and power, transforming your heart as he strengthens your trust in his mighty name.