Toolkit Ministries

Perhaps many can relate to having a loved one, who has violently rejected Christ for years. That was my mother who later in years developed Alzheimer’s – a deadly brain disease that robs one of the decision making ability eventually resulting in death. Prayers continued for her and to my surprise,  God had other plans that resulted in a miracle as a special mother’s day blessing to our family.

As long as I can remember my mother was a very private person and hard to know.  It wasn’t until her husband’s death and when she began to have memory problems that she opened up to me.  She had heard the gospel many times and always became agitated, rejecting her need for God.  The fact is that the only time I had heard her speak the name of Jesus Christ was when she was swearing, which was quite frequent.  She was diagnosed early with Alzheimer’s’ in 1994 and as the disease took control, many hours were spent in prayer on her behalf.  Both my brother, sister and my children shared our prayers and concern for her salvation as the disease began eating away at her brain.

It was Mothers’ Day, 1998.  The night before I had received an emergency call from the teacher of our Seniors Class asking me to do the lesson in Sunday school the next day. (Our home church was Harvester Baptist Church in Columbia, MD  harvester.org) 

As I was preparing the lesson, I had another call. This time it was from my mother.  She was now in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s’ and had trouble focusing on anything for more than a few minutes so the call surprised me. She asked if she could come to church the next day so I sent my son, Billy and his fiancé Becky, to pick her up fully expecting that she will have forgotten and not want to go. (This happened more often than not).

As Sunday school started on Mothers’ Day, I realized I had left my lesson at home and so I planned on substituting my own salvation testimony.  When I looked up, my mother walked in and sat down in front of me.  This was too bizarre!! Think of it, my mom’s first Sunday school class was being taught by her daughter??  As I read my opening question it struck me how coordinated the timing had been to bring us both to the same place.  The opening question was:  “Have you ever been frustrated when praying for someone for a long time and feeling like your prayers would never be answered?”  (That had been my feeling for 19 years praying for my mother’s salvation).     The class went well even when I shared my personal salvation testimony plus her own husband’s salvation decision a year before he died. Amazingly she didn’t take offense and seemed very alert.  This is impossible!  Her attention span was no more than 15 minutes at this stage and unable to answer simple questions, yet she was over an hour and answering in full sentences.  God must be doing a miracle!!

We then went into the church service where mom always enjoys the choir and music, but normally dozes off during the sermon. This special Sunday we had a visiting evangelist who clearly and simply covered God’s plan of salvation.  Mom was sitting next to me looking at my Bible.   I had “accidentally” picked up my bulky large print Bible instead of the normal small print edition, but it turned out to be the right one for that day. Mom kept hitting me saying, “show me where it says that in the Bible” as she was riveted to the preacher’s message. At the end there was an invitation and prayer but she didn’t move or respond.  I wondered if she was still coherent because it was now over 2 hours, way past her attentiveness span.

At the end of the service, instead of diving for the door, she visited with all the people.  I put her in the foyer with Bill and Becky in order to bring the car around. (She had taken a fall  and I didn’t want her to follow me down the stairway).  It took a while to get through the crowd and there were unusual delays at the pickup lane.

When I finally returned, everyone was gone except Bill and Becky, who were in the corner praying (which I found odd).  Mom was holding a lively conversation with Pastor Simpson. Now I knew why Bill and Becky were praying.  As I walked up I realized she was responding to questions on how to be saved. Pastor began carefully explaining God’s plan of salvation from the book of Romans.   This was not the first time she heard it and I expected her to cut him short and turn to leave.  But she didn’t.

Pastor explained God’s love for her, why her sin separated her from God and that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to provide the one way to bridge that separation by willingly going on the cross for her, dying and coming alive again.  Now she had a choice to make: to believe in Christ who paid for her sins and ask to receive His gift of salvation or to walk away and reject it.  In my mind I thought she would react as she had in the past by getting angry and saying “I’m not a sinner” or “Jesus Christ was just a man”, but she still listened without objection. I was amazed! Then to my surprise, Pastor gave her an opportunity to back out or think about it later.  I held my breath for a long time.

Mom looked at me and finally said, “Do you have time to wait?”  “Wait for what, Mom?” I responded.  “I want to pray and be saved”, she said.  I had been waiting for 19 years for what I thought was impossible.  Pastor slowly and quietly led Mom in the sinner’s prayer.  For the first time I heard her admit she was a sinner and she prayed using Jesus name without swearing and finally ask for forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life only He can provide.  We rejoiced at her decision- it was a miracle!  God restored her faculties for over 3 hours and she made her choice. 

Even though she slipped back into the Alzheimer’s confusion moments later, there was evidence of her changed life.  No more swearing for one thing and her reaction to the name of Jesus was one of peace.  One time she told me she knew she was saved because she prayed with Pastor and reminding me I was there. In the short time she was herself and sat with me in church, she wanted to read the new Bible we had given her – writing notes on the side.  The months were brief before she again melted into a vegetative, non-communicative state – yet she smiled when we prayed with her.

We all rejoice in this Mother’s Day miracle.  Mom went to be with her Lord, January 2003.  Sometimes we never know what decisions are made before the final end of a life and I am so grateful God allowed us to be a witness to His transforming power.

Luke 1:37 “For with GOD nothing will be impossible.”

All Responses should be sent via e-mail to:Dr. Nancy (email: [email protected])

Have you ever been through a long period of struggle knowing God wants you to learn something?

My suggestion is to:  slow down, focus and pray.

My exam started with one of God’s promises:  Jeremiah 33:3 “Call on me and I will answer you, and show you  great and mighty things that you do not know”. 

In the 16 months of emotional ups and downs as a co-executor of my parents wills  I went through many trying situations.  I found if I could stop and listen and look for God’s direction, He was there handling the conflicts, resolving problems and coordinating opportunities to share my faith as I moved through each month.  Finally, there was a weekend that was the “test of prayer”.

PRAY when things are out of control:

In the midst of trying to get the home property ready to sell, a hail storm came through and caused a lot of damage, especially on the roof.  This brought out an old family acquaintance who lived on the property with his family for 13 years after my father’s death to be of help to my stepmother.  Dutch and his father owned a roofing company and he became the contractor who was to repair the hail damage.

In the midst of the repairs, Dutch approached me about a private sale of the property.  This culminated into a wonderful  opportunity during a difficult closeout.  I had a buyer and someone to watch over the property months before final settlement without even a realtor.  Only God could have coordinated this event.

Proverbs 3:5-6   “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”

PRAY when you are angry:

During the coordination of the closing of the property, the lawyer dropped the ball several times.    He repeatedly forgot to send on revised paperwork and failed to respond so that by the time I flew in to Texas, I still didn’t have a confirmed settlement date and time.

After arriving at the estate, I still had no email information on how to proceed.  I took a quick nap and awoke at 5:05pm on Thursday night, only to see a bunch of emails going between the lawyer and the title company.  The lawyer had forgotten to send updated information to the lender which would result in a revised settlement sheet. The last message said they may have to once again reschedule settlement.  I was in a panic.  I tried to contact the title company but they were closed.  I emailed the lawyer and got a response saying he would be out of office until Monday (Tuesday was to be the closing).  I was frantic and angry.  After praying with my daughter on the phone, I made a list of what to do and went to bed.  I awoke early to talk to God.  This thought crossed my mind:

                Matt 5:43-44 Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

So I prayed for the those I was frustrated and angry at and God gave me an idea:   Write a thank you card and drop a gift card in each for settlement day for these people.   Thank the lawyer, I questioned?  Yes   The next day I emailed my prayer partners to ask for pray to resolve the settlement issue.  Within an hour, I heard from a sweet lady at the title company who by phone got all the parties on target,  calmed the lender and resolved the settlement sheet so buyer and seller had definite times on settlement day for the morning (I was flying out in the afternoon).  She answered all my concerns and paved the way for a peaceful, focused weekend.  I wrote out all my thankyou cards, including one for her, and yes, one for the lawyer.  When I prayed and obeyed, peace followed.

On settlement day, everything went well and I was giving out thank you cards, when the lawyer commented, “I know you don’t have a card for me.”   I smiled and handed him his card saying, “ Oh yes. I do –  I really appreciate you.”    His mouth dropped open and he held the envelope out like it was a bomb.  He quietly went to his car and left, speechless.   Praise God for His help and direction! 

PRAY when you are fearful:

During the weekend we had a terrifying storm.  It was Sunday night after a glorious weekend with fellowship and worship with other believers.  I was alone in a house on top of a mountain, miles away from anyone.  I went to bed early when the winds picked up and rain & hail began to pound the roof.

My cell phone started screaming with a message of a tornado approaching and instructions on what to do. Then  the lights went out.  I had the cell phone and my nook as the only lights.  I am reading instructions:  “run to a basement or room without windows”.   Wait, all the rooms in the house have windows.  I jump out of bed and grab a blanket looking for a room without windows and settled on the bathroom.  It was I was in the middle of comedy hour as I realize I left all my electronics by a window, so I ran to drag them into the bathroom. Then realize my purse is still in the room by a window, so I ran to bring the purse in the bathroom.  Then realize if the roof caves in and I am found, I am in dressed in my pjs.  So I ran to get a change of clothes and bring them into the bathroom.  All the while the wind is howling and hail is falling.  Then I realize, we are 2 days from settlement and I fear damage to the property again.  So I cry out to God:  “Help, I am afraid. I don’t know what to do”.    (My cell phone shows a text – a friend is checking on me and asks if I need prayer).  With a smile I text her back and I know God has heard me and I remember:

Psalm 56:3   “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in YOU.”

The lights come back on and now I can rest.  The storm passed over, the tornado went by but no damage to the property.  I slept peacefully through the night.

PRAY when you are worried:

Finally, after 16 months, the last piece of the estate is settled and I am about to fly home.  I can relax because I have seen God work through prayer during testing times.  However, the final lesson is still to come.  As I get the airport, I start to board the plane checking my cell phone.  As I get ready to turn it off, a call comes through from my landline at home.   It is my daughter.  She says, “Mom, it is awful foggy here and took me over an hour to drive home.  I left my cell phone at the school and I am going back to get it.”  She hangs up and I have visions of car accidents, no communication, muggings, etc. of my only daughter.  But as I turn off the phone, I remember to stop and pray and ask God to watch over her and give me peace.  I have 3 hours before I land to find out if she is safe.  God again provides the peace and I sleep the whole way back.  Maybe I have finally learned to pray first and trust God.

Matthew 11:28-30 comes to mind where Jesus said:   

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

May this be an encouragement to you as you face your storms of life.

By: Dr. Nancy Shields

Email: [email protected]

Website:  toolkit-ministries.org

The Special BLESSING

Good News Club-Workshop

Sept 10th at Kerrville Bible Church, Texas.

TKM: Dr. Nancy Shields

GNC: Maridelle Crake

“Make me a blessing to others” was my prayer last April.  I was flying monthly to Texas to work on settling my stepmothers’ estate.   It was taking up so much time and weekends that would normally be filled with in-church workshops. God provided a lull of 6 months with no scheduled weekends.  I knew God would control my schedule as He always does.

April was a discouraging month of waiting. “Make me a blessing, please, to someone”!  God answered my prayer immediately.  I flew in to San Antonio, Texas on a Saturday and was too tired to drive to Kerrville where the property was.  I prayed and work up early Sunday morning and realized I could go to church.  My daughter pointed out a Bible church that had an AWANA program when she visited in December, so I drove up as church service began.  As I stepped into the parking lot, a cheerful voice greeted me.  She was so friendly I felt at ease immediately.  Others ladies joined as we settled for the service chatted and joined us to listen to the message.  After church I made my introductions and explained how I got there that morning and my teacher training background as well as working with Good News Clubs in the past.   Maridelle exclaimed, “you must be an answer to my prayer”.  It turns out she is a Good News Club co-ordinator, based at Kerrville Bible church. She coordinates a number of  these Bible clubs in the public schools in Kerrville, Ingram and Fredericksburg.

They have not had any refocusing or help for their volunteers in a long time and have been under pressure to leave at some locations.  As we talked back and forth, I knew God wanted me to help.  I sent Toolkit’s information to their mission board and Maridelle selected a 2 workshop seminar for Saturday, September 10^th for her teachers just going back into the school system.  It was a huge blessing and answer to both our prayers and for these workers in the trenches of the public schools.  

As I heard the history of these Good News Clubs and their burden to reach the children with the Bible, I was amazed at the oppositions they have faced.  They told me what a blessing and  encouragement the seminar was to them and I rejoice to see how God works through multiple situations and answers the prayers of His people. 

Now we ask for special prayer for these workers and this ministry and for wisdom and strength for their teachers and their leader, Maridelle.  I will be back to do some more classes if she asks for them, but I am so thrilled to see God using Toolkit again in the workshop form through not only local churches but parachurch organizations like Good News Clubs outreach to public school Bible clubs in Texas and Children’s Bible Ministry to public schools in Maryland.

Please pray a hedge of protection as this summer the threat of conflict with “Satan Clubs” being formatted to approach public schools is now on the agenda in several states.  They only seem to be aiming at the schools that host Bible based clubs which may cause enough conflict to have all clubs omitted.  We pray the Lord holds the door open to these children and for these faithful workers.

I can’t wait to see what God has in store for Toolkit nextJ    

Always in Christ, Dr. Nancy