Scrumptious baked goods of all kinds graced the seasonally decorated table. Music played, notecards waited for prayer requests, name tags beckoned. Most of us had met before, but had never gathered in a home. We’d often chat on the playground as kids played on the swings and slide. We wouldn’t hesitate to borrow an egg or a cup of milk. But we had never met together in a home, never taken time to intentionally get to know each other, pray, and enjoy a meal. 

We were all global workers from a variety of different organizations who had come to the U.S. for home assignment. Some called it a furlough, some called it partnership development. Some had just recently arrived, some had been delayed for months, unable to return to their country of service. 

But all of us had one thing in common. Jesus! We were bound together by our sincere faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Each one of us was well aware of our sin and our salvation. We had nothing to hide. We could be completely open and honest. We could be vulnerable. But would we? Or would we let minor differences keep our prayers at a safe, surface level?

As we sat on comfy chairs in the living room and savored our coffee and dessert, one of the ladies who had organized the gathering invited us into a time of prayer. She went first. Her prayer requests were not vague or cloaked in fanciful words; they were real, raw, deep. She was vulnerable to the core. And so was the next…and the next and the next.

Safe in the arms of the same Savior, we could trust one another with our heart-level hurt and heart-level happiness.