Word of the Lord
In July 1979 I attended a tent revival hosted by my home
church in Philadelphia. Richard D. Henton of Chicago was the evening’s
speaker.
I remember that night as though it were yesterday. Six
thousand people were packed under the tent, and my mother and I arrived
too late to sit up front. I was disappointed because I was hoping to
receive a prophetic word, and I thought if I sat in back that would be
impossible.
At the time I was six months pregnant, depressed and sure
God had forgotten about me. I had received many prophecies about the
great ministry God had for me, but things were looking bleak.
I had asked God how I would be able to fulfill this great
call on my life with all the responsibilities of being a wife and
mother of small children. In the midst of what I thought was a hopeless
situation, God spoke to me.
Henton stopped in the middle of his message, pointed in
my direction and said: “Daughter in the back, you will be more than a
mother. You are the handmaiden of the Lord. God has a great work for
you. Prepare your heart.”
When I heard those words, my heart began to beat
extremely fast. Despite my distance from him, I knew he was talking
directly to me.
Immediately, all fear and doubt began to leave me. God had once and for all settled the issue in my heart.
I thought to myself, If God could stop a man in the
middle of preaching to 6,000 people, surely He has my circumstances
under control. That word from God has carried me for more than 20 years
and helped me break free from the pain of my childhood.
No Longer a Captive
You don’t have to be a prisoner of your past. No matter
where you are in life or how hopeless your situation may appear to be,
don’t quit.
I was rejected and called half-breed most of my life—by
blacks because I was not “black” enough and by whites because I was
“too black.” Satan did everything he could to destroy me. But what
appeared to work against me then, God intended to use for His glory.
God has allowed me to minister in both predominantly white and predominantly black
congregations and conferences. I’ve gone into places where blacks or
women previously were not welcome. Now I am convinced that God made me
the way He did because He knew the call He had placed upon my life and
the people to whom He would send me.
God has healed me of all the abuse, shame and low
self-esteem. With His help I’m focusing on what is ahead rather than on
what is behind.
I want those who feel victimized to know that even though
they may have fallen through the cracks of life, they can get up again.
I call them out of religion into relationship with almighty God, and I
tell them to keep going no matter how horrible the past has been.
The Bible says that our life is but a vapor; it quickly
goes. We must be about our Father’s business, making the most of every
opportunity. The hour is late, and now is not the time to quit!
Olivia Mitchell is executive director of Sound the
Trumpet Ministries. She is an evangelist and a frequent speaker with
Women of the Word conferences.
