© 2015 By Hadassah Shabnam Lal as told by Lexi Laconi
I met Susie Jennings of Operation Care International two years ago when she contacted Bobby Hayden Jr. to be a guest speaker at her Christmas Party for the homeless. About six months later, she invited Bobby and me to join her ministry on a trip to Israel. They would be giving shoes, backpacks, t-shirts and food to nearly 5,000 needy children in Israel.
Six months after our trip to Israel with her Ministry, she held her annual Christmas Party in Dallas Texas for the homeless. I missed her so intently that I could have been there at the Christmas Party. I really admire Susie Jennings so much and her exemplary walk of obedience with the Lord. Ministering alongside with her was such a wonderful experience and I learned so much by being in her presence witnessing her pure Love for Jesus.
About two months after that, we ran into Susie at the NRB Conference in Nashville, TN. While we were there, she shared with Bobby and I the vision God gave her to host a Christmas Party for Jesus in all 50 States by the year 2020. I immediately visualized it and though to myself “I wonder who’s going to host a Christmas Party in Indianapolis?” like the one held in Dallas.
A month later, I was reading Susie’s Book, “31 Days of Mountain Top Miracles” that she had given me as a gift at the NRB conference, I asked the Lord and sought Him Out, on His plans and what he wanted me to do next. I knew it had to be something of great importance as my heart began to stir. Thus, I made an earnest decision to seek God’s face and His plan. Amazingly, I read the page in her book, which ended with these profound words, which served as a confirmation. “Help us to Celebrate Jesus 2020” and as I prayed, the Holy Spirit led me to open my Bible to Isaiah 58.
Isaiah 58 (7-9) where God talks about the true fasting verse 7. “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8. Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, “Here I am.”
As my eyes, skimmed Isa. 58 esp. verses 7-8, my heartbeat quickened in faith and I knew definitively at that moment that he was leading me to host the Christmas Party in Indianapolis. I excitedly went and told Bobby how the Holy Spirit had led me precisely to the very passage in Isa. 58 regarding feeding the homeless and ministering to their needs. At first, Bobby was a bit hesitant and said, “No we can’t Lexi and besides how would we even begin?”, but the Holy Spirit soon corrected him and we began the process in faith and prayer with our Church Family at Living Truth Church in Carmel Indiana.
Fast-forward 10 months later, we are in the final weeks of preparation for “Christmas Gift Indianapolis 2015” and God has provided everything. His provision is perfect. “If God gives you the vision; then He gives the provision.” God has showed up and showed off. He has made provision for the proper place, staff, food, and funds so that we can show the Love of Jesus to the homeless with gifts such as Blankets, Coats, Shoes, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Bottled Water, Packaged Snakes, as well as Personal Care Items. Wont you please join as a Sponsor or Volunteer for this amazing event as we celebrate a Christmas Party for Jesus. “Whatever you did to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me” Matthew 25:40. http://Christmasgifindianapolis.org