Hero's In Heroic Places

At the age of twelve the ladies from our church attended a ladies conference in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. I attended this meeting with the typical perspective of a twelve year old girl, "there will be nothing here for me, this meeting is for older ladies". However my hero, Jelaine Lumpkin was going to be speaking so I did not raise a fuss when my mother told me I had to go. Little did I know that God was going to use this day to speak to me.

Sister Jelaine Lumpkin was the guest of honor that day and she is someone that I have always admired, everything from her prayer life to her anointed speaking abilities. This morning was no different than any other ladies meeting, there was the typical "pentecostal" fashion show before church, singing and then the speaker. I cannot tell you what Sister Lumpkin spoke on that day, however I do remember sitting in my pew and longing from the bottom of my heart to one day speak at a ladies meeting just like Sister Lumpkin. As the alter call was given I made my way to the front and stood with everyone else. While I was standing there with my eyes closed I felt hands on my shoulders. As I lifted my head Sister Lumpkin was standing in front of me and said, "Nancy, serve God...He is going to use you mightily". Wow! This was coming from my "Pentecostal Hero", the lady that I longed with everything inside of me to become like. To this day I have never forgotten those words and I live daily to see how God is going to use me.