The Case for Night Services

I'm actually referring to Sunday Evening Services. While many churches around us have discontinued that service. I'm proud to say, Sanctuary of Hope has not. A few years ago, I arrived at my church in Illinois, perhaps 15-30 minutes early. When I stepped in the sanctuary I heard this loud sobbing. I saw a young girl seated perhaps 20 years old, head down, and crying uncontrollably. I went to her side, and I said, "Ma'am, is there something I may pray with you about? She said, "I don't know. I've never been in a church before. I'm Muslim and I don't know how to behave in church". She was passing by and saw the church lights on and thought perhaps we could help. Her need? She said her boyfriend wanted to break up with her and she didn't want that to happen. I don't remember how I prayed, but she accepted the Lord. She prayed at the altar, she stood and gave testimony, she smiled from ear to ear. She gave me her name and phone number and I followed through with a call to her the next day. She was so excited because her boyfriend returned to her. She said I won't be able to come back to church, but I know there is a God. And even though I didn't feel like her relationship was God's will, I do know this, we were there that Sunday night to pray with her. Who's to say that encounter with God that night won't have long lasting effects. Esther was only one person and changed a nation. She didn't start out as a crusader either. Psalm 134: Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord. I'm sure we all want to be servants of the Lord.