Hey Friends!

I hope you are all doing well! I’ve been so encouraged these past few days by your texts, prayers, and check-ins about how I’m doing and how ministry has been going. God has been blessing me and my team in such incredible ways here, and I’m so excited to share what He’s been teaching us!

Over the past couple of weeks, God has continually brought Ephesians 6:12 to my attention—through my squad mentor, Bible studies, and personal time with Him: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." As we’ve gone out on ministry, He has been using this verse to grow my understanding of spiritual warfare and to remind me of how real and active He is in every conversation.

Earlier this week, our team spent intentional time praying before entering a squatter community, asking God to prepare hearts for the Gospel. While there, we met two men who stopped to talk with us. We ended up helping them wash their car (which was honestly so fun!), and during that time they asked thoughtful questions about our faith. They shared openly about their struggles with addiction and how empty it had left them feeling. Just days before, they had felt a deep need for something more and had gone to church for the first time that Sunday. That morning, we prayed the salvation prayer with them, and they gave their lives to Jesus! It was such a joyful, powerful moment. Our entire team could sense the Holy Spirit at work—softening their hearts and orchestrating every detail. It was a beautiful reminder of Ephesians 6:12 because it wasn't by our teams strength that changed these mens hearts, it was a spiritual battle won by the Lord and his light through us that brought these men to a saving relationship with God!

Then, yesterday we encountered a pastor of a church where they worship their ancestors along with their idea of God. The conversation was very good and in-depth. There was clearly confusion in the mans heart, and throughout our time with Him, I could feel the spiritual forces just fighting over this man. He to some extent believed in the authority of the Word of God, so each one of us were being led to read specific passages that applied to the man, and truths that would convict Him. The Holy Spirit was working in mighty ways as we saw the "spiritual forces" fighting against us but the Lord leading and equipping us. At the end of the conversation, the man said that talking to us was revealing and removing the "spider webs" (of confusion) that were over His eyes. I rejoiced over these words from Him and thanked God for showing me in such a vivid way how each conversation we have with unbelievers is a spiritual battle in which ultimately the Lord is fighting, and we are simply His soldiers taking up the armor of the Lord fighting not against a man, but against the evil one.

And in my personal life I've noticed the devil attacking me as well. My squad mentor wisely said that there is a “spiritual target” on those who are seeking the Lord fervently and doing his work faithfully everyday. But praise be to God, He’s been reminding me in the book of Acts, that even while there will be consistent and difficult persecution, the forces of evil can do nothing to stop the Gospel from going forth if the Lord wills! (Acts 8)

I hope this meets all of your hearts today and encourages you in Christ Jesus! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and love!

God bless you all,

Abigail