Pretty -By Pamela Procter

I did not want to be the person that lives five minutes away from church and shows up ten minutes late. But, due to our little girl falling directly on her face and seeing the bloody results of her first major face-plant, we were. After parking the car in the “overflow” parking lot, Shawn and I briskly walked down the alley towards church, hoping to make it to some chairs before the first worship song ended. That’s when we saw Luis, faithful brother in Christ and parking lot attendant, speaking to a woman who was clearly intoxicated and could hardly stand on her own two feet. As we passed by them, Shawn started praying that God would speak to this poor woman. I couldn’t walk towards church any longer, as church needed to be brought to her.

Her name is Dolly. She is a prostitute, a heroin addict, a crack user, and eight months pregnant. And God brought me to that corner at that exact moment for a reason.
Who else would know how impossible it seems to kick the hard drugs?
Who else would know about selling yourself for a quick fix?
Who else would know where the nearest methadone clinic is?
Who else would know that the warrant out for her arrest would keep her far away from a delivery room in a hospital?

1Corinthians1:27 says “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak to shame the strong.”. This woman didn’t need a biblical scholar or experienced evangelist. She needed hope.

I told her I knew about detox sickness. I told her I knew about rehab. I also told her about the healing power of Jesus Christ, and all that my God had done for me. She agreed to come in for five minutes.

It wasn’t the prettiest sight shepherding her into the building. She cleaned herself up, and passed out in a chair as we worshipped. As I started to pray for her, I fell to the ground at this thought: “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25). How easily could that have been me? I believed God for Dolly, and claimed this promise for her. Several sisters gathered around her and prayed for healing of her addiction and protection for her unborn child.

Before leaving, Dolly told me that ever since she was five years old, she has dreamt of being a pastor. I replied that nothing is impossible with God. She asked if she could come back next Sunday. I couldn’t hold back my tears as I watched her hobble down the street back to work. I know that seeds were planted and she’ll be back. I was just awestruck to see what could-have-been my future waving back at me and telling me I was pretty.