Dear God,

Wow! Your Word in Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” As I am sitting here on the bus headed back to Hoover, I realize that the Holy Spirit does dwell among us as we battle exhaustion, soreness, and our short tempers.

God, we just lift your name on high for the great work you have done through us this week in Louisville. We are humbled to serve such a faithful God, and we are honored to be your servants.

God, I thank you for showing me the power of prayer throughout this week as you have called me to the ministry on Monday night and cast out all my worry, anxiety, and disappointment each and every day. Furthermore, Lord, I thank you for allowing me to realize that you are ALWAYS sovereign and in control as you transformed my doubt into peace, resulting in six salvations. To God be the Glory!

What is so beautiful, God, is that I am only a minute part of an amazing choir that brought your healing into this desperate city. I thank you for putting this group into my life, for they brought me back to you, and I ask that you please bless them for being faithful, loving servants. Allow us to realize that your great work from this week doesn’t stop here. God, I thank you for allowing your love to flow through each one of us as we loved one another, we loved the community, and we loved you.

May this choir tour forever have an impact on our lives, the lives of those we encountered, and the lives of those in the Hunter Street community as well. May we never stop singing your praises! May we realize that greater things are yet to come, specifically in our hometown of Birmingham, and that revival begins the minute we step off this bus! We love you and thank you for this life-changing experience. From the chaperones, to Jonathan, to Smokey, to everyone else involved in this great work, I thank you Lord for opening our eyes. May we always seek first your kingdom in everything we do!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ben Mahaffey

Chi Alpha Choir Tour 2009

Louisville, KY