Several scriptures in Revelation (He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End”. 21:6 “To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” 7:17) prompted Cristie to create a peaceful place in midst of the madness of the party where people could rest, receive a free bottle of ice cold water and if they wanted, prayer. Over the two days 2,160 bottles of water were handed out, 100’s of pounds of ice were used, over a 100 bottles of bubbles handed out, countless interesting conversations occurred and many people asked for and received prayer.

 

It was as much a blessing for those of us who got to volunteer to hand out the water and talk to and pray with people as it was for those receiving the water. People were all so different in the way they approached, some ran up full of confidence and even some with entitlement, but many approached more cautiously - not certain that something wouldn’t be required of them, some approached with disbelief that they too could receive this free gift. I had a conversation with one man who kept glancing nervously at the sign hanging in the corner of the tent which simply said ‘Prayer’ in block letters. He was wondering what was prayed for, so I asked what he’d want to pray for, his response was a question about whether or not it was okay to pray for certain things, I asked him to elaborate, he was certain that some things were okay to be prayed for, but not selfish desires, I explained that as a parent my kids come to me and ask for all kinds of things, some I’m able and willing to give others I’m not – but they still ask! He wanted to know if a job he’d applied for would be okay to pray about, but immediately dismissed it as unworthy – I disagreed and told him that the Bible says that all good gifts come from heaven and certainly a good job is a good gift! He visibly relaxed, thanked me and walked away.

 

All through the weekend people would once in awhile yell out as they ran up to grab a bottle of water – ‘hey, you’re the Presbyterians aren’t you?!!’ And a young man who had come several times through the weekend for water told Cristie near the end ‘Presbyterian is my new favorite religion!’ We can pray for them all to understand that so much more than just free water is being offered!