by Dan Franke
Have you ever prayed to God for a specific thing in your life and wondered, "Is He ever going to answer me?" We have all asked this same question and the following account is how he answered prayers in my life.
I was raised in a Catholic home, the oldest of six sons. My father went to church at times, but my mother is the one who taught and instituted the faith within me and ensured a Catholic education for the first seven years of school. At St. Elizabeth's school, I practiced my faith, became an alter boy and even considered the priesthood as I attended a retreat in sixth grade. From St. Elizabeth's to public schools I continued practicing my faith and even became a pre-school teacher at that same parish for two years.
During these years I recall attending a "charismatic" prayer meeting with my mother and her aunt that took place at Loyola of Marymount. It was a very strange experience for me, yet I actually went back again and then decided this wasn't for me. Little did I realize at the time that God had other plans and I was being prepared for the future.
After graduating from High School, I attended Moorpark College for a year, and during this time my faith began to wane. The world had captured much of my focus and God didn't seem to fit into my life. I still attended Mass on Sundays fairly regularly, but didn't live the life the rest of the week.
Feeling restless and in need of a change in my life, I decided to join the U.S. Navy. The military experience was a huge change for me. The discipline wasn't a problem. It was being away from family that really had an impact on me. From Bootcamp in San Diego I was sent to Treasure Island for school. It was here that God truly started speaking to me. I was at the crossroads of my life. I continued going to church on Sundays, yet during the week it was as if Jesus' words had no meaning. The conflict and conviction within me was growing to the point of desperation. I had to make a decision, I could no longer walk the fence. I knew what I needed to do but struggled with how and when. In my own way, I prayed for something to happen.
Like I said in the beginning, God does answer prayers and this is how He perfectly handled my request. After a Thanksgiving Mass in 1975, a girl came up to me and invited me to dinner with her family. They had listened to the intentions spoken aloud during the intercessory prayers of the Mass and knew this was my first Thanksgiving away from family.
This started a friendship that still exists to this day and a re-introduction to "charismatic" prayer that I still wasn't too sure of. I joined a Bible study they had at their home and before I left for more training in San Diego, they laid hands upon me and prayed.
Well God stirred up an all-consuming desire to look for a church with a prayer meeting in San Diego. Yes, the Holy Spirit of my confirmation was kicking in and Holy Spirit Church in Ocean Beach was to be a place of worship, Life in the Spirit Seminars, and a change in me—I would never be the same again. (2 Cor 5:17) For now I knew who Jesus was in my heart, I knew God loved me. I loved God's Word and wanted to share my experience with everyone.
Through my time in the Navy I grew in faith, got married and had two wonderful children, but as time went on, my faith weakened and I began to wonder what was wrong. I remember quite clearly God answering a question I had asked him. I said "Lord, why don't I have the enthusiasm and zeal of when I gave my life to you in San Diego? The Lord clearly told me that I needed four things: to pray, to read scripture, to fellowship, and to witness on a daily basis. Then and only then would I experience the "Life to the full" (John 10:10) that I was living early in my Christian life.
So I earnestly heeded the word God had spoken to me and prayed, read scripture and witnessed about Jesus to others. The only trouble I had was finding fellowship. I know God didn't speak this word to me without provision—but how, where? Again, God does answer prayers. Shortly after this, one afternoon as I was reading Scripture in my truck in the parking lot of my parish, a priest walked by, stopped and we began to talk. In the course of our conversation, he invited me to attend a prayer meeting that was being held weekly in the parish.
This was the final piece of God's word spoken to me and the renewal He knew I needed in my life. For over ten years now I have continued my fellowship and worship with many of the same brothers and sisters who attended those home prayer meetings and are now members of Mission San Jose Community. Looking back, I can see a similarity in the "beginning" and the "reawakening" of God's life in me. Both times a key part of His work was providing fellowship with other Christians. After ten years of weekly prayer meetings and/or Bible and faith sharing groups, I have formed many strong and deep relationships "in Christ." We have helped one another "to put on Christ," growing in holiness and love as we turn from the disorder and pain of sin. Throughout this time, in personal and family trials, I have been greatly consoled and blessed by the support of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
In closing, always remember in your life, that God does answer prayers. For 'The One who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6).
(Dan Franke lives in Hayward, California, and is a member of Mission San Jose Community, which publishes The California Mission.)