Written by Stephanie Bartlett
It was 1999, and youth group night was my absolute favorite night of the week.
“Call It What You Want”, our little youth group at a little old church in San Dimas, California, led by a few recent Azusa Pacific University college graduates, Gregg Garner, Tara Garner, Robert Muñoz, and Jason Roufs, was what my 13 year-old-world revolved around.
The spring of that year was sure to be memorable, as we were traveling to Ensenada, Mexico for a week of Community service together.
A week after the trip, I was scheduled for an eye surgery to address some complications stemming from an injury I sustained to my left eye when I was younger, leaving that eye permanently blind.
Throughout our week in Ensenada, Gregg asked me over and over, “Steph, what would you do if the Lord healed your eye?” Over and over, I responded quietly, not knowing, not even believing, that the Lord would do something like that for me. I knew the Scriptures and prophecies of Isaiah, and I knew the stories of Jesus healing the blind… but me? Would God really respond to me, and heal me?
Finally, after about the 50th time of Gregg asking me the same question that week, I responded, “I guess I would thank Him.”
That night in Ensenada, Gregg, Tara, and Jason took me up to the top of a nearby hill, prayed that the Lord would heal me, and give me sight.
After praying, I opened my left eye… but nothing looked different. We descended back down the hill, and into the rest of the week. Over the next few years Gregg, Tara, Jason and Rob moved to Nashville, TN, to serve through their young nonprofit, Global Outreach Developments Int’l. 8 years later, drawn by their honest and radical examples of living for Jesus, I would leave my life in California, and join them. In 2008 I entered into a life of ministry that I never dreamed possible.
It’s 2021, 25 years into Global Outreach Developments, and I’m still here. That little nonprofit isn’t so young anymore, and neither am I.
I have now spent 13 years dedicating myself to learning the Word of God, both informally, and formally through the Institute for G.O.D. Int’l. This knowledge of God’s Word has equipped me to serve with Global Outreach Developments, to pour out my life serving the least of these, following Jesus. And what I know is this: I was blind, but now I can see. I’ve experienced a restoration of sight beyond what I thought I was even asking for.
Call it what you want, but Jesus healed me that night 22 years ago in Ensenada when some young youth group leaders dared to help an unsuspecting young teenager meet God. God has healed me, and he’s given me sight. Thank you, Lord.
G.O.D. Int’l still serves in Latin America, today. To join Stephanie in supporting our efforts in education, advocacy and empowerment, check out our #ReadyToShare Holiday Campaign. It’s our goal to raise $250,000 by December 31st, in support of 12 meaningful causes around the world. Will you join us?
1 Timothy 6:18-19 - Do Good, Be Rich In Good Works, Generous, And Ready To Share, Thus Storing Up The Treasure Of A Good Foundation For The Future, So That You May Take Hold Of The Life That Really Is Life.
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