I quickly reentered the house to wake my friend. "My car is gone- it must have been stolen" I blurted out. "Come on! That's not possible" he retorted. Sure enough no Honda Accord to be found anywhere.
The police arrived about 8:15 AM for my statement. The officer was quite cordial and totally un-phased by the situation. "Currently, over 200 vehicles a month are being stolen in Oklahoma City" he remarked in a very matter of fact manner.
Another missionary, Blake Edgmon, graciously agreed to pick me up for the rally. Doug Everhard the DYD for Oklahoma loaned me his vehicle so I could return to Tulsa for services the next day.
On the way back to Tulsa, the gravity of the situation started to take hold of me. I suddenly felt very distressed, violated, and angry. My thoughts were attacking my faith and my confidence in God. "How could this have happened?" "Why would this happen?" "Where was God in all of this?" As the thoughts escalated, my spirits sank- until finally I could scarcely think at all. Then a glimmer of hope flashed in my heart as I realized that this was a satanic attack meant to completely discourage me.
Immediately, I began to pray. The anger and pent up frustration was suddenly channeled in a different direction: instead of heavy introspection it exploded in holy indignation. I began to pray at the top of my lungs angrily berating the devil for his lies and unwelcome assault. Then suddenly it just came out of my mouth: "and the car will come back! That's the car God gave me and you have no right taking it!" As I prayed, an idea formed in my mind- have everyone you know who knows how to really pray ask the Lord to restore this vehicle.
Upon reaching Tulsa, I started firing off emails, text messages, and phone calls. Within hours I started hearing back from many dear friends and trusted people of prayer that they were standing in agreement for the return of the vehicle.
Monday evening- roughly 60 some hours after the incident my cell phone rang. It was the OKC police. The vehicle had just been recovered and an arrest was made. An observant police officer had seen the car emerge from a neighborhood some 5 miles from the scene of the original crime. The driver immediately sped off with the police car giving chase. In the ensuing chase the front end of the car was smashed before the driver finally surrendered and was hauled off to jail. Despite the damage to the front the vehicle was still operable.
My friend went to the scene of the arrest to collect the vehicle on my behalf. Much to his amazement the interior of the car was totally untouched. The only objects missing from the interior were the garage door opener, OK PikePass, several CDs, and missionary prayer cards. Everything else was still there- including all of my Africa display items.
My heart leapt at this report. Surely, God answers prayer! My friend Sach said it so well: "that thief stole the wrong car! It belonged to someone who knows the power of prayer". The car is in a local body shop undergoing a front-end rebuild. It should be back to normal again by next week.
Now please would you pray for the man who stole the vehicle. I'm asking the Lord to convict him so that he would turn his heart to Christ! And that he would be a key to seeing many in OKC come into the Kingdom!
