“I felt a strong sense that I was supposed to come to Springfield, Missouri to
help pray for revival within the Assemblies of God denomination.” After fasting
and praying, Sobey listened to the Lord’s calling and packed up her bags, gathered
her children, and moved from the East Coast to the Midwest.
Upon arrival after Christmas in 1992, life continued to challenge her with little
money and cramped living conditions for a mother and six children. Sobey persistently
prayed and put her trust in the Lord. Her faith grew as miracles surfaced. A businessman,
concerned for the young widow and her six children, had some money to invest. To her
surprise, he purchased a five-bedroom house and felt prompted to allow her and her children
to live in the house rent-free while she resided in Springfield.
God’s faithfulness prevailed as His people “looked after orphans and widows
in their distress” (James 1:27, NIV). Sobey continued to pray, and God continued
to provide.
“Financial impossibilities always keep me on my knees,” Sobey said. Her
money was quickly dwindling trying to pay bills and take care of six children, including
her terminally ill daughter. She hardly had enough money to buy groceries, but God miraculously
provided by sending someone to knock on her door, holding out two gallons of milk.
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After Master of Divinity student Katherine Sobey graduates in Spring 2003,
she would like to evangelize and help revitalize and encourage churches.
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God knows our needs, and all we have to do is ask. “Call to me and I will answer
you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3,
NIV). The core values of Sobey’s life were yet to be tested.
Still grieving over the death of her husband after moving to Springfield, Sobey soon
stared death in the face again when her second daughter Lydia, was diagnosed with AIDS.
In 1995 Lydia’s suffering ended when she passed away from pneumonia and went on
to be with her Savior in heaven.
“When my husband and daughter died, the unnecessary things in life melted,”
she said. “It took death to strip away everything and make me realize the only
things that really matter in life are our relationships with God and others.” Each
day Sobey presses on in prayer with faith that God does indeed hear and answer.
“I once felt God calling me to a Pentecostal Leadership Conference in Spokane,
Washington. I was drawn there for the purpose to pray for revival in our AG churches
and for the hearts of our pastors and leaders across the country. Some friends asked
me about my plans to attend the conference, and I said that I couldn’t go and explained
the situation,” Sobey said. “I had no money, my car broke down, my house needed
repairs, and things looked hopeless.”
When God calls, He is always faithful to provide even the smallest minute details.
“Once again, my prayers were answered,” she said. In Spokane, a widow from
the church provided Sobey with free room and board during the conference. Her car was
fixed, her house repaired, air travel provided, and a money gift given to her upon her
return.
“God has been a faithful God,” Sobey said. “If I want to look at others,
I may not have experienced any great thing. My family and I have survived and we’re
still in process. Though
outward accomplishments may appear to be minimal, God has done great things in our
hearts. We have persevered thus far, and we are still eager to do His will. God has
answered above and beyond what we dare to ask. His love never fails.”
by
Sara N. Phillips
