Miracles Near 34th Street

Volunteers pulled requests daily for participants.

Volunteers pulled requests daily for participants.

Inside an old grocery store, people experiencing financial hardships gathered. Next to the main entrance, a table covered in a white cloth showed The Salvation Army emblem and read, “Doing the Most Good.”

“There’s a significant amount of need in our community, people that are hurting, people that need some kind of hope.”

While Toys for Tots has been active for years, this year there was a different twist — a prayer request.

Every year The Salvation Army teams up with the United States Marine Corp Reserve to help spread Christmas cheer by allowing parents to pick out free, donated toys for their children. With that in mind, this is the first year The Salvation Army Capt. Nicole Parker decided to implement prayer cards with every application.

One of many requests that filled the tree.

One of many requests that filled the tree.

She said every Angel Tree and Toys for Tots participant was offered prayer with registration. Since they opened their doors at 5001 Marsha Sharp Freeway a few weeks ago, they have collected more than 600 prayer requests. Some participants returned as their prayers were fulfilled.

“There’s a significant amount of need in our community, people that are hurting, people that need some kind of hope. That’s one of the things that we at The Salvation Army believe in; God gives us hope,” she said as Blake Shelton’s “There’s a New Kid in Town” played in the background.

Parker and other volunteers shared a story of a young couple who were struggling financially. With a baby on the way, jobless, and facing eviction, they asked for prayer. Parker said the young woman came in later on, and with a smile on her face, she told everyone she was hired at a local restaurant and their landlord helped them with living arrangements.

This was not the only prayer answered before their eyes. Stories about illnesses and financial woes alleviated at a curiously fast pace filled the atmosphere as onlookers continued with their requests.

“It opens people’s eyes to see that even if they don’t have faith,” she said, “that somebody would still be willing to pray for them on their behalf.”

She said The Salvation Army operates as a church, and there is normally a prayer book in their main building at 1111 16th St. in Lubbock. The prayers are taken daily, with each one prayed for individually.

“It gives them hope,” Zamora said. “If they are living in darkness, it gives them light.”

The prayer tree, she said, allows them to catch a first-hand glimpse of answered prayers.

Standing next to a table stacking filled out requests stood a woman named Maria Zamora. A self-proclaimed prayer warrior, she broke down in tears as she spoke of how she has seen prayer work in her own life and the lives of those around her.

“Creer sin ver,” she said in Spanish as she spoke about her faith.

Zamora sifted through hundreds of prayers making sure no one was left behind.

Zamora sifted through hundreds of prayers making sure no one was left behind.

Translated into English, believe without seeing, meaning you don’t have to see God to have faith.

“God has answered so many prayers for me,” she said, “that I believe the Lord answers anybody’s prayers if you believe.”

She said she picked up more than 300 prayers last week, and as they pack up for the season, she expects to see more.

While this is something she is devoting her life to, she said believing in the power of prayer is crucial to the process. She sat with tears in her eyes as she told her own personal stories of losing her father, husband and son. After her own personal tragedy struck, she said, she experienced several medical scares and  her belief of prayer pulled her through.

“It gives them hope,” Zamora said. “If they are living in darkness, it gives them light.”

Another prayer that brought tears to her eyes came from a young father living with stage-four cancer. With his four-year-old child and young bride by his side, he said he needed a prayer for his family to let him go.

“El poder de dios no se acaba, crean por que muchos dicen, ‘no va venir,’ pero va venir como un ladrón en la noche,” she said. “Nobody will know when.”

Translated, she said the power of God is never-ending and although people are doubting a resurrection, she said God will come like a thief in the night.

She then turned around and walked over to a young woman sitting at a table, Amber Beall. Originally from Clovis, she said, she moved to Lubbock for her husband and child’s medical needs.

The 28-year-old mother said Tristen, her 6-year-old son, was born premature. Weighing a little more than three pounds, he made it out of the hospital OK until a trip to Lubbock changed their lives.

Beall said finding the prayer tree was a happy coincidence

Beall said finding the prayer tree was a happy coincidence

Tristen had developed a hernia and was asleep during his doctor visit. As they were walking out, the doctor said bye, and when Tristen awoke, the doctor immediately noticed something was not right and issued blood tests, which indicated something far more serious.

After emergency surgery, it was revealed his gallbladder and liver did not develop properly. A medical scare that was near fatal. While the Bealls have yet to receive a diagnosis, they have an appointment in Houston at the end of December.

As part of her new job, Beall was sent to work alongside The Salvation Army in the Toys for Tots and Angel Tree holiday location, and she happened to ask about forms people were filling out. She said she has witnessed volunteers praying, and Tristen is on their list, too.

“I believe the more prayers you have,” she said, “the faster and easier they get answered.”

Capt. Parker sat making Christmas bows as Christmas songs added to the atmosphere. Gold glitter from her craft materials added a glow to her face. She worked steadily as she said the prayer tree addition has been extra special for them. She said this helps remind people of the true meaning of Christmas.

“We never waste the opportunity to share the gospel or pray with individuals,” she said, “and we just offer that to anyone who comes through our doors.”

Each prayer was given to a volunteer for individual prayer.

Each prayer was given to a volunteer for individual prayer.

About Lucinda Holt

Enterprise Editor - Journalism major and anthropology minor. Graduates in December 2014. Lucinda is a non-traditional student with an associate degree in journalism from Western Texas College in Snyder. She hopes to build a career as a foreign correspondent.