We are happy to share that Lesa Budd has accepted the call to serve as Prayer Ministries Coordinator for the Wisconsin Conference. Lesa, born and raised here in Wisconsin, is well known around the state and has been an invited speaker at many churches in the conference. She has also done many weekend seminars on the topic of prayer. Lesa is the mother of six, grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of 3 great-grandsons. She loves going on mission trips and even lived in the Dominican Republic for two and a half years. Lesa also likes to cook, create water color pictures, read books and shovel snow!
The following is her own story of how prayer has always been an integral part of her life:
“I was born and raised on a farm overlooking beautiful Lake Kegonsa between McFarland and Stoughton. In that old farm house is where I first learned to pray. Kneeling on a small pillow by my bedroom window, I talked to Jesus. I knew Jesus was real and I often felt Him near. I knew He heard me, and I knew He was loving and kind. As a child I trusted Him with my family and our pets each night. I’ve never stopped believing that God was good…but have often struggled with why He still would keep wanting me. But He does, because He is love!
I know, for a fact, that God loves to have us talk to Him and longs to answer our prayers. On page 100 of the book Steps to Christ, by Ellen G. White, she says, ‘Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children…Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.’ Mrs. White goes on to say, ‘There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest…The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.’
There are also many wonderful promises God has given us in His word, such as John 6:37 which says, ‘All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.’ These faithful words put my heart at rest knowing He will hear me when I come to Him.
I believe we are at the borders of the Promised Land, Heavenly Canaan, with only a Spiritual Jordan lying between us and our forever heavenly home! Therefore, I am looking forward to what God is planning on doing for the Wisconsin Conference as we all unite in prayer. May there be a loud cheer from Wisconsin when the roll is called up yonder!”
Watch for inspirational quotes coming from Prayer Ministries which will be accompanied by the acronym H2C=L, 2 Hearts Connecting Equals Love. When our hearts connect with God’s heart, we will experience His great love for us!
Laurella Case, Communication Coordinator
with Lesa Budd, Prayer Ministries Coordinator