35

Her turn. Finally.

Public speaking wasn’t her thing but it had to be done. Dr. Danforth was adamant about not giving anyone a pass on this part of their project. Even Tanya had to come back to give her speech. Her time was later in the afternoon, but they’d already talked.

Tanya had told Nia how she’d come to know Jesus in a personal way and apologized for all the times she’d called Nia a Jesus freak.

Nia stood and walked to the stage. Her palms were sweaty, and she thought she might pass out. She told herself that she was more than prepared. She placed her pile of index cards on the podium. She took a deep breath and read the first card. “When I told Dr. Danforth I wanted to do my project on David, she asked me, which David?”

This is your moment.

Nia froze.

This is your moment.

Panic seeped in. She stared out into the audience. All eyes were on her—waiting expectantly. Nia looked up at the ceiling trying to collect herself. I can’t do it now. I have this project. It’s fifty percent of my grade. It’s what they’re expecting from me. If I don’t do it I’ll fail my class.

The audience was growing restless.

Nia scanned the crowd.

Tanya gave her a thumbs-up.

Bart sat beside Tanya and was nodding encouragingly at her.

This is your moment.

This can’t be my moment, God. I have something else I have to do right now.

This is your moment. Choose it or lose it.

She picked up her index cards. “Sorry. I…I…I did my project on David.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sure most of you have heard that David was a man after God’s own heart. You may or may not know why. Acts 11: 22 says, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” In other words, David was obedient to God.”

Nia went around the podium with the index cars and walked closer to the audience. “Like David, I have to do what God tells me to do. Dr. Danforth, I really did finish my project, and I’m more than prepared, but…” She tossed her index cards above her. They fell and scattered all over.

People laughed. Many of them were sitting up eager to hear what she had to say.

“That day in your office, you asked me why I picked David. It’s time to tell you.” She chanced a glance at Dr. Danforth. The woman’s hands were folded, and she was waiting patiently. But she had a huge smile on her face.

Nia walked back to the podium. “My name is Nia Johnson. When I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with cancer. I spent the next six months in treatment, and then the doctors told me I was cured or in remission.”

The crowd clapped. Several hooted.

“When I was fourteen, I was told the cancer was back. A month later the doctors told me there was nothing more that could be done to help me. I was going to die.”

Several girls had their hands to their mouths. A few students whispered to each other.

“And then my Auntie took me to a place called Puzzle House, and I met an amazing and godly woman named Rachel.” For a moment Nia thought she would break down. God give me strength and calmness. “Rachel taught this skinny black girl many things.”

A few chuckles.

“A lot of which I didn’t want to hear at the time. When Rachel told me that God had chosen her to be a healer, I didn’t believe her. I thought it was a scam. I didn’t believe in those kinds of miracles.” She looked out at the audience. “I’m sure a lot of you, maybe most of you, wouldn’t have believed her either. Sure, we believe in God and know that He can still do miracles, but faith healing…that’s pretty far out there. But the longer I stayed at Puzzle House the more I learned about God, faith, and power. Rachel liked to tell me that God was the power source, and she was only the cord, and I was the one who could switch on the lamp of faith if I wanted to be healed. I really wanted to be healed. I didn’t want to die so…it took me a while but in the end, I flipped the switch of faith and…” She moved out from the podium and did a little twirl. “And here I am. I’ve been cancer free for the past three years. God healed me.”

More clapping, whistles and hoots and hollers.

She waited until the people quieted. Could she do this? Tell them the truth?

This is your moment.

And I’m ready, Lord. “But that’s only part of the story. The other part of the story is the last time I saw Rachel, she was on her death bed. She took me by my hands. These hands.” Nia held up both hands. “And she asked me if I wanted to be a healer. I was completely shocked. I’m sure that’s exactly how David felt when Samuel chose him as the next King of Israel. When she asked me that, there was so much confusion, but I knew I wanted it so I said yes.”

The audience sat in rapt attention processing the revelation.

“Even though David was very young when he was anointed king, it took many years and many experiences before he actually became king. I’m sure David had lots of questions and doubts during those years, but he remained faithful even when it looked as though Samuel had chosen the wrong person.” Her gaze met Bart’s.

He nodded and smiled at her.

“These past four years have been my David years. Actually, my Auntie coined the term. I’ve had to learn to lose myself, and let God’s power work. I am only the conduit. Anyway, I’ve gone from elation to doubt and then back again more times than I can count. And as crazy as it sounds, I can tell you that I have no doubt that God has chosen me to be a healer. I’m in awe that He’s chosen me, and that’s what I plan to do for as long as God wants me to. With the power of God, I am His instrument for as long as he needs me.”

Dr. Danforth nodded and then stood up clapping. The audience joined her in standing and applause.

Tears filled Nia’s eyes. She’d done it. She’d told the world—at least her part of the world—that God had anointed her to be a healer. “Dr. Danforth. I can do the rest of my Freshman project now if you want.”

“Not necessary, Nia. I’ll read your paper.”

She smiled at the audience through her tears and then turned to walk off the stage. Before she got to the steps a young woman ran up them and blocked Nia’s way. “Oh, no you don’t. You don’t get to make that kind of announcement and then leave. I think it’s just a scam because you didn’t do your project.”

The applause faded.

Nia glanced out in the audience.

People were sitting back down and whispering to each other.

She waited for nerves to kick in. They didn’t. Instead she smiled at her heckler. “I don’t expect everyone to believe me. In fact, maybe none of you believe me. But God gave me a gift, and it’s time I tell people the truth about it. So I am. I did.”

“Yea, then go ahead and heal me.”

Tears glistening in the woman’s eyes.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“What difference does it make? Go ahead and heal me. Prove that you’re not a fake.”

“God is not a genie in a lamp who comes out at my bidding. It’s the other way around. I’m here to do His bidding.”

“Yea, that’s what I thought. You’re a big fake. F-A-K-E. You’re just trying to make a nam—”

“She is not a fake.” Tanya rushed up on stage.

The woman turned to her. “Yeah, right.”

“Yeah right is exactly right. I know because she healed me. I…” Tanya hesitated.

“Tanya, you don’t have to do this. I’m fine.”

“It’s OK, Nia. I want to do this. A month or so ago, I drank too much. I don’t mean a little drunk. I had alcohol poisoning, and I lost consciousness. My heart stopped. I almost died. She saved me.”

“I didn’t save you. God saved you.”

Tanya kept talking. “And I found God that night. And I haven’t had or even wanted a drink since then. And that’s because Nia touched me with God’s healing power.”

“Is that true?” The girl’s question was spoken on a choked whisper.

Tanya nodded. “Every word is true.”

Dr. Danforth walked on to the stage and picked up the microphone. “This has certainly been one of the more memorable Freshman projects. And it’s been very enlightening. We thank you very much, Nia.”

Nia nodded.

“I think we’ll take a little break. Fifteen minutes and then we’ll be back for the rest of the projects.”

People started leaving the auditorium.

Dr. Danforth turned to the young woman. “Are you OK, Lizzie?”

Lizzie wiped at the tears she couldn’t stop. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Danforth. I didn’t mean to ruin her presentation. I just couldn’t stop myself. When I heard what she said, I just had to know if her gift was real. If it’s real, maybe she can help me.”

“I understand, Lizzie.” Dr. Danforth turned to Nia. “Well…”

“What I said was the truth.”

“So you can heal me?”

“I don’t heal. Only God can do that. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord Who heals.”

“But you’ll help me, right?” There was hope in her voice.

Nia nodded. “Of course, but one thing you need to know is that sometimes God chooses to heal us physically and sometimes He doesn’t, but He will always—always heal us spiritually.”