Praying God's Word

Raenel Hebert was born in Georgia to a military family.  She has lived all over the world and discovered Jesus when she was six years old living in Alaska.  It was during this season Raenel learned to read the Word, memorize Scripture, and began to pray for missionaries.  This began her life long journey and love for God and the studying of His word.

In her senior year of high school, her dad retired and they moved to Georgia.  Raenel studied at the University of Georgia for two years.  She married her beloved husband, Alex, a military man.  They had their first child, Jason, while living in California and their second child, Nicole, while in Maryland. 

Her mother was a very Godly woman who had set an example of reaching out to the Japanese while living in Japan.  This example encouraged Raenel to share the Gospel with friends while living in Okinawa many years later.  When her mother was teaching English to her Japanese friends Raenel had no interest, but later the Lord used that example when she found herself in Japan as an adult herself.  She began to teach English to the women who would take a Bible Study class from one of her Christian Japanese friends.  It was during these two years she mirrored her mother’s example by teaching English and inviting women into her home for Bible Study.

During her season in California Raenel was invited to a Christian women’s club by her neighbor.  God spoke to her heart through the speaker at that first meeting.  God impressed upon her “I want you to begin giving your testimony.”  Like many of us her first reaction was, “Not for a million dollars!”  She shares that the Lord responded to that vow with “Ok, do it for free.”  Raenel feared getting up in front of anyone and even used to take an F in class just to avoid giving reports.  However, she learned that when we obey God’s voice life is full of adventure and amazing things happen.

Alex eventually retired and their family found their way to Abilene and Beltway where he works in civil service running the Dyess Air Force Base Commissary.  Raenel feels so blessed to be part of our Beltway family.  She says she has learned many things about Jesus and has experienced Him in ways that are more powerful.  The Praise and Worship, Pastor McQueen’s sermon, conferences, classes, and the many friendships and believers have encouraged her to continue to step out in faith and obedience and teach a class on “Praying God’s Word” this semester.

Raenel was first introduced to Bible Study Fellowship while living in England and began taking their classes.  One thing she learned was about homiletics.  Simply stated it is a simple yet very deep study of Scripture.  The purpose of homiletics was to prepare one for teaching a Sunday school lesson or Bible study class.  Raenel has used homiletic study since the early 80’s and has found it very helpful when writing out prayers.  Coupling this method with prayer, she has a desire to teach others to use this technique in their prayer life.  One of her life long goals is to go through the entire Bible applying the homiletic technique. 

Beltway Women is very excited to see how the Lord is going to use Raenel’s obedience to help her students grow in their prayer life.  There is nothing more powerful than God’s word.  Please join Raenel this spring as she takes her students through “Praying God’s Word.”  “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”  Psalm 34:8 “For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12