Growth

At Every Opportunity

©iStockphoto.com/Merbe

Several months ago I was at an engagement party for a friend. During the course of the celebration, my husband and I started talking to one of her neighbors – a high school student who was there to help with the festivities. As we conversed, we talked about his family, his school, his sports and a variety of other subjects and yet I left the party feeling like the conversation was incomplete. Despite all we talked about, we had never talked about that which was most important – whether or not he had a relationship with Jesus Christ. I never invited him to church or sought to move beyond the superficial. Instead, I kept the conversation “safe.” I made sure the awkward moments were minimized And by doing so, missed a great opportunity to share the best news anyone could ever hear – the truth of the Gospel.

As I reflect upon that evening, I’m sure it isn’t the only time that I’ve been so focused on my comfort that I forgo what’s best for the other person. I hurry past people every day – because of my agenda, my priorities, and my personal inclinations. In a fast-paced world, it’s difficult to stop and see things in light of eternity – and yet the topic of eternity is exactly what Jesus spent so much time talking about on this Earth. Repeatedly, He shared with us what the Kingdom of God was like – hearkening us to think beyond the momentary in order to focus on the eternal. Too often, the cares and concerns of this life are what get my attention – rather than the eternal destination of another.

I’m tempted to excuse my lack of courage by acknowledging that I’m not a natural evangelist. Whatever passion and talent that God has granted to those who routinely move their conversations past the temporal in order to focus on the spiritual isn’t part of my natural proclivities. But then God is at work to make me a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and His task for me is that I would be making disciples – being a part of others coming to know Him (Mt. 28:16-20). My natural proclivities aren’t really what matter – what matters is the work that God is doing in me to make me more like His Son. His Son’s life was defined by pointing others to Him – and so should mine. At every opportunity.

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Hope

Not Without Hope

For the past few months, I have had the privilege of spending nearly every Monday night  with a group of 5 business students. In June, I am planning to lead this same group of students to Central Asia where we will be using our business skills in order to help spread the Good News. Although our plane trip is still months away, it has been an amazing journey so far. We have learned about the culture, been equipped to better serve our Father and those we will be ministering to, and have grown together as a team. Although our group is small, we are only one group that is being sent out. In total, over 400 participants will go to locations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America with one goal – to bring God’s hope to the nations.
The Central Asia Business Team

I share this with you for a few reasons. First – this experience has opened my eyes anew to the number of people who have not yet heard the Good News, and to those who are being persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. It is too easy to take for granted all the opportunities we have – to read our Bible, to share with others, to free meet together in order to worship our King. Many around the globe do not have these opportunities. Many are dying in darkness. While there is a lot of good that we could do around the world, there is no good that surpasses sharing His Word with those who don’t know Him.

 

Secondly, as the time draws near for us to go, I’m reminded again of the need for prayer. Throughout this process I have repeatedly said that my greatest responsibility is to the five students that God has entrusted to me while we are away. It is my heart’s desire that this journey would be used to accomplish His purposes in their lives, and in the lives of those that are around them. I can only imagine all the discipleship opportunities that exist as we are with each other for weeks straight and deeply engaged in ministry. Please lift us up.  Pray not only for safety and that much would be accomplished during our time away, but that our Father would continue to work in each student’s life to guide and direct their steps and to use them for the purposes of His Kingdom.

 

Lastly, I share this with you because I simply want you to know that it is happening. There has been much that has been written, and that will be written, about this generation of young people. There are many who shake their heads and have serious misgivings about this generation’s ability to think beyond themselves. I want you to know that hundreds of them are giving up parts of their summer in order to minister to others. I want you to know that many of them are considering how God may call them to give up their comforts and conveniences in order to live full-time in a nation where they will be marginalized and persecuted. I want you to know that they care.

 

This past weekend each team participated in our largest collective fundraiser. During this evening event, the audience saw eighteen presentations that told the story of where the groups were going, what they’ll be doing, and ultimately Whom they serve.  As I reflect back on the evening, it can be encapsulated in this – we go because although the task may be daunting, the numbers are overwhelming, and the need is great, we are not without Hope. Because of the Hope we have in Christ, we have hope for what He will accomplish in the nations. Because of the love we have for Christ, we will share His heart for those who have not heard.

(PS – Although my expenses have been covered (2 Thess. 3:7-9 ), my team is still raising funds. If you would like to support the team financially, please click here, and then click on the link to “proceed to the online giving form.” You can select “Service Projects -ISP/USP/SOS” from the drop down menu, and put “Central Asia-Business” in the comments section for the funds to go to our team.  Thank you!)

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