Much of our ministry this month in Uzice is centered on the importance of personal relationships. Rather than preaching to the masses, we have decided to really take the time to fully invest in a few people. Though my self-centered, performance-driven mindset is often quick to conjure up mental images of myself in Peter’s shoes, preaching the Gospel atop a mountain to a hungry crowd three thousand strong (Acts 2:14-40), this rarely seems to be the Biblical norm.
Our team has met many individuals (sometimes our paths crosses unplanned) through many different activities—volunteering with young children at the library, running an English club, frequenting local cafes and clubs, jumping into the local parks and recreation events, and even playing three on three basketball at the city courts, to name a few. In all of these budding relationships, our goal is to be a light for Christ (Matthew 5:14).
Many times, we have found that the sharing of the good news (Gospel) can happen in situations as simple as asking someone to go out with you and get coffee. After all, people are naturally inclined to want to tell you about themselves because it is refreshing. In addition, the Gospel is so inherently relevant to every aspect of life that it naturally spills into any conversation. Trying to contain the Gospel is like trying to bottle up the Niagara Falls in a milk carton.
As I read through the book of Acts this past week, it only confirmed the importance of personal relationships. Philip shared the Gospel with the Ethiopian official in an incredibly personal way, as they sat side-by-side and conversed during the official’s chariot ride home (Acts 8:26-40). Peter, acting on God’s prompting, sought out Cornelius in his own house (Acts 10:17-33). When Paul was in Athens, we are told that “Some reasoned…in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there,” (Acts 17:17). When speaking publicly in the synagogue proved unfruitful, Paul “withdrew from them and met separately” with the ones he was teaching (Acts 19:9).
Jesus himself seemed to view personal relationships as vital. He regularly dined with those he was ministering to (Mark 2:15). When Jesus healed the woman who suffered from bleeding (Mark 5:21-34), He was adamant about seeking the exact woman who touched his robe (Mark 5:30), while he literally ignored the crowd that was pressing in around him (Mark 5:31).
The question that, for a while, really made me ponder this type of ministry was a question of intent. Did we truly want to get to know these people or did we just want to share the Gospel? I realized, however, that my concern stemmed from a faulty line of reasoning.
Truly intending to know someone and having the goal in mind of sharing the Gospel are not mutually exclusive. In fact, one causes the other. We do not get to know people in the same way that salespeople get to know their customers—sneakily connecting facts to help us better pitch our ensuing word vomit—because we are not called to be crafty in our speech or grand in our presentation (1 Corinthians 2:1). The power of salvation lies outside of our own control anyway! Rather, when we truly get to know people, and can identify—soul-to-soul—with the joys and pains that make us each human, we become compelled—out of nothing but raw love—to deliver the beautiful message of the cross.
Whether the message of the cross is delivered as a divine panacea for the deep wounds of a fallen world or as an object for mutual worship among the fellowship of the saints, it is powerful all the same.
God is assembling for himself, through us, a multitude of followers around his throne and He is doing so one cup of Turkish coffee at a time.
