I began my first night of street evangelism expecting the worst. Feeling completely unprepared, I ventured out into the streets of Draganesti-Olt, Romania with a translator I had just met and praying desperately for guidance from the Lord. Luckily for me, God delights in providing for His children.
I spent the next two and a half weeks walking around this small town, praying for people, sharing God’s Word, telling the Good News, blessing and being blessed. I actually grew to enjoy this ministry I was hesitant to participate in.
Let me tell you about one special person I was able to meet through street evangelism.
One evening, I was walking through a part of town new to me with Ana (the wonderful wife of our ministry contact here) and her son Sammy as my translators. She told me there was a woman who lived there who was not saved, but was receptive to hearing about Ana’s beliefs. She suggested we visit with her. When we rounded a curve in the sandy road, we approached a small group of neighbors visiting with each other outside. I recognized one of my English students among them. One older woman reached her arms open wide, smiling brightly at Ana and embracing her like a close friend. Ana introduced me to Alaina, the woman we had come to visit.
Ana and I were quickly brought short wooden stools to sit on and welcomed into the group. I sat next to Alaina, who spent several minutes asking all sorts of questions about me to Ana and admiring my braided hair. Her eyes searched over everything very carefully. Her whole face lit up when she smiled, and she reached her hand over several times to cup my face or squeeze my hand. As we talked, I saw much kindness in her heart.
We all chatted for a while, with Ana translating when necessary. I was surprised how little needed to be translated. We communicated much through smiles, gestures, and the limited French I know. (Many Romanians learn other Romance languages in school along with English, so sometimes when I don’t have a translator around I have tried to speak in French. It has worked several times!)
Ana told me to talk about how I came to Draganesti. I explained how I am here with 53 other Americans to serve people and tell people about Jesus around the world. As I spoke, several more neighbors joined us. Alaina and another woman told me about some health problems they’ve been having, and I prayed over them. Ana encouraged me to take the opportunity of so many listening ears to share a word from the Bible, and to share the Gospel. I pulled my Bible out of my backpack, praying for the Lord to show me a passage and give me the words He wanted to speak into these people.
I read in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 about being hard pressed but not crushed, persecuted but never abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. I related this to the health problems and other hardships Alaina and the others had shared that they were facing. I talked about how comforting it is to never be abandoned by God, and to have the promise of never being destroyed when we have the power of Christ in us. I asked questions around the circle about their beliefs and knowledge of the Bible. I could see that these people knew of God but did not have a personal relationship with God. When I asked if anyone knew if they were going to Heaven when they die, everyone answered, “Who can know?”
I began to tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ. I told them how much He loves us and wants to know us personally, like a friend. I told them how we can be saved, and that when Christ is our Savior we can be completely assured of our salvation. I don’t really know what I said sitting along the dusty road that night, but the Spirit was with me through every word. He was bringing to mind many verses, allowing me to speak HIS Truth into their lives. I cannot say whether hearts were open to receive Christ, but many eyes and ears were open and eager to hear and see what I had to share.
I was able to visit Alaina one more time before leaving Draganesti. I do not know if her heart belongs to Jesus yet, but I hope that one day I will meet this sweet woman in Heaven. We can rejoice together in worship and thankfulness for the good works God began in each of us during our time together.
My initial negative attitude toward my team’s street evangelism ministry grew from my doubts. I doubted in my own ability to share Christ on the spot to strangers who don’t speak my language. I doubted people would be willing to listen to what I had to say. I doubted I could be a voicebox for the Lord to speak to His children.
Thankfully, God chose to use me anyway. He gave me boldness to walk up to people every night and show them Christ’s love. He gave me discernment to know who to speak to. He gave me wisdom to know how to bring the Gospel into conversations that began by talking about crops, weather, animals, family members, and more. He brought Bibles verses to my mind that I hadn’t read in ages.
Only God knows what will grow from the seeds planted during the interactions my team had with the people of Draganesti this month. But I believe it made a difference in the Kingdom. The Bible is chock-full of stories of God working through imperfect people. Who knew that could include you and me?
