The first day of ministry was a stretch for me. We partnered with a local church and went into the market to do street evangelizing. My comfort zone is kids, I love playing with them and teaching them about Jesus.
They don’t reject you.
Adults can, and will do it in a hurtful way. Back home people who stand on the corner talking about Jesus aren’t exactly the most well liked bunch. Don’t even think about walking up to someones door with a Bible!
I’m thinking about all of this as we walked into the market place. How are they going to receive me? Is it going to be like back home? Will they listen to a woman, a foreigner?
I sat down with a man and listened as the women I was with talked to him in her language. I smiled awkwardly. She turned to me and said
“Okay, go ahead, preach to him.”
“What?”
“He wants to hear the message you prepared”
Oh Lord, I don’t have a message! I didn’t even think to pray and look up scripture. God I got nothing! Holy Spirit…HELP!
“Okay, yes of course!”
I asked him questions to get to know him better. He had a small table at the market were he sold a variety of things like shoelaces and hair oil. He was a husband and a father of 4.
At that time God showed me scriptures of blessings and prosperity. I quickly flipped to his favorite book: Deuteronomy.
“You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.” Deuteronomy 28:3
I read the whole chapter and began to speak blessings over his family and business. I explained to him that Gods word promises if we only keep his commandments and seek his Kingdome that we will be his people, a blessed people.
I saw life spring up in his eyes. I saw his faith grow. He was so encouraged by God’s word.
After we prayed he took us to his friends. At one point there were 10+ Zambian men gathered around with their Bible’s listening eagerly to Gods word. The lord showed me scripture for each of them and told me a specific word for them. I am still blow away by how the Holy Spirit moved.
God showed me that although coming prepared for ministry is beneficial all we really need is to be open to His Holy Spirit to lead us.
Pray for the men in the market. They asked if I came with any Bibles. I wish I did! Still looking into getting some for them. They are so hungry for Gods word and so willing to receive prayer. Pray that God blesses them and shows them favor.
