As I sit in a charming cafe on my last day in the capital of Kosova, I feel like Paul writing one of his letters to the Romans. I can now imagine how hard it must’ve been for him to only be able to use the written word and not his presence to share the Gospel with this church. He longed to be with them in person. He wanted to be with this church so much that he sent them a letter, passing along truth and revelations that God had given him.
I met a girl a couple weeks ago and connected with her right away. Let’s call her Lucinda. She is still in high school and grew up in a Muslim family but told me how she’s been seeking God of the Bible lately. I was so excited that she was doing this on her own! She told me about her art teacher at school who talks with her about Jesus. Wow, how bold! This teacher is literally impacting this girl’s life.
Sometimes in America we believe that bringing a friend to church will be what “saves” them. I’ve found on the World Race that building a friendship with someone and leaving “church” out of it, in the beginning at least, can be the most effective way to impact someone with the simple and authentic Gospel. Going to church isn’t what saves you or makes you a “good” person. There’s no such thing as a good person actually. Knowing Jesus as the one true God and having a personal relationship with Him is what saves you.
I felt so strongly about this that in my letter to Lucinda I quoted what Paul wrote to the Romans:
If you declare with your mouth “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10:19)
How simple is that?!
Lucinda was shocked and excited to find out that most of the young adults at the church here in the city grew up in Muslim families and have decided for themselves to be Christians. To know that someone has done it before you, that its not the end of the world, and that it is possible is so comforting! That is why there is power in testimony! Sharing your story is the most important thing you can do to relate to others and give them hope!
I now understand Paul’s longing. All that I have to offer Lucinda now, besides my prayers and friendship, is a letter. Since I can’t be in Prishtina anymore, I want to impart wisdom and truth that have personally affected my life to impact hers too. I know that the Holy Spirit working in her heart is ultimately what will cause her to fully dedicate herself to following Jesus.
Because of the short time we get in each country on the Race, it can be hard to disciple someone. Discipleship is a long-term relationship with someone. This year, I’ve learned the value of staying in one place in order to do this, because on the Race, we always want more time. What Jesus wants us to do is “go into the world” but the second and equally important part of his command is to “make disciples.” Making disciples requires commitment because it can only be done by staying in one place. We have to put down roots. One person may feel called to go to a specific people group and put down roots in a place that is not their home. And another person may feel like home is the best place for them to invest in their sphere of influence. This year of traveling from one place to another has fed my desire to put down roots somewhere. Where is up to God and He hasn’t revealed that to me yet.
It’s amazing to hear how God has brought so many people into Lucinda’s life to plant seeds and water them. It’s such an exciting privilege to see a teenage girl actively seeking out Jesus in a nation that is 96% Muslim. My longing for Lucinda is for her hunger for Truth to not be quenched by things of this world or shut down by fear of man. I can feel that she is so close to dedicating her life to following Jesus. I wish I had more time with this joyful and precious girl but I can leave assured that the King of the Universe is pursuing her and she is seeking Him back and we have the promise that when we seek, we will find.
