Unity and Division in the Body
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “…the body is not made up of one part but of many.”
I don't do strangers well. I don't enjoy the hurdle of foreign language. I don't try to spark up conversations with those I've never met before. So street evangelism in Serbia is just about the last ministry I would have chosen to do, and clearly it is the first thing God chose for me.
My team is the first to work with the United Life church in Serbia. We are blessed to live our day to day lives without struggle. We comfortably fit into two bedrooms on a one floor apartment right in town. We have cafe's, bakery's, pizza shops and grocery stores all within walking distance. We're able to jog in the mornings, turn on AC when it's hot and have immediate access to wifi.
Our hosts are 23 and 25 year old newly weds from London. Deborah was the first to make it to Serbia three years ago through a pastoral connection from her father. About nine months ago Remi joined her after their wedding. Both are going back to University for medical degrees. They're currently living with a “brother” of theirs – Gabriel, a 28 year old man from Nigeria. Together they are a strong evangelical team that takes to the streets of Belgrade, lead a Bible study at the local university, host a Saturday night “connect group” or church service and attends/volunteers with the Sunday services.
Everyday twelve of us go out into the streets of Belgrade simply to run into strangers; to befriend people. We've met artists, couples, street venders, bakers, barista's, bartenders, pilates instructors, high school students and residents of Belgrade. Collectively we've met up with them numerous times to intentionally show that we care for them and show them that they are important and loved.
God has been working on me as well. He too has come close to me, intentionally spent unique time with me and has showed me that I am important and loved. He's shown me that although my mentality is aligned with His, my heart has not been. The other morning I was able to share that I am able to say and know all the right and proper things about our situation although my heart does not understand it. I've been saying that even though evangelism is not my calling God has intentionally placed my team in Serbia with these specific hosts for a reason and a direct purpose. However, my heart hasn't been able to accept that and has been closed off. It's humbling to realize that I'm fighting an internal battle I never knew about. I hope to align my heart and mind to properly lead me through the next week and a half here in Serbia.
