Our ministry this month has been door to door evangelism in
villages and speaking to kids in schools.
Going door to door has had some challenges. First, it is outside my comfort zone. Second, often the church members accompanying
us to translate end up taking over conversations and we sit for long periods of
time in stranger’s homes with no idea what is going on.
Yet, even for one person, it is worth it. We met Caesar in the village on our first
day. He approached us and when he found
out that we were missionaries asked that we come to his home and talk with him
about Jesus. He was visibly high at that
time. The woman we were with said that
we should not waste time with him and walked away. I told him that we would try to visit him at
another time.
The following day we had a divine appointment with Caesar. He was sitting outside his home when we were
going door to door. He immediately
invited us inside. Caesar is 19 years
old and lives with his sister because his parents died several years ago. He told us that he used to be a Christian,
but that he is presently not walking with God.
He is hanging out with people that smoke marijuana, drink and womanize
(his word). He says he knows that he
shouldn’t be doing these things, but that they often pressure him.
Me and my teammate Krystel were able to share our testimonies
with him and encourage him. He had a
genuine interest and hunger for God. We
talked about the chains that bind us when we are in sin and the freedom that we
have when we return to Christ. We prayed
for him and invited him to come to church.
He came the following Sunday and I was happy to see him connecting with
some of the church members. I pray he
has made some connections that will last long after we have gone.
The other part of our ministry is outreach in schools. The primary school kids are 5 to 12 and
secondary schools up to 18 or 19. I have
really enjoyed this part of our ministry.
When I was a child I went to Utica Christian Academy. My parents thought I was ready to start
school at 4, but the public school said I was too young. I remember accepting Christ as a child,
probably around 5 or 6, asking Him to come into my heart. While I did not understand everything about
being a Christian at that time, I know that the prayer was genuine. My life took a detour for many years, but God
chased after me, knowing that I belonged to him.
Friday our team went to a school where I shared the gospel with
about 150 kids. I also told them about
when I was their age and I loved God; I told them about wandering away and how
being the good shepherd He is God came to me and brought me back. Many of the kids accepted Christ and I
watched them as they prayed, thinking of the prayer I made 25 years ago. God knows the heart of each of those children
and for those who were genuine in that prayer, He will pursue them if they go
astray, just as He did for me.
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on
them and pray. The disciples rebuked the
people, but Jesus said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder
them, for to such belongs he kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:13-14
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
and the disciples rebuked them. But when
Jesus saw it he was indignant and said to them “Let the children come to me; do
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.� And he took them in his arms and blessed
them, laying his hands on them.
Mark 10:13-16
