The first time that I experienced
“street ministry” was about three months ago at training camp for The World
Race in White, GA. It’s amazing to think that I have been a Christian now for
years… and up to that point had never stepped out of my comfort zone to share
the Gospel of Christ. Since Georgia, I
have made a point to seek out or take advantage of opportunities to randomly
share Christ with others. While some interactions were more fruitful then
others, I felt at the very least I was taking strides to carry out the calling
Jesus has for his followers.
On the bus this afternoon, a fellow
squad member joked that if we were paid a commission for sharing the Gospel to
strangers she’d be broke. But taking that concept a step further… Christ’s death and resurrection allowed for
the salvation of souls that are otherwise destined to eternal separation from
Him. Am I living in such a way that demonstrates this truth? Any intentional
urgency?
At a park just outside of the
parliament building Kyle, Sarah, and I approached a 17 year old boy sitting on
a swing, listening to music, enjoying a slight breeze under the blue Romanian
sky. We talked to him about his thoughts on God and he openly and honestly
volunteered his ideas to three complete strangers from the US. With almost
perfect English he described his belief in God, Jesus, Biblical legitimacy. He
noted that, despite his beliefs, he didn’t have time at this point in his life
to pursue God and that would be something he could eventually make a priority
(or maybe God would pursue him). Sarah challenged him by saying maybe God IS
pursuing you, through three people from all different areas of the US, speaking
to you, right here and right now, calling you to chase after Christ.
We revealed to him more about ourselves
and urged him to seek after God, Christian community, and God’s word. I told
him of my desire to go back, talk to the 17 year old Chad, how I wanted to grab
myself by the shoulders and physically shake my -17 year old- self. “Now is the
time to act… God has called you to do great things in Him and through Him!”
Knowing that I can’t go back… I pray that he not only takes our words into
consideration, but boldly puts them into action.
