“We can believe in CPR,
but people will remain dead until someone breathes NEW LIFE into them. And we
can tell the world that there is life after death, but the world really seems
to be wondering if there is life BEFORE DEATH.” (Shane Claiborne, Irresistible
Revolution)
I
will be completely honest with you- I was thrown off and did not know what to
do. Our contacts announced for the next two weeks that we would be doing “door
to door evangelism”.
I knew my thoughts of this and that I would
not do this type of ministry at home, walking in and out of houses
“converting”.
“Some of us shiver at
the word ‘conversion’. But conversion means to change, to alter, after which
something looks different than it did before. We need converts in the best
sense of the word, people who are marked by the renewing of their minds and
imaginations, who no longer conform to the pattern that is destroying our
world. … What the world needs are people who believe so much in another world
that they cannot help but begin enacting it NOW!” (Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution)
We
were all challenged with ministry here in Busia, Kenya- where we all had to
step out. Step out into boldness, the uncomfortable, and in ways we may not
ever enter into a home. I began asking
God to change my heart, to give me a good attitude. I wanted to honour our
contacts, but also not stand for being one of “those Christians”- the pushy, in
your face about Christ, no relationship, believer.
I
feel in some aspects this type of ministry would not be welcomed in North
America. I was talking to everyone here
about how many of us have never done this before and how we were a little
nervous. As I was still battling this type of ministry in my mind, Pastor Steve,
from Busia, Kenya said this: “God has blessed
Kenya with doors being open, so let’s take advantage of it before the doors are
closed”. In many ways the doors are closed in North America. Hearing this
statement I came to a new revelation. Kenya is much different then you could
imagine and this is how Christ is brought to many. Sitting and talking boldly
about our Saviour, the gospel, and how Christ loves them unconditionally and
desires to have a relationship with them. Inviting them to confess and believe Jesus
Christ is Lord and to walk into a life with Christ.
Would
I necessarily do this at home, so boldly? Probably not. I am learning how to be
bold and that speaking is not as scary as I build it up to be. Everyone has a
freedom of choice and I am just coming to speak of the one I put all my hope in,
and to tell them of God’s unconditional passionate love for them. “Freely you received [so] freely give” –
Matthew 10:8
On
a daily basis I am reminded that “the
spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to
proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners“.
– Isaiah 61:1
“What if Jesus meant the stuff he said?” (Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution)
Through
Christ we do not have a spirit of fear and if we give control to God he speaks
through us. We just need to take initiative to share Christ with the power of
the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.
We are planting seeds and watching God grow them.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it,
but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything,
but only God who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters
have one purpose and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we
are God’s fellow workers, you are God’s field, God’s building.” – 1
Corinthians 3:6- 9
This
week we have been in many houses, planting seeds, seeing people make decisions
to follow God, and seeing people ask questions or tell us they are not
ready. We are just there as God’s
servants- willing- and God will do the rest.
Please pray for us as we continue this
ministry this week- for open ears, open hearts, and for the team to have
boldness and confidence in our Lord.
“How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
-Romans
10:15
