One thing I’m thankful for is my name. I didn’t really understand the power it has in other parts of the world until I started introducing myself. Most people light up when they hear it because of their loyalty to their favorite premier league soccer team, Chelsea. Other people scowl because of their love for Manchester United or Arsenal, but we don’t really need to talk about that. I don’t know how to describe it, other than it feels like a type of respect forms whenever I give my name and share my love for football. I become more relatable or something. Like they are more willing to listen to me.
All to say, my name paves a way for conversation. Conversations that start with football and end with Jesus.
I have been with Team Fuerte All Day for the past week. They are working in Gaborone, Botswana for Campus Crusade for Christ where they walk around the University of Botswana to talk to people about Jesus. They approach perfect strangers all over the 15,000 student campus to spark conversation in hopes that the students will come to know Jesus and His love for them.
So I think it’s safe to say that I was a wee bit nervous to participate in such a thing. I mean walking up to a rando who is minding their own business and start talking about Jesus is kinda scary. Sending my fears, my good friend Ethan asked if I wanted to walk around with him so He could help me feel more comfortable. Side note: Ethan is an amazing evangelist (although he will try to tell you otherwise). His passion to preach the name of Jesus to all who don’t know is truly inspiring. He is fearless when it comes to talking with strangers. He doesn’t care about the possibility that they may reject him. He only cares that they know Jesus. So anyway, I gladly accepted the offer to join him, eager to learn from my friend.
We had so many great conversations with people. By the end of the 2 hours, I felt equipped to lead, asking questions that needed to be asked, sharing what needed to be shared, and praying what needed to be prayed. I felt confident in my ability to be an evangelist. Ethan taught me how to let my desire for people to know Jesus to overpower my fear of rejection. He told me something that I will never forget, “If you are truly in love with Jesus, nothing will ever be able to hurt you.”
Some were receptive and curious about the Gospel, others didn’t care too much, and some asked Jesus to be apart of their lives for the first time. I can’t explain the joy I feel when I hear someone pray that Jesus comes into their heart. It’s like a sweet song. Truly.
The next day, our Valentine’s day outreach was cancelled for logistical reasons, so we were given the day off. Feeling a conviction, Jonathan asked if anyone wanted to go to the mall and pass out candy to people instead. He wanted to tell people about the only satisfying love there is: Jesus’ love.
On a high from my previous day’s evangelism experience, I walked around the mall with Jonathan and Mack, passing out candies and talking to people about how Jesus’ love has changed our lives. The only reason we are able to love people like we do is because Jesus loved us first.
Many people were encouraged by what we had to say. One vendor in the mall knew nothing about Jesus or the church. She had no beliefs, but she was very interested in hearing about our faith. After going through the Gospel, she asked us to come back in a couple days so that we could speak more with her, and that is what we intend to do.
So I’m on the World Race, learning a whole lot of things in ministry: evangelism, preaching, interceding, and much more. Almost everyday, I do something that I never would have ever imagined myself doing. Fear used to consume my abilities to say yes to the Lord. Well not anymore. Now I walk with influence, something my name has a lot of.
