For many world racers, really just for people in general, the word EVANGELISM has a negative connotation behind it. Many people believe that it is forcing religion on people more specifically forcing your own religion on people.
I used to think that way…
(I thought that way for most of my race, which is sad because one of the main reasons I came on the race is to tell people about Jesus.)
I would like to tell you a story from yesterday that changed my entire thought process about ‘that’ word.
My team including Ben Treadwell, our squad leader, had the opportunity to visit a village 20 minutes from our house. It is in the middle of the jungle and absolutely gorgeous. We walked past many small bamboo houses. With mud on our shoes, we walked to one of the front doors. Come to find out later… we had just walked up to the head chiefs house. (filipino people live in tribes.) He told us through a translator that he loved The Lord but could not afford to go to church. With having 6 kids, he worked 7 days a week to make ends meet. We looked at each other and smiled after hearing he had 6 children because it was so different coming from China, where it is illegal to have more than one child unless you pay. He went on to tell us that having a Duggar size family was normal. We were shocked but laughed. We ended with prayer and continued to the next house.
We walked in and immediately I was aware that the house could fall through – only half the team could safely go in. It looked identically to the first house but older and it housed more people. Even though I was distracted for a few seconds, I looked up and met three Filipino women carrying babies. These women were gorgeous…. Most filipinos are! We sat kinda of awkwardly for a moment until one of teammates shared an encouraging verse. We then asked if they had any prayer requests. It took a moment but the older mom looked up and, through a translator, shared with us that she would like us to pray that their faith would continue to grow, that their husbands would turn to Christ, and for the health of their family.
This blew me away…. They asked for nothing materialistic.
Every other evangelistic type work I have done, people always asked for more money, nicer house, or even something has necessary as food.
These women knew that they had everything they need already because they have Christ.They have 9 people living in a house that is big enough for maybe 3- but they GET IT. They do not have clean water to drink or bathe in but they GET IT. I could keep going but the main point is that….
They get what it means to fully be content in Christ.
Earlier that morning before we went to the village, God gave me a verse.
Philippians 4:11-13 – I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives my strength.
I could not fully grasp the idea of those words, but I wanted too. I shared the verse to the chief in the first house and still yearned to understand this simple verse more. Yesterday, God gave me an example, a real life story, to allow me to hone in what He wants me to understand – Contentment in Him.
Later as my team kept going through houses, I fell in love with all the children outside. I talked with an intoxicated man trying to explain to me the meaning of the Muslim faith. I took pictures of the village and enjoyed being content in a situation, where I could of easily chosen not to be.
Evangelism… Yes. It is about sharing your faith (not forcefully) to people, who know Christ or do not know Him. It is about loving on the people you meet- to allow them to see a glimpse of God, the Creator! It is also a chance to allow The Big Guy to teach you something and change your heart forever.
For those of you on my squad… This is the time to start singing the E-VANG- A-LISM song!
Pictures for this blog will be posted when the internet decides to load them!
Stay Tuned- blog about Cheena coming soon!
