It’s only been two weeks on
the Race, and our previous travel plans are already being tossed out
the window. On September 1, a week from today, K Squad is heading
back to Dublin to catch a plane to Romania. No change there. But
we’re not staying there. Because of the number of squads out on the
field right now, all of which were supposed to be in Romania in
September, there aren’t enough ministry opportunities right now for
all of us to serve in that country. So instead of spending the month
in Romania, we’re spending the month somewhere else! We’re not sure
where yet, but Moldova and Prague have both been thrown out as
possibilities.
the Race, and our previous travel plans are already being tossed out
the window. On September 1, a week from today, K Squad is heading
back to Dublin to catch a plane to Romania. No change there. But
we’re not staying there. Because of the number of squads out on the
field right now, all of which were supposed to be in Romania in
September, there aren’t enough ministry opportunities right now for
all of us to serve in that country. So instead of spending the month
in Romania, we’re spending the month somewhere else! We’re not sure
where yet, but Moldova and Prague have both been thrown out as
possibilities.
On Friday afternoon, all
four teams met at the Vineyard for instructions on our ministries.
Half of us were planning on participating in a street litter pickup,
and the other half were going to be performing acts of street
ministry. My team was excited to be picking up litter. I don’t want
to speak for everyone else, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say
that none of us are really comfortable with street ministry. When we
arrived at the church, Sydney started giving us instructions on how
the church does their street ministry. When I realized that she had
yet to mention the litter cleanup, I started to get nervous. When
she finished and asked if there were any questions, Tim echoed my
concern. Sydney’s reply: “Yeah…there’s a good number of you
here, so I don’t think we’ll be doing the litter pickup today.”
four teams met at the Vineyard for instructions on our ministries.
Half of us were planning on participating in a street litter pickup,
and the other half were going to be performing acts of street
ministry. My team was excited to be picking up litter. I don’t want
to speak for everyone else, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say
that none of us are really comfortable with street ministry. When we
arrived at the church, Sydney started giving us instructions on how
the church does their street ministry. When I realized that she had
yet to mention the litter cleanup, I started to get nervous. When
she finished and asked if there were any questions, Tim echoed my
concern. Sydney’s reply: “Yeah…there’s a good number of you
here, so I don’t think we’ll be doing the litter pickup today.”
Oh dear.
The term street evangelism
terrifies me. I had an extremely negative experience with street
preachers in college, so I was not at all excited about this new
revelation that all of us would be participating. Tim grabbed a box
of lollipops (lollies, as they’re known by the Brits), and Sydney
told us that we would be walking through the streets asking passersby
if they’d like one. That’s all. If they asked why, we’d say
something about how we were from the Vineyard and were just trying to
make their day a little brighter by showing them that God loves them.
terrifies me. I had an extremely negative experience with street
preachers in college, so I was not at all excited about this new
revelation that all of us would be participating. Tim grabbed a box
of lollipops (lollies, as they’re known by the Brits), and Sydney
told us that we would be walking through the streets asking passersby
if they’d like one. That’s all. If they asked why, we’d say
something about how we were from the Vineyard and were just trying to
make their day a little brighter by showing them that God loves them.
Trekking down the main street. Eep.
Tim, Danielle, and I headed
down the street, lollies in pockets and hands. Danielle wasted no
time. She walked up to every family, every senior citizen, every
teenager, everything on two legs that she saw, and asked them if they
wanted a free lolly. Almost everyone she asked said yes. She handed
them out, and walked on with a smile and a “Have a good day!”
She made it look easy enough. If she could do it, and make other
people smile while doing it, I could do it, right?
down the street, lollies in pockets and hands. Danielle wasted no
time. She walked up to every family, every senior citizen, every
teenager, everything on two legs that she saw, and asked them if they
wanted a free lolly. Almost everyone she asked said yes. She handed
them out, and walked on with a smile and a “Have a good day!”
She made it look easy enough. If she could do it, and make other
people smile while doing it, I could do it, right?
Lolly toss in one of the more run-down neighborhoods. How jolly.
So I guess that’s what street
evangelism should be. It’s not messages of condemnation shouted from a
street corner. It’s not words of hate on a sign. It’s love. If
there is no love, it’s not evangelism. All those I have encountered
in the past are not messengers of God. Those protestors I saw three
years ago were not speaking in accordance with the message of Jesus.
They were not Christians.
evangelism should be. It’s not messages of condemnation shouted from a
street corner. It’s not words of hate on a sign. It’s love. If
there is no love, it’s not evangelism. All those I have encountered
in the past are not messengers of God. Those protestors I saw three
years ago were not speaking in accordance with the message of Jesus.
They were not Christians.
If love is absent, so is
God. Where there is love, there is God. I’ve got a lot to learn.
God. Where there is love, there is God. I’ve got a lot to learn.
