Something World Race asks racers to do for ministry is ATL, or ask the Lord. We were introduced and taught more about ATL during one of our teaching sessions, then had the chance to go out into the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia and apply everything we learned out in the real world. Usually the point of ATL is to share the gospel with those that have never heard it before, and ideally plant or harvest these spiritual seeds.
Before heading out into the city, my team and I prayed and asked God to reveal pictures or words about where to go and what to do. Some of the things we saw were pink and orange flowers, a bright green shirt, police officers, and unlocked gates. At first, we weren’t really feeling confident in where we were going, just seeming to aimlessly walk the streets of the city.
Turns out it wasn’t aimless walking at all once we passed a street filled with police officers and spotted large open gates leading into a Buddhist temple. One of my teammates, Bella, urged us to go inside and pray. We walked through to a fountain and prayed, bringing some Jesus into a place that had almost none. As we were walking through, a man caught the eye of two of my teammates and they felt led to sit down and talk to him. This man, named Jeffery, ended up being a Jewish accountant from New York who frequently takes 1-3 month trips to Asia. My two teammates got to talk with him, here some of his story, share what we’re doing and why, and pray over him.
While they were talking with Jeffery, myself and my other teammate, Nattalie, started walking around to another part of the temple to pray for Bella and Clare during their conversation. Towards the back, we found pink and orange flowers, something that Bella had seen while praying post-ATL, so we followed them. They led us to a younger Cambodian man sitting alone on some steps reading an English study book. I felt a strong urge to sit down next to him, so we walked over and introduced ourselves. He was very friendly and very interested as to why two American girls were in a Buddhist temple in the middle of Cambodia. Very soon after sitting down, his friend, Makara, came over. This younger man spoke English almost fluently and was even more interested in who we were and why we were here. I explained to him that we are Christian missionaries from America traveling around the world serving and helping people. He was enticed immediately.
I felt so clearly that he was my one that God had led me to in order to share his word. Sticking to this feeling, I asked if he knew anything about Christianity. He said no, to which I responded with asking if he wanted to learn about Christianity. He excitedly answered yes (thank you, Jesus). I then went through the entire gospel with him. From the creation of the world, to Adam and Eve, to the fall of man, to Jesus’ life, the crucifixion, resurrection, what we are supposed to be doing now and why giving your life to God is so sweet. Through my entire 25-minute explanation he was completely and totally engaged, stopping to ask questions like, “So, they killed Jesus because they hated him?”. This man understood. By the grace of God, he was getting it.
The very last thing he said to us was that he was going to start going to a Christian church nearby because he wants to learn more about God. I have never truly evangelized and told someone about the Lord for the very first time, but this was such a clear proclamation from God to trust Him. Trust that I do hear Him and trust that He really has given me the authority to tell His good news to others. That we are intended to boldly proclaim His word so that good fruit may be produced. What a sweet moment it was to open the door for this man to potentially receive the gifts the Lord has promised to us if we choose to follow Him.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” – Romans 1:16
