I love music festivals—where you can hear the sounds of fiddles and mandolins at every stage, the smell of kettle corn fills the air, a caller is giving directions for the contra dance, and I’m surrounded by silver-haired individuals.
But aside from old-time music festivals, I’m not much of a music festival-goer.
Before a few weekends ago, I’d never been to a mainstream music festival.
I’d also never been a Red Frog.
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Red Frogs is a nationally-recognized, highly-esteemed, Australian organization that is dedicated to “supporting, serving, and safeguarding young people.” In existence since 1997, this organization’s mission is “… to provide a positive peer presence to young people. [They’re] in the business of changing culture.” They fulfill this mission by attending schoolies (Australian, post-high school graduation parties that last for a week at a time), university events, music festivals, and other events in which drugs and alcohol will be present, where they work to care for the people in attendance.
While they are not an outwardly evangelistic organization (for example, they wouldn’t walk up to someone and say, “Hey, do you know Jesus?”), Red Frogs is an openly Christian organization. While Red Frogs is primarily known for bringing Light to dark places through more actions and fewer words, volunteers are welcome to talk about their faith if/when an opportunity presents itself.
While in Australia, my World Race squad became Red Frogs. We received training, and then we loaded up in vans to head to a local music festival.
It was a hard day.
Spending eleven hours in the heat of Australia was exhausting, but that’s not what made the day hard.
This day was hard because my heart was breaking for the individuals my squadmates and I met–the girl crying on a Red Frog’s shoulder about how worthless she feels, the people keeled over, vomiting, the table full of people denied access to the festival for a variety of reasons, the teenagers prancing around in almost no clothing with drunken adults all around, waiting for an ambulance with a 21-year-old girl who had far too much to drink, watching couples leave the festival, wondering if everyone would have a safe night, etc.
It was hard to witness because my squadmates and I know that there is so much more to life, but you know what wasn’t hard? Showering them with the love, compassion, and joy of Jesus. Bringing them water when they needed it. Being a listening ear, as they cried. Doing our best to ensure they were safe.
Of all of the encounters I had with people, there is one that keeps coming back to my mind.
While waiting for my partner (Red Frogs travel in pairs) to get out of the port-a-potty (or the “port-a-loo” if I want to use the Aussie term for it), a lady that was in line turned to me and said, “Is the organization you’re with Christian?”
I replied, “Yes, it is.”
She responded, “Don’t you think that makes it difficult for others [non-Christians] to receive help from you?”
Though I understand what she was implying, I was taken aback by her response, as it’s very important to me to love and serve all people.
We went on to have a productive dialogue about Christians serving others, but the comment she made as she headed off to the port-a-potty hurt my heart: “Oh, I’ll receive help from you. But I’m the mother of a disabled child; I have more to worry about than my afterlife.”
I stood there in shock, as she walked off toward the port-a-potty. We had actually never talked about the Christian belief system in our conversation, so her final comment caught me off-guard.
As soon as she said it, I wished we had more time to talk.
Knowing Jesus is about an everlasting afterlife, but it’s not solely about the afterlife.
Knowing Jesus is about living an abundant life NOW.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
He’s not just the Way to Heaven; He’s the Way to living a life full of joy and peace and love and goodness on earth.
Jesus is often so misrepresented by humans. I’m sure that there were events and conversations with other people that led this woman to the conclusion she has about Jesus and Christianity, and I just wish I’d had the chance to apologize to her for all of those moments in which broken people muddied the name of a perfect Savior.
If you are like this woman, and you have made a conclusion about Jesus based on other humans or a particular church or something you read on social media or any other way that you’ve heard about Jesus, please give Him another chance.
If you give Him a bit of your time, He’ll show up and surprise you in big ways.
I want YOU to experience the beauty of an abundant life with Jesus. He is SO good.
As always, thank you for being a part of this journey.
XO,
Jami
P.S. My squad and I have spent the past week-and-a-half in Bali, Indonesia, for our first debrief and our final squad training. I now have so many things to share with you from Indonesia, yet, here I am, still trying to share stories from Australia. This may be a year of playing catch-up, but bare with me–I want to share this journey with you, and I have limited time and wifi. Love you all!
