There are a lot of firsts for me this month. Two of which are street evangelism and house visits, neither of which I have any experience.
Street Evangelism
As an extrovert, I have no problem going up to someone I don’t know and having a conversation with them, even explaining why we are here… that I’m here on mission. I ask if they would like me to pray for them. It’s when they decline or refuse prayer that ultimately breaks my heart and discourages me.
One gentleman had a conversation with me and said he was a christian, but when asked, said he didn’t go to church. He even went on to tell me that the church had a problem. When my teammates and I asked him to elaborate, he said that “this was a poor country, and churches were being built, but why weren’t hospitals?” He saw the church as a business, corrupt in all its practices. I get it, if the church is here to help the sick, why does it seem they take away facilities for the sick.
The young man even went on to say that “not all church people are bad,” he “knew a good priest,” he said. I didn’t want to be confrontational; however, when I look back, I wish I would have been more bold. I would have explained that’s why we need Jesus! I wish I would have said that since corruption is all around, it’s even more reason why we need Jesus. To have a relationship with Him is ultimately all we need.
I invited him to an event we were having and ended it there. He wasn’t interested in prayer requests for me to pray for him later. Hopefully he attends the event.
House visits
Another first for me, going to make a few house visits to people. One family we met had a four year old daughter, mother, and grandmother. Casual conversation naturally arises.
Okay, now how do we transition the conversation to Jesus?
My teammate takes the lead, his spiritual gift of Evangelism radiating through his being. I sit and listen as English is being translated to Romanian. It’s wonderful to be a part of this experience and gain wisdom, learning how to share the Gospel in a way that the Orthodox Christians can recognize- that Jesus is not just a tradition, but is the WAY of life. To have a relationship with Him is paramount. I felt so encouraged as the mother listened and then went on to pray for Jesus to be a part of her life.
When she was asked if she felt something during the prayer, she said “Yes.” She said YES folks! My insides felt like a little ball was bouncing around and couldn’t get out because I was so excited.
The next house we went to, the parents were both saved, but suffered from different illnesses. We were able to hear their testimonies and discuss more about what they were going through. As time went on we started to pray for them. My teammate began to pray for the man to be healed from the effects of strokes he previously had. He kept praying.
As this was happening, I could feel in my spirit that I needed to step out and pray boldly for healing as well. My heart began to race as I knew I was about to say something and pray out loud. Then it happened. I prayed for the man to be healed, for his arm to be restored, for his speech to return; and then prayed for his wife to be healed from her disease and pain.
Nothing happened in that moment.
I do not know what became of these wonderful people. I do not know if they were healed. But I do know I was obedient and prayed boldly.
On another house visit, I led the conversation. I began to share my testimony of how Jesus has shown up in my life. Somewhere along the conversation, I realized my heart wasn’t racing.
I wasn’t nervous!
I was simply speaking to a family about my relationship with Him and how it has grown in trust and faith. Nothing crazy happened, but I felt like a breakthrough of boldness and courage came from this simple encounter. We plan to go back and chat with the family again, in the hopes of seeing them come to Christ.
Pray for boldness and discernment in how to share the Gospel
Pray for those saved to seek Jesus’ face and His Word
Pray for those sick to be healed and the pain to go away
