House to house evangelism has been a new m.o. for me. On our first day it felt like I was getting thrown a finals exam from the School of Evangelism. Upon the first day I realized there was a lot for me to learn and a lot for me ‘get the swing of.’ Since last week I’ve been picking up tips from witnessing how my teammates approached those we met and watched how people responded by the way I said different things. Recently, I’ve been reading the book of Daniel. It’s from his will to follow what God instructs of him that leads him to the den of lions. And same for Meshack, shadrack and abendego; they love God, devote worship to him and then they are punished. Only these men are all protected because God is bigger than the laws and decrees that were trying to restrict the men’s actions to show love to God.
So with this in mind, I felt renewed with a desire to go house-to-house with a way of loving people the way God has taught me. To drop expectations I have felt and rid myself of the pressure I have given myself of putting on some type of show.
On Tuesday we headed to the neighborhood around our home. It started off usual, except this time when I saw children I went to them and asked the translators to say the stories I was going to share. After seeing me act out and tell the children’s stories the adults around laughed, but I continued and sang and danced to ‘Father Abraham.’ (If you want to try to picture this, think: dirt streets, clothes hanging on the line from house to house, 7 African children wearing American clothes that went out of style 6 yrs ago, 4 adults sitting enjoying their afternoon, and two embarrassed to be seen with the white girl with a smile and God’s mercy from her silliness) No matter the looks, it was fun, and letting loose to minister to the children was what the moment called for. I didn’t try to be anything, or do anything special just do what I knew I could to show God’s love. And in return, I was filled with excitement and joy from the children’s laughter.
And we continued. Chase in deep conversation with two other men, I went with two translators onto two teenagers. They were sitting on a bench, looking like they were waiting for the day to just pass on by. They laughed us off and as we turned around to keep walking to meet others two other teenagers walked up. They immediately asked to be prayed for that Jesus would help them get rid of their addiction to alcohol. I was first of all shocked and then excited. My first reaction would have been, ok I’ll pray for you, thinking they were making fun of what we were doing. But instead, I turned to them and followed what I felt would be the most loving thing to say and said “the first thing is, they had to give up their alcohol to the other guys.” So they did just like that, they were obedient and ready to listen a lot more so than I was willing to give them credit. So then we began to ask about their lives about how they had been drinking for ten years, only having had been 26 yrs old. And as I spoke to them I was filled with excitement and encouragement in how eager they were to hear more and know the things I was saying. And then in a few brief moments they asked to confess Jesus as their Savior. I don’t know where these two young men are tonight. I don’t know where they went to after we prayed. I do know how incredibly encouraged you can be when you are willing to act a little foolish or ask people to do things that seem courageous. From acting from my conviction of Daniel’s example I got to witness children’s laughter and I got to witness seeing two young men take a step towards living a life hanging on the strength of Christ.
Please join me and my teammates in praying over those we meet this month, and the conversations we have to be focused on the Word and the plan God has for them. I’m going to continue working on this new m.o. and hopefully act out from God’s voice rather than the expectations I have out on myself about house-to-house ministry.
Thanks for reading and joining me in celebrating the way God’s moving!
