This month Adventures in Missions is honoring Christian men. I have heard some really awesome stories about World Racers on the field, people’s fathers and brothers, and missionaries. There are many Christian men who are doing amazing things for God, but I would like to take a few minutes and honor a few amazing men in my life.
These men aren’t pastors; they’re not missionaries; they’re in a sense just ordinary people. But they live their lives as if the grocery store, the gym, their office, their school, and their neighborhoods are their mission field. They try to be examples of God in the way they live their lives.
Today I’m going to introduce you to Andy Patton. He is 22 years old and is a student at Aurora University.
I asked Andy how he practices his faith in everyday life. He told me that “the most obvious way [he] practice[s his] faith in everyday life is by reading the Bible and spending time in prayer.” He believes that these two disciplines transform the rest of his behaviors. Andy believes that this is the most important way he practices his faith in everyday life because it helps mold his actions to fit into a Christ like manner.
But Andy doesn’t stop there. He says that when he “is doing it right, everything [he] do[es] in [his] everyday life is an expression of [his] faith. So all [his] choices indicate where [his] trust is and what God has called [him] to do.” Andy expresses his faith by making decisions that are God honoring and therefore reveal where he places his trust and what it is God has called him to do. These can be big decisions, like what seminary to go to (by the way he is going to DTS :). But it also includes little decisions like being nice to people, working hard, being selfless, and respecting others. Make choices to do these things are how Andy practices his faith daily.
I go to school with Andy and I live with him (don’t freak out- he’s my brother) and I can see him doing this in everyday life. Andy makes the choice to be nice to people and to be there for people when he needs them. If you look at Meyer’s Briggs, he would say he’s a J (punctual) but the truth is he’s not because he would be late to anything if he was helping someone or listening to someone in need. He puts others first. Andy also works harder than he needs to. He’s one of those people who can effortlessly get A’s but he puts 100% of his effort into school. He also works his part time jobs as if he’s doing it for God – he paints and gives tours.
People take notice of these things. They see Andy’s work effort, his kindness, and his selflessness and see Jesus in him. The choices Andy makes and the way he chooses to live his life is an outward expression of his faith.
Andy is an everyday faith hero. He lives his life at school and at work in way that reveals who Jesus is to others and his faith in Him. I am so proud of Andy for expressing his faith in daily life.
