If you go to church in America and the pastor is preaching about saving souls or about spreading the word 9 times out of 10 he will challenge you to step out and take that risk. To talk to the person who looks unapproachable or to pray for that drunk homeless man. To be BOLD.
In Voru Estonia it’s not all about being bold persay. It’s not about standing on “the soap box” and proclaiming the gospel to a huge crowd but it is very much about showing Jesus in your actions in the small shuttle ways.
The people here in Estonia have been deeply hurt and are very closed off. Its a combination of family issues and the country’s oppression from communism and the soviet union. You walk down the street and say hello or “tere” to 10 people you might have one person say hi back. If your trying to carry on a conversation with a stranger the most common response you get back is “I don’t know” or “maybe”. The atmosphere here is anything but joyous. Alcohol is a huge struggle. 13 year olds who already are alcoholics simply because thats what they have seen in their families. Suicide is very high here, we were told that April is the month that most people in Vour take their life.
Less than 1% of people in Voru claim Christianity.
The last thing they want to do is go to church or be preached to. The pastors and missionaries here have been building relationships with the same people for almost 2 years and have just recently seen these people come to know Jesus. Two years of constant pouring into, praying for, loving on and to finally see that 1 or 2 people become believers.
In Galations 6:1 it says ” if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path..”
The pastors here knew they had to gently and patiently display Jesus.
But How do I gently show Jesus? Especially in such a short period of time? How do I carry on a conversation with someone and not bring up my beloved?
The Lord has showed me this month that’s it’s about changing the atmosphere. That through the holy spirit my team and I can set the tone when we walk into the room. That the love jesus has for these people can be shown in a smile, or can be displayed through helping the lady in the line behind you bag her groceries.
We have done that and the people here are genuinely shocked! We handed an elderly Lady a shopping basket and she stood there staring at us. She was so moved she came back just to shake our hand and say thank you.
The little acts of kindness that we often times forget to do or take for granted back home. The little considerations that can change the mind of a person who was going home to drink or take their own life.
Let love shine today, make someone smile and let them know someone cares.
