Matthew 9:9-12
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
For 10 days in Costa Rica, K-Squad was blessed to be discipled in the art of evangelism by a woman named Theresa, sent to us by AIM and the Lord. Before she arrived, I knew that I wanted to glean as much from this woman as I could. I have always had the desire to be an evangelist that walked in the authority of Jesus, and I knew walking with Theresa would help me do that.
So when she arrived, I was overjoyed, and the Lord was so faithful in giving me the desires of my heart. There was one morning in particular that really showed me what it meant to be an evangelist after Jesus’ heart, which is what I’d like to share here with you.
Jaco has been called the Sodom and Gomorrah of Costa Rica, primarily because of the presence of drugs, alcohol, and prostitution. We had many opportunities to pray for and evangelize to the working women of Jaco, which is where this story begins.
Both morning people, Theresa and I had decided to go out and evangelize to some of the women who were still out, coming off of a night of…whatever. At 6:30 am, we left the gate of our compound and made our way downtown, asking the Lord to provide someone to talk to, and swapping stories about previous evangelism experiences. We turned onto the main street, where there was a distinct lack of people, especially women. Not to be discouraged, we kept walking until we came upon three women on a bench across the street, still dressed in their ‘going-out’ garb and nursing supernaturally cold cans of beer.
Immediately, Theresa and I crossed the street and approached them, telling them who we were (missionaries) and what we wanted (to share stories). One of the women offered to translate for Theresa, and as I watched her speak Theresa’s words, I realized that God was wanting this to be her redemption story, as well. It was incredible, the things He was doing on this little bench outside a coffee shop.
That coffee shop opened as we sat and talked, and not long after, a very white, well-off, American family clothed in designer outdoor gear came to get their lattes before a day of ecotourism. I tell you the truth, I did not realize the weight of the above scripture until I saw myself through that family’s eyes. An American woman plopped among Ticas, involved in an earnest exchange while they continued to pull cans of beer from their handbags.
Who do they think they are? Why would those obviously reputable women sit with those who were obviously up to something mere hours ago?
As I imagined what could be running through their hearts, I realized what was running through mine. I was nervous about being seen with them, knowing it was right in God’s eyes, but not in the eyes of those who don’t know Him. But Jesus didn’t care who saw Him sitting with the disreputable, the sick, and the poor. He delighted in caring for their souls, disregarding those who condemned Him for it.
As we parted from our sisters, having shared Facebook info and hoping that we would meet again, the Lord showed me what it really meant to evangelize: to share His love with whoever, wherever, whenever – no matter who’s around.
