This month we are partnered with Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Botswana. Our schedule consists of evangelism on campus 11am-2pm Monday through Friday; Bible studies Wednesday and Friday evenings, and Cru meetings on Thursday evenings. The guys on my team have also taken the opportunity of being on a campus by playing pick up basketball games a few evenings during the week.
It really has been fun being back on a campus and around people our age. The evangelism we do on campus has allowed us to meet a lot of awesome people with stories and insight into the culture of Botswana. As uncomfortable as it is to walk up to a stranger and start a conversation, I have usually walked away grateful for time spent with them.
This past Cru meeting on Thursday evening they decided to have us all evangelize together, specifically focused on one of the guy’s dorms. I instantly felt intimidated by this idea. Most of the month I have focused on building relationships with the girls on the campus, and was not sure how I felt about walking into an all guys living space.
We paired up and my friend Dorcus and I took the second floor. We knocked on several doors and had a few short conversations with some guys, inviting them to the Cru meetings. I felt uncomfortable most of the time as some of the guys laughed and spoke in their native language.
Halfway through our time I was reminded of the blog I recently wrote where I was sharing about the importance of leaning into uncomfortable situations. I have found that the race has pushed me out of my comfort zone more often than not, and it has really motivated me to seek Jesus in those times.
“Okay Jesus, I am uncomfortable, but I trust that you will use this time to bring glory to your name. “ After this, we entered into a deeper conversation about faith with a group of four guys. Three were believers, but the fourth claimed to believe in science. He asked a lot of questions that were hard to answer, and I felt ill prepared. “Okay Jesus, where are you?”
The last door we knocked on a shirtless guy answered. “Oh boy, this should be interesting.” He invited us in and reluctantly I followed Dorcus inside. We sat down, explained who we were and why we were here. He said he was a Christian and appeared a little interested in Cru. Dorcus asked him what being a Christian meant to him, and he said he was a Christian because he goes to church from time to time.
This opened up the door for us to talk about having a relationship with Jesus. I asked him if he ever made that decision to follow Jesus and accept him in his heart, and he said, “not yet.” Wow. I had to sit and reflect on this response.
How many people are just like our shirtless friend? They know the truth, they go to church, and maybe they even pray from time to time. They understand that the decision to follow Christ is important, but they cling to the “just not yet.” What is keeping them from surrendering and finally committing? Fear? Doubt? Security in their old ways? Sin?
In this case, all that our new friend needed was an invitation. We explained what a relationship with Jesus looked like in our own lives, and how simple it was to have it. We invited him to make that next step in his faith and he said yes. Dorcus led him through a prayer, and we got all his information so we can partner him up with a guy in Cru to disciple him.
I think what I learned from this Thursday night is that Jesus can use us in our discomfort, our inadequacy, and our reluctance. We just need to trust him, and say yes to walking through the door; you never know what is on the other side.
