Woah! Yesterday was quite a day, God showed up in amazing ways! I have devoted Fridays to blogging, but this couldn't wait. I know this is a long post, but please read it all the way through and praise God!
Every Sunday there's this amazing group of Christians who hand out free food to the homeless downtown (If you are in Madison and would like to check it out, please let me know!). I've been trying to go every Sunday this semester. I'm not very bold, but usually I'll chat with a few people. Yesterday I had the opportunity to have several good conversations with people I met, most who I had never seen before (it's so cool to see this ministry grow!). I was feeling pretty satisfied with how the afternoon had gone. I was talking to my friend Annie, just waiting for our friend Jay to finish his conversation so we could head out. We decided to join their conversation when a couple friends stopped by on their walk.
The man that Jay was talking to is named David. He just poured his heart out to us. It broke my heart to see the pain in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He has been wronged by so many in very hurtful ways. Annie asked if he knew Jesus. David said yes, but it was clear he didn't truly understand grace. He said he had turned his back on God and that now God was punishing him. We told him that was not true. Annie asked if we could pray for him and then get him a place to stay for the night. We all held hands with David kneeling on the ground. After Annie prayed, David prayed as well, crying out to God and repenting.
Annie, Jay, and I drove David to get a phone charger and to get him a room in a hotel. David was so grateful and Annie gave all the glory to God. Whenever he made a comment about her kindness or generosity, she made it clear that it was not her, but the Holy Spirit inside her and the money was not hers, but God's. Finally, we took him to McDonald's so he could eat dinner before going back to his hotel room. We talked in the car for quite awhile. We shared words of encouragement and hugs. David prayed again. We didn't have a Bible to give him, but Annie had a bunch of notecards that she had written scripture on, which she gave him. Before David got out of the car, "You Never Let Go" (check out the video below) came on the radio so we cranked it up and meditated on the words. Jay and David exchanged numbers, so hopefully we can keep in contact with him and get him a Bible.
Please be praying for David, that he would find his fulfillment in Christ. In the past, he has used alcohol to try to numb the pain, but only Jesus can heal him. Pray that he would come to realize this truth and that he would pursue Christ. Pray also that he would find a job. He doesn't want to rely on handouts, he wants respect and he wants a job. Pray that by having a new security in Christ and leaving his sin behind, that he would be able to get back on his feet.
David got me thinking. I don't do this enough. I don't boldly proclaim the Gospel or share Christ's love through my actions often enough. Even with David, I let Annie do all the talking, which is totally fine because she was communicating a lot more beautifully than I could. But really, if I believe that the Gospel is the only thing that matters, why don't I live it out? This is what I'll be doing on the World Race, but why am I waiting until July to do it??? God wants to use us wherever we are at. I can share Christ's love here in Madison, right now. David has got me pumped. Please be praying for me as I take on this new mission to love and live radically in Madison. Pray that I would be bold and that I would feel those little nudges from the Spirit telling me to do or say something. Pray that God would be glorified.
Back to the World Race. Robert, a missionary friend told my pastor that by going overseas to be a missionary, he was not immediately transfortmed into this super-spiritual person; he was the same Robert. He still dealt with the same struggles to boldly share the Gospel and love others. This has especially got me motivated to live out my faith in Madison. If I can't do it here, how am I going to do it in Romania, Uganda, India, Vietnam…? I do not want to waste precious time on the Race to grow enough to be able to share the Gospel boldly. We only have a month in each country. Please be praying for me that God would prepare my heart for the Race over the next few months. Pray that I would not waste my time and opportunities in Madison.
Another huge praise from yesterday! Three Chinese students, who had all placed their faith in Christ over this past year, were baptized at my church! WHOOOO! God is so good. Praise God for our new brothers and sister and please be praying for them as they grow in their faith and talk to friends and family.
