I was given this key at launch. To be honest, the verse didn’t mean much. I was kind of annoyed because it seemed cliche and I wanted something that just really spoke volumes to my personal life and walk with the Lord.
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is Gods power for salvation to everyone who believes.”
I asked the Lord about it a lot. I knew this verse was spoken over me so it must mean something. The first day of ministry I met this 12 year old girl who I taught English to. before I even heard her story, Jesus put her on my heart as the recipient of my key.
She is sweet and kind and has a love that shines bright. She began to tell me bits and pieces of her home life. Her family is Buddhist. She however has chosen a life in freedom by following Jesus; separate from what her family believes. Every time I’ve gotten the chance to sit and talk with her before a class started, I did. We talked about all our favorite things and also our Father. She shared about all the persecution she has faced, being the only Christian out of her family and friends and living in a predominately Buddhist culture.
She said, “my friends think I am crazy, but that’s okay because I still love my God”.
She also shared how people have called her ugly and fat but she knows the truth because her identity lies in the Lord- she is so uniquely beautiful.
Last week, she hopped on the back of my bike and we rode around for a while. She was so excited to tell me that she was going to get baptized this weekend. I was overjoyed for her. I had completely forgotten about the key but God reminded me. A few days later, I received some terrible news. Due to her home life and family situations, she would have to be placed in an orphanage meaning she might not be able to come to the learning center anymore. It broke my heart because no kid deserves to go through what so many do.
I sat down the other day to process if the key was meant for her; it had to mean something for me first. I thought that for my whole life I had been walking unashamed in the gospel. But there have been so many times where I have stepped back in fear, even in the little things. If I’m not with a group of Christian friends, I’ll just stop talking about God all together and just avoid bringing it up rather than being a light and showing love or sharing the good news. There have been so many times where I’ve had the opportunity to step out in boldness and share Jesus with even strangers and haven’t. I’d like to think I am unashamed of the gospel and who I’ve found my life in, but if I truly was I would be sharing that good news and love with everyone. I wouldn’t let fear overrule anything that God told me to do. He placed her in my path to show me what it looks like to live unashamed for the gospel. There hasn’t been a time where I’ve talked to her where she hasn’t mentioned how good the Lord is. She’s constantly giving Him glory for all He’s done in her life. And she lives in a culture where Christians are more frequently persecuted yet she is standing firm in the truth. I live in a culture where Christianity is widely accepted yet I have not been using that blessing to really share anything with people. The mission field is my backyard!!! People are everyone who need to know that they are a son or a daughter and that they are so loved! But if we continue to walk in shame and fear then how will they ever know.
And it starts with the small- just sharing how good God is, like she does with me. And then maybe it could be the start of wondering and curiousity and eventually a new life!
On Friday, I approached her with a card and the key. I wrote to her the impact she has made in my life just by inviting me in. For now, I am not sure what the future holds for her. Whether she continues to come to the learning center or if Friday was her last day, I can rest in knowing that the Lord’s got her. And thankfully she knows that too. His plans are greater than what we can imagine. Please pray for my friend. That this will be a time of trust and clarity and that she will have peace in this potentially difficult season.
I love how I thought I was the teacher, but the 12 year old student has been teaching me.
