This is part 2 of a blog. Read part 1 here.
So last time we were left with the question: “How do you minister to people who hate the cross and think it’s evil?”
My answer: You SHOW them God’s love. The cross is love. It’s all at once a symbol of love and love in its highest form. People can dislike the picture associated with the cross, but they can never reject its message and its promise: that God loves us more than we can ever know and He wants to bring us into an abundant life with Himself (John 3:16).
Christianity is about being loved by God and then showing that love to others. If people can understand this, then that’s how past hurts and hate become healed. No matter how much bad they’ve seen or how many times they’ve been hurt, God’s love can fix it. The people of Kosovo can have the ability to accept Jesus and Christianity if they accept love. So if we want them to accept Christ, it’s our job to show them this love.
In John 13:34-35 Jesus says:
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Jesus is telling us plain and simple: people watch everything we do as believers and they are looking for a difference between the world and Christians—that difference is love.
Here in Gjilan, Kosovo, we have unified with the local believers to flood the people here with the love of God. We try to love each other and the youth well. We try to intentionally show them the joy we have because we serve Jesus. We hope that by interacting with them on a regular basis, they will be drawn to our light, grow curious, and want to know more about Jesus (Matthew 5:16).
Our love ministry this month has included hosting kid’s camp for children aged 8-14. We play games and sports with them and build friendships.
We have also directly shared Jesus with them through Sunday-school type sessions for younger children and youth group type gatherings for teens.
It’s been a blessing to see children volunteer to pray and sing worship songs. Last Saturday, one boy even asked to share the gospel with the other kids! Hallelujah!
With small gestures and events like this, seeds of our love for them and God’s love for everyone are being planted. Whether they accept Christ tomorrow or not, those seeds will forever remain and God is so great that He can cause fruit to spring forward next week, next month, or even years from now. His love is touching lives, leaving imprints, and overcoming negative images and ideas that people have about what it means to be a Christian or accept the cross.
God’s love is healing the land of Kosovo and it’s only a matter of time before the people welcome it with open arms.
