Six month debrief is over. Our alumni squad leaders have left us to continue our journey. The main focus of this debrief was reflecting on the last six months and teaching on what “ministry is life; life is ministry” means. Ultimately, “ministry” doesn’t always look like working at orphanages, building buildings, or speaking in churches. But sometimes ministry looks like getting groceries for our team, buying tickets for travel, going to coffee shops or restaurants, going on hikes or just talking to people on the streets. But we all know that unbelievers can do all these things. So the question of the day… What makes a Christian (Yes I mean you too, not just missionaries) different than an unbeliever? What makes ministry is life; Life is ministry?
Doing all things for the Glory of the Lord. Listening to Holy Spirit and doing all things he asks us to do. Whether that is encouraging a brother or talking to a stranger or providing for someone in need. Doing all things to show the love of the Father. To tell the gospel to all we meet. To just go out on the streets to meet people…. I will let you all answer this more if you wish to comment. Now for couple testimonies…
The time was during my last team (Team 43:19 Alexandria, Joshua, Vanessa, Forrest, Jackie). The place, Split Croatia, a city that was built 1700 years ago. The old town has a palace at the center built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. One afternoon I decide to go for a walk to through this old town. I was walking, imagining the millions of people that walked the smooth streets since it was built. Thinking about the different stories, different struggles, different successes. I met a woman, N, who was handing out walking tour fliers. We had a good conversation about what I was doing there and about her life. I told her about World Race and what my team was doing there in Croatia. She told me a little bit of her testimony. She wasn’t a believer but was searching. Not to take up more time while she was working. I asked one simple question, “Can I pray for you?”
She opened up a bit more and I offered to pray for her right there but because she was on the job she didn’t want to get in trouble so I told her I will pray for her when I get back with my team. I took down her email and gave her mine and said I will come say hi again to show her that she isn’t forgotten. When I got back to the team we all prayed for her.
The next day I drew a picture of a dove and tried writing something in Croatian. I was about God’s peace and Joy over her and your value in his Love. Joshua and I went to go see her after devotions in the morning. I gave her the picture and spoke a little more into her life but we had to keep it short so she didn’t get in trouble at work.
For the next few weeks Joshua and I continued to pray for her. And I was in communication with her through WhatsApp. I would speak to her value in God and told her the gospel. The team would encourage or tell me ways to respond to her. I told her a story of the prodigal son and the full gospel of Jesus and why we need him in our life. I encouraged her to get connected to a church and that she would find her value in God, not other people. I have remained in contact with her occasionally since we left Croatia and continue praying for her.
I ask that you also pray for her. That she knows and walks in her value in Christ and that she knows him.
There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ Luke 15:11-32
So Final question for you. What is stopping you from living ministry back home? What is stopping you from asking simple questions to strangers and friends like How can I pray for you? How are you? Do you know Jesus?… A simple question to show the person that they are valuable and they are thought about and not forgotten. That God loves them.
