Evangelism.

What comes to mind when you see this word? A great calling? Something you’d never do? People holding signs and yelling from street corners? Fear? Excitement? A big sigh of apathy? If you said yes to any of those things, I’ve probably empathized at one time or another, but let me tell you that this week has really impacted my life and the way that evangelism can be part of it.

Our class this week started out with looking at what the Gospel actually is and how to share it, so that when people ask, we can tell them. Here’s the (basic) summary of what we talked about: God is/was/will be. He created man to know Him and glorify Him…this also means we are accountable to Him. God is also holy, and because of that holiness He cannot look on evil or tolerate wrong…it must be punished. We are created in His image but we are rebellious sinners (myself included) and the laws put in place reveal this. If we were set before a good judge here on earth, would he forgive us for everything we have done wrong just because? ….. If not even a good judge here would do that, should we believe that we can sin freely in the sight of a holy God? Thankfully He sent Jesus, His son, who as a sinless man & fully God would offer His life as a spotless sacrifice to cover the payment needed for the sins of the world. He brings salvation, justification, reconciliation, sanctification, glorification, adoption & regeneration for ALL of those who believe in Him, and trust in Him as their Savior so that when God looks at us, He sees now sees Christ and Christ’s sacrifice (not our own dirty, sinful lives)! Do you know this to be true? Do you want this? THIS is the God we serve!! Amen! ……okay, so back to the class. 😉

After a few days in class, we spent an entire morning in prayer and reading the Bible, asking God to give us a heart for those who don’t know Him. Then……we went out. We knocked on a door, and simply said…..”Hey, we are so and so, and want to know if there’s something we can pray with you about?” It was that simple. No big frills or songs or dances, no flannel-graph or powerpoint presentations, no megaphones or picket signs. It was just prayer. There were a few “no’s” or doors where no one was home, but there were a few doors that were opened more than I ever imagined.

One door we knocked on and a lady opened up about grief she was feeling, and a big burden she had to carry for a time. When I prayed for her, she began to cry and told us how touched she’d been that someone would pray. Another door we knocked on opened and we were invited in to pray with a little girl and her grandma. Then one more door we knocked on and a woman with two young kids came out, curiously wondering what we were on her step for, and when we asked if we could pray for her about anything she broke down in tears. After simply asking if we could pray, this woman opened up some very deep parts of her life to us, and kept saying….”it’s so funny that you came today, of all days, you came today, isn’t that funny? today.” We got to remind her right then that God was watching her and knew she needed to hear from Him today and that He loved her.

With each of these people, we have open doors to come back and have already returned to some and kept contact. It was that easy. Praying with people, and telling them that God loves them. Maybe we didn’t share the Gospel story with them this time, but the door has been opened and when there’s an opportunity, we can tell them about the God in whom our faith is founded upon.

**If you have questions about this or want to talk more, I’d love to have a conversation or email with you. God loves you SO much!

Today, I remember the life of my Mom. Five years ago today was the most horrid and wretched days that I can remember…it was the day that my Mom passed from this life into the next…and although we rejoiced that she was then with Jesus, the pain still stuck in my heart like a hook under the skin. She was such a beautiful woman, skilled in so many ways, more patient than most anyone I’ve ever known, silly, adventurous, daring at times and bold. She was also wise, spoke well of people, cared for those kids that no one else loved, and took real time to get to know someone. My Mom was also grounded in Truth. She showed me what it looked like to lean on the Lord in times of trial, and to be thankful when times of abundance were at our door. Often I would sleepily walk down the stairs and slowly enter the kitchen before sunrise to find her reading her Bible, with a cup of tea and maybe a cookie in hand. I’d ask her what she was reading, and she would read to me and then maybe tell me about what that scripture meant to her. I’m not sure if it ever bothered her that I wanted to be near her during those quiet times, but I was always curious about what she was learning herself!

As I’m here in Montana, in training to go overseas soon, I remember her often as I hike the mountain trails or sit by the river, and wonder what she would say to me now…..or what she would tell me about as she’s getting to know Jesus in such a different way than how we know him here on earth! In those moments, I talk to God….plead with him to comfort me, and to remind me of His faithfulness, so I don’t forget and become overwhelmed with grief. It’s in those moments, I often have conversations with God like the one below. All the words there are taken from scripture, but they are like the cries of my heart on days like today, and it’s comforting to have our Heavenly Father answer with confidence and hope the way only He can. Hopefully if you’re going through times of grief right now, this will speak to you strongly as it did to me too.

PRAYER: So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psa 143:4-8 NIV)

ANSWER: I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. (Gen 28:15 NIV)

PRAYER: The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. (Psa 34:18; 10:14 NIV)

ANSWER: As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.  Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (Isa 66:13; Jer 31:13; Jhn 16:22 NIV)

PRAYER: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2Co 1:3-5 NIV)

Question: Have you ever been discipled? What did they do that made an impact in your life?

It’s been quite a while since I updated last, so I wanted to quickly share with you some of the things I’ve been learning here at Mountainside Missionary Training (MMT). Last week we learned about discipleship. It was incredible to go through the Bible and see not only the examples of discipleship but also the call on our lives to BE disciples and disciple-makers! So here are three things we were taught that really impacted me.

1. We cannot teach what you do not do.  As we live among community, and are becoming leaders in the faith of Christ, we should not only preach but LIVE what we preach. Think about leaders you’ve had who live opposite of what they teach….how likely were you to trust in their words? Not likely. So therefore, if we are sharing the Gospel with the world and with each other and encouraging one another to stand fast and solid in Truth, shouldn’t we then too live in that?

“Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 ESV)

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7 ESV) 

2. We are called to make disciples. Jesus tells us very plainly that we are to make disciples, and what are disciples but those who actively seek teaching & instruction? So we are in the same way to make disciples who seek God’s teaching and instruction, to lead them in study of scripture, to help younger Christians grow in their relationship with God so that they might also make disciples and teach those who are younger in the faith than they are to revere God and live in His way.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”(John 15:8 ESV)

3. We are equipped and must be prepared. We are told in scripture that God has given us “everything we need” to live this life. So why should we hold back from discipling or sharing the Gospel….because we are afraid? because we lack something? We do not lack anything! God has put the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and He himself will give us the words to say at the right time. Know why you have put your faith in God…what compelled us to believe and trust? Be confident then, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on until the end.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

“So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. This is what I am working at all the time, with all the strength that God gives me.” (Colossians 1:28-29 PHILLIPS)

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:13-16 ESV)

In the last few days, I’ve been getting to know my three classmates and becoming oriented to this training school. For one, it’s in the Cupboard Mountains of Montana and it’s beautiful here! There are pine trees surrounding us and deer that approach our windows nearly every day. The building we are staying in has a shared living room where we do devotions daily, a large kitchen where we can cook and have lunch prepped for us from some sweet staff people here, a little library for much needed introvert time, a classroom that has a lot of flags from the countries represented through International Messengers, and a gym equipped with a climbing wall so we can keep fit! 😉 I’m really excited to be learning here, and have already been learning/thinking/seeking lots.

Today, I was also blessed by a friend who called just to pray with me and share her enthusiasm over where I’m headed in life. Relating that this was in some way something she’d wanted to do at an earlier point of life, we talked about the changes ahead and her desire to keep up with each other.

This got me thinking about how much each of you mean to me, and how blessed I am to have you along this journey with me. To add to that, I don’t JUST want prayers coming this way but I would sincerely like to start praying for many of you in deeper ways than I have. Many of you have sent me your addresses to keep in touch, but I also would ask that you send me things I can be praying about for YOU!

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:7-12)

I’d love to hear from you!!

Alright, it’s 1:28AM and I’m leaving in a few hours for training in Montana! I don’t know what to think. For some reason, probably because of how much I’d traveled with PULSE, this doesn’t feel like a big deal….and maybe part of that is that I’m really confident that this is what the Lord is leading me towards. Whatever the reason, it is such a strange feeling to stand in my bedroom and have it be totally empty of my things knowing that it will be quite some time until I return to this home…..if ever.

This past Christmas, I got the pleasure of traveling with Moriah Peters again on The Reason. Moriah has become a good friend of mine and she’s always such a bright and joyful person to be around. This time though, she shared with the audiences and us about things that she’s had to face in her life, where she didn’t always have the option to go through tough things or not and that through those times, she was able to BE BRAVE as she leaned on God to bring her through. How I can relate to this. Yes, I have a choice to go to Romania and do this training, but as I’ve seen God open doors and provide and nudge me my entire life, how can I choose not to follow? Is it scary? Yes. Am I uncertain about many, many things? Yes. Is it hard to leave the comfort of what I know here? Yes. Is it even appealing to stay here and not see what God has around the corner? Absolutely not….and in that I’m going to BE BRAVE, step out, take a chance, love people along the way, follow what God is doing and just see. “Watch! I’m about to carry out something new! And now it’s springing up— don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the wilderness and paths in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19, ISV) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV)

Please pray for me and my friend T as we set out early tomorrow. Pray for safety, the car, our alertness, for good conversation, that God would show us something tomorrow (and that we’d have eyes to see it), and that we make it to our half way point in good time!