Editor’s note: For the month of May, we are focusing on “Influencing the World”. In Mark 16:15 Jesus says to “Go into the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” One of the core beliefs of our church is that “The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.” We pray that you will be encouraged to go out into your world to make His way known.
In our Among Friends Bible Study this month, we are talking about “Influencing the World.” That sounds like a pretty formidable task, doesn’t it? “OK God,” we say. “I’ll get right on that. Right after I get finished changing diapers, cooking dinner, folding laundry…” The list goes on and on. And yet the genius of God’s plan for the world is that we don’t even really have to try. We don’t have to have a title. He’s IN US, and All He’s asked us to do is to follow His lead and share the gospel as we go.
I can remember attending a summer church camp back when I was in 4th or 5th grade. It was at the end of the nightly service and God’s presence was moving powerfully. One of the camp counselors came over to pray for me, looked me in the eyes and told me, “You’re headed for the ministry.” “Ummmmm….no, probably not,” was my thought. I mean, I wasn’t opposed to teaching Sunday school, but I knew I’d never do something crazy like move to Africa. I mean, isn’t that what you do if you’re in “the ministry”?
Well, God sure does have a sense of humor. Fast forward 10 years or so and I went on my first mission trip to South Africa. I loved it so much that I went back again the next summer, and by the time I graduated from college, I was ready to MOVE there to volunteer. I served in Cape Town, South Africa for nine months, helping to coach local basketball teams and teaching “True Love Waits” in six different schools. We were able to use that platform to have some after school Bible studies as well.
It was in one of those classes where I met Junaid. Junaid was a lively South African sixth grader with a scar down his left cheek. I never asked what it was from, but I knew that Junaid didn’t back down from a fight. I happened to be in South Africa when the tragedy of 9/11 took place, and the very next day we were going to Junaid’s school in a predominantly Muslim area. I would like say that the vast majority of our Muslim friends and neighbors showed such compassion and love in the wake of that tragedy, but there were a handful of boys in one of our classes who had a bit of a different mindset. In the weeks that followed, Junaid told us how he and his classmates were ready to go enlist to go fight against the Americans in Afghanistan. “You want to fight against US?”, we asked him. “No, Miss, not you…the AMERICANS.” I guess it hadn’t crossed his mind that we WERE Americans.
Junaid made sure we understood that this was a “holy war”, and that he must defend his religion. One day he got curious and asked us about ours. When we explained that God had sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, he recoiled a bit.
“No Miss,” he stated emphatically. “God doesn’t have any children or brothers or sisters.”
“He does have a Son,” we countered. “His name is Jesus.”
In that moment it was like the Holy Spirit just fell down and flooded that cold, concrete schoolroom with a tangible warmth and love. I could see a small tear welling up in Junaid’s eye as he repeated softly, “Jesus.”
Then just as quickly as the moment started, it ended when one of Junaid’s friends grabbed him arm and told him it was time to go. On his way out the door, he stopped, turned back, and said, “We’ll talk more next time?”
We had several more conversations with Junaid. While I can’t tie this story up with a happy ending bow of how he accepted Christ or anything even remotely like that, I do believe that a seed was planted. And somewhere in my heart I fully expect someday to see a testimony of God’s goodness by a young man from South Africa with a scar across his cheek…if not on this side of Heaven then beyond.
I know we can’t all go to Africa. We’re not all supposed to. Where is YOUR sphere of influence? It might be your home, your workplace, or your family members. There are people all around us each day, and as we go, we have an opportunity to show love…to show kindness…to plant seeds.
I’d like to leave you with this passage from Matthew 28: 19-20 (TPT), which we know as the “Great Commission.” These were the last recorded words of Jesus on this earth before He ascended into Heaven. He told His disciples:
19 Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 20 And teach them to faithfully follow[a] all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”[b]He’s with us as we go. And that makes all the difference.
| We would like to thank Becca Wilhite for writing this blog post. |
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