Stepping Out in Faith

Evangalism. 

 

It is such a simple word but I can imagine that you read it and had one of two reactions: 

1. You thought something along the lines of “Evangalism?! YES! That is so incredible!”
2. Or you shriveled up a little bit and thought “oh gross evangalism” 

 

There is no shame in either answer.  

And until the last few weeks I would’ve read that word and shriveled up too. 

 

Growing up I had heard the word evangalism.  It isn’t a new word to me, but the meaning for me has completely shifted. 

I used to think that evangalism was this weird, rigid, impersonal conversation that you would have with someone and they had to accept Jesus otherwise you were doing something wrong.  

 

In Costa Rica,  my team partnered with Global Teen Challenge.  Most days were spent walking around (either the streets of San Jose) the community around us.  We would hand out Bibles in their language, talk to them about Jesus and pray over them.  Each interaction was very different.  All throughout our time in Costa Rica, I was never overly excited about going evangelizing.  Honestly, the only reason I looked forward to it was because we got the be out in the community and I was able to walk around.  Other than that it was really hard for me to wrap my head around.  I keep trying to put myself in their shoes; if some random group of strangers who didn’t look like me and didn’t speak the same language walked up to my door and wanted to talk, I would probably say no.  I just couldn’t get over the awkwardness of this whole evangalism thing. 

There is one time in particular that I remember our translator looking at me and saying “your turn, what do you want to say” and I was immediately put off. I did not want to be put on the spot like that and was honestly frustrated that it happened.  

 

Slowly but surely my mindset started to shift over the new couple of weeks in Costa Rica.  I started to understand the responsibility we hold in our hands as Christians to share with others.  It isn’t so much about ‘I have to share’ but instead it is ‘I get to share.’  

 

As this gradual change was taking place, our squad switched countries and are now in the Dominican Republic* working with Mission of Hope 

 

Day one of being in the DR our Squad has orientation.  We get the overview of that this month will look like as well as a broad picture of what each week will look like:

Friday – Ask the Lord Day 

Saturday – Sabbath

Sundays – church

Mondays – Teach at a school 1/2 the day, evangalism 1/2 the day

Tuesday – Thursday – Evangalism 

 

As we are going through this orientation I am sitting there thinking “seriously, evangalism again?! You have got to be kidding me.”  Its not that I was upset, but I was just really hoping for a ministry where we didn’t have to evangelize…you know, something more comfortable to me.  

 

All of these previous notions I had about evangelism and what it had to look like was blown out of the water at our first house on the first day. 

 

Our whole squad plus 5 translators (about 25 people in all) all walked out of this small Haitian Church, turned to the left and down a small dirt path just big enough we could walk single file.  At the end of the path it opened up into an area surrounded by small wooden doors and other small paths back to more houses.  This seemed to be the hang out spot for the community.  

 

 

Our group split into smaller groups and spread out to talk to some of the different people in this area.  

 

My group was called over to this group of 3 women and their children.  

At first, it was a little bit uncomfortable for me.  I didn’t know what to ask them. How am I supposed to get the conversation back to Jesus?  What sorts of questions will these women even be willing to answer? Why would they even share with this group of strangers?

 

After our group asked questions, they asked questions to us, we prayed for them.  

 

As we walked away from that little spot on the street, it hit me: God is so much bigger than I think He is.  He is bigger than my anxious thoughts worrying about what question to ask when, He is bigger than the struggles that they are going through, He is bigger than it all. 

 

Over the past month this realization just keeps getting deeper and deeper. 

God doesn’t need me here in the DR talking to Haitian Refugees in order to reveal Himself to them.  But He wants to use us.  He wants us to be His vessels to share His love and grace and mercy with His people.  

 

This past month He has completely changed my preconceived notions to what evangalism is.  

He made me realize that I don’t have to worry about having the correct words to say or just the right question to ask. Because in all honesty, I never will.  But He will. 

 

Here are some of my other take-aways from this month:

• Everyone has a story, and often times our stories aren’t all that different. 
• Everyone has questions about this faith journey, no matter how long they have been following Christ. 
• People need to know how much the Father loves them and that there is nothing that they can do to earn more of His love or lose any of His love. 
• Your testimony is powerful. Share it. 
• In order to pour into others, you have to first be full yourself. Like actually full from spending time in the word, in prayer, and in worship. 
• The more you press into what God is doing and how He is moving, the more the enemy will try to attack you.  But the battle has already been won – we fight from Victory, not for victory. 
• Language isn’t as big of a barrier as we think. A smile and a hug can go a really long way.

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After this month I am also realizing that it is always the people that are the hardest to leave. 

It isn’t hard to leave our living situations or the cultures or the scenery.

But the people? Goodness it is hard. 

Every relationship we make with our translators, ministry hosts, people from the community is so special and so unique.

Up until this point in my life, I wouldn’t have considered myself a very emotional person.  But building relationships like this centered around Christ, and then leaving and not knowing if we will ever get to see each other again is a hard pill to swallow.  I truly cannot even begin to put into words how hard it is to say these goodbyes.  Every time we switch countries, this is what I dread the most.  We have this saying that is knew to me, when saying goodbye we say “You will always have a home in the states if you ever come, I hope to see you again some day, but if not, see you in Heaven.”  While the goodbyes never get easier and we continue to do them month after month, the relationships we form make all of the sadness, heartache, and tough emotions worth it.  These people are worth it.  

 

Thank you God for allowing me to continue to meet your incredible people all over the world. 

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*The Dominican Republic wasn’t on our route when we launched in January.  But due to various reasons, we will no longer be going to Columbia, Ecuador, Kenya, or Rwanda.  Instead we are in the DR for a month, after that we will be in Panama for one month, from there we will be in Peru for two month.  After Peru we will make the transition to Africa where we will be in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.  Again, this is the plan as of today.  On the Race we always hold plans with open hands because things are constantly shifting and changing.