Awhile back, I launched this challenge to the World Team community:
That each worker in the World Team community would intentionally
disciple one person into a relationship with Christ and that each worker
would intentionally disciple one person into cross cultural ministry.
So, how are we doing?
Now I’m not asking for numbers or metrics in response to this question. Bringing others into a personal relationship with Christ or moving others towards a desire to serve in cross cultural ministry is a process. There are incremental steps or ‘spiritual thresholds’ as one person described it recently. There is work that we can do and there is work that only God can and that we need to be lifting up before Him.
So, maybe a better way to put it would be: where are you in that journey? What are you doing to help others get to that next step in the journey? What are you praying for that only God can do in another’s life as you encourage them to consider Christ or challenge them to move towards cross cultural ministry?
This past Sunday, I was sitting across the table from G. I have spent some time with G over the past few months. He and I actually are part of the same French association. The conversation got started by my friend Chris who asked G where he was in his spiritual journey. G says he believes in God, but he is not ready to become ‘evangelical’. Obviously, there is a fair amount of misunderstanding in his heart and mind. Chris and I encouraged him to consider the fact that faith without real practice or life change happening puts the reality of that faith in question. Chris simply challenged him as a fellow business owner to follow through fully with a decision to believe in Christ as he would in fulfilling any contract he had signed.
We can’t pull G across the threshold. We need people to pray for G that he would recognize his ‘half hearted’ commitment; that he is in many ways keeping God as one of many different masters in his life.
I loved Chris’ illustration in challenging G, but it is ultimately God who must open his heart. That’s where we are, that’s where I am.
Filed under: 1plus1, Sharing the Gospel story |
Thoughts Along The Journey 
I appreciate the reminder of the challenge David! The lady i’m sharing Christ with has been less than faithful in our mtg. times – but that doesn’t mean the ‘job’ is done either. I need to keep pursuing her, much like Christ keeps pursuing me in my unfaithfulness to Him. Each day is a fresh, new opportunity – whether to live for the Lord – or to share the best news on planet earth to someone without Christ.
So what’s the next ‘spiritual threshold’ we can be praying for? How would you describe the next step in the journey this woman needs to take?
Ah…it would appear that she has been “evangelized” by the Mormons working here, so initially, i thought she was describing an experience of salvation, but as we began to talk about the scriptures, it became clear she did not understand the person of Christ. I guess pray that she accepts the FULL Gospel, and that she makes time for us to talk 1:1 as i think she is avoiding me a bit. Also, that she agrees to attend the local Khmer church, which she says she wants to do, but has not moved forward on it. The sooner these guys can disciple her, the better – i just see myself as the interim bridge b/t her community and the local church. Hope that helps to focus prayers…
Your reply is the kind of stuff (or part of the story) that we should be sharing with one another. This helps me, and I trust others, to situate this person in their journey and how we can best be praying for her. It also helps you (and others who find themselves in similar situations) discern what might be your next approach to her.