Tag Archive - Evangelism

What’s Your Story – Faith

May 16, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, Dating & Relationships, The Church with 0 Comments

[Guest Post by Anonymous] – I’m going to call her Faith, to protect her identity and country.

She found a Christian program on her satellite receiver, watched, and called the telephone number on the screen, leaving a phone message in her language. For seven long minutes she poured out an absolute tirade. Faith used every filthy curse word imaginable:

“What are you people doing?! Why are you saying there are two gods, when there is only one God? You are all going to Hell! You are all evil!”

She slammed the phone down. A telephone counselor (whom I’ll call Niki) endured the entire message:

“It was so painful for me to listen. There was much anger and horrible language. But the Lord gave me a burden for her. I didn’t want to, but somehow I knew I needed to call her back.”

Although fearful, she dialed her number. The woman answered. Faith exploded:

“Who gave you the right to call me? I don’t want to talk to you.”

Although it was very difficult, the Lord gave Niki grace to listen and then to do something that she knows was of the Lord. Gently and lovingly, Niki said,

“I could tell by your message that you have been deeply hurt, that you needed to talk to someone.”

Niki spoke to her of the love of God. Again, Faith let her have it:

“What are you talking about? You don’t know love! Life is very hard for me. You haven’t any idea what I’m dealing with. Tell me, have you ever been raped by your own father at the age of five? Has your brother raped you? Has your husband slept with your best friend? Have you had a court take away your children from you? All this has happened to me.”

Then, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Niki said,

“God has put it in my heart to call you and tell you that He truly loves you and is there for you. He wants you to know that He won’t leave you. He won’t take your children away. He’s not going to hurt your body.”

At this, Faith broke down, and began to weep:

“I’m 28 years old. This is the first time I have been swearing at a person and they responded to me like you have. Why are you doing this? Why are you so kind to me?”

Niki said:

“This love is not from me. It’s from God. Please, may I help you to know the God who loves you so, the one that Pastor on the Christian station was telling you about on the program?”

Niki said that verses of Scripture began to flow from her lips. She knew that the Holy Spirit was speaking to Faith thousands of miles away, but through Niki. The once-angry woman took in every word…crying the entire time. Then she asked Niki for a Bible, which Niki arranged. Five days later Faith called back. She had been reading the Bible and was so peaceful. Again, they talked. After some minutes, Niki asked Faith if she would like to invite Jesus into her heart. She said yes and prayed with Niki. Immediately, Faith began declaring with joy,

“I’m free…I’m free…I’m free!”

She apologized for her language and anger, and could not stop talking about the joy, peace, and love she now felt. Faith has since called this Christian program several times. The last time saying:

“I’ve lost 28 years of my life, but now I’ve begun to live. I’m so happy…so happy that I found you, that I’ve come to know you. Thank you for giving me life, for introducing me to Jesus.”

Faith is but one of thousands who fear detection by the authorities, reprisals, and even jail time for sharing their story.

Instead, they view the programs with their doors closed, in the safety of their homes, taking it all in. Now is the time to P-R-A-Y for the Persecuted church for Christ! For those who are disillusioned, discouraged and depressed. Many stay home, not wanting to go out on the streets. Most turn to their televisions for news and hope, and particularly, satellite television from the outside.

What a wonderful door of opportunity to walk through, to give them hope, love and Christ…all to His glory.

[Photo courtesy of The Split Stitch]

What’s Your Story – Brittany

May 7, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, Dating & Relationships with 0 Comments

I want to introduce to Brittany Erbaugh. She was my first roommate ever!

We met in San Antonio, TX because of a nine-month discipleship-training program, “Ambassador For Christ.” She was my roommate and classmate. Because of her influence, she made me watch all three of Lord of the Rings movies. And to get her back, I hooked her on the CBS show, “Survivor (she still watches it). And, one thing we did agree on was Blue Bell Ice Cream, Chick fil A, and ABC’s Lost. But, enough about our relationship!

Brittany is all too familiar with her spiritual battle and mine. I left Texas before I had the chance to find out her side of the story because five months into the program, my body broke (again). My eczema took the skin off my hands. I tried to tough it out, seek medical help, but to no avail. I was forced to move home. I had fled to Texas to find myself. I had just gotten out of a serious relationship wasn’t ready to feel like a failure all over again. I never got the chance to say a proper goodbye to Brittany, therefore I feel it is only fitting to share her side of the story.

I asked Brittany, “How does the battle affect the way you live your life?” I asked.

Brittany said, “I have dreams where I have experienced demonic activity, but it’s the little lies that are easy to give into. The attack starts in your mind first. Not obvious things, but believing into the lies. When you’re not spending time with the Lord, you start to feel the guilt. That’s not who we are in Christ. Christ has interceded for us. It says in Romans 8:1, that ‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets me free from the law of sin and death.’ We don’t belong to the guilt and the shame. [We tell Satan] ‘No, I am a child of God. Move on.’ Christ doesn’t hang things over our heads like that.”

Next I asked, “Do you live any differently or continue on as before?”

Brittany said, “Our culture is so masked over by materialism that we’ve become a lot less of the religious nation. It’s more about our culture. Places like Africa and India have religion a part of their day-to-day life. They’re more exposed to Demonic possession unlike Americans because we’re so masked by our culture. What has changed me [Brittany] is living a life rooted in Scripture first, and understanding my position as a child of God. This means I’m a daughter of the King, and walking in that identity because there’s an authority there. A place of sonship, of adoption in the Spirit. The darkness doesn’t have power over because I am a daughter of the king, and he [God] has already overcome and he’s alive. Jesus is not on the cross anymore. He’s alive. Because of that I can walk as a new creation. I am the light of the world and salt of the earth. I’m new in him. I have him as my authority and power that darkness cannot overcome me.”

I asked, “How do you encounter fear in every day life?”

“It’s a constant battle.” Brittany said. “The battle starts in the mind, and if we can end it in the mind we have the power and authority to take it captive to the obedience of Christ. Christ conquered. In our surrender to him we are able to conquer whether you’re single or married. Now that I’m married it’s trusting God more than my husband. Or if my husband and I want to have kids its trusting God to provide more when we have kids.”

I asked Brittany, “When you encounter a battle do you run or cower in fear or ____?”

“It’s usually 50/50. One or the other, but by not pursuing God I respond by complacency and staying in the middle. Everyone has a process of how they respond.”

“Do you feel welcome in this spiritual battle?” Before you listen to Brittany’s response, I wanted to show our Biblical response to the spiritual battle.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

To listen to Brittany’s story please click here or watch the video below.

The Cost of Discipleship

August 13, 2010 in Daily Devotionals with 2 Comments

Here I was sitting in the second row at the Origins Conference wondering what I was doing there, but excited to meet new friends. I had been itching at the chance to serve so I brought my camera and took pictures of every single person who walked up on the stage. I enjoyed hearing from Amena Brown, Erwin McManus, Dave Gibbons, Toms Shoes, Charity Water, Mariah McManus and April Diaz.

Then Dan Kimball walked up on stage.

He asked for 12 volunteers. I ran up so quickly that I almost stepped on the entire front row. I didn’t know why, but I knew something special was about to commence.

Dan had been sharing about the importance of evangelism and discipleship. He used the illustration of 12 heart-shaped balloons given to each of the volunteers including myself. Each balloon represented a disciple or church-goer.

Then he had the balloons taken away from almost everyone except for a few to prove a point (hey-don’t take away my heart-shaped balloon. It’s mine I tell ya!). I gotta admit though, I was a little distracted by the balloons. #squirrel

I didn’t get the point at first, but I do now.

Today I met with Brandon Bornes of The Navigators on staff at Bowie State.

He shared his story with me how he grew up in a Christian home and went to a Christian school. It wasn’t until college that his faith was challenged. No longer could he rely on his parents, his school, or his friends. He attended a secular college and backslid for a while. It wasn’t until an older gentleman came alongside him and encouraged him to have a daily relationship with God that he truly understood his faith. Then he got involved during his junior/senior year and tried to pass along the opportunity to serve and disciple to the younger male students, but they weren’t ready.

He was sad that he didn’t learn about discipleship until it was too late.

The Fear Factor

I get what Dan Kimball was trying to say. You can encourage, challenge, and get others involved with justice, a cause, or your church/ministry—but if you don’t teach others with the foundational disciplines of their faith—then what?

Cue: Take away the balloons. Nooo!!!

I wish you could have been there. Skip to the part at the end where they brought us back more balloons and we walked off stage with 2-3 balloons in each hand.

That’s the ultimate dream.

Christians encouraging other Christians in their faith while leading new friends to Christ. But, what about the in-between?

Someone’s got to teach our young people how not to lose their faith.

Alex McFarland said that 70% of students walk away from their faith within one year of college. ONE YEAR PEOPLE. After listening to Brandon’s story, it reminded me of why I do what I do.

I want to see my generation grow in the knowledge of the Word and in their personal relationship with God. I want to see new believers encouraged in their faith and reaching out to those who don’t yet know the hope that we have. So, here’s my challenge:

How can I help you get connected with Jesus daily?

“I dread to think of the lives who won’t be helped by church and Christians in 50 years through acts of mercy and justice if we aren’t evangelizing and seeing emerging generations of new Christians coming to know Jesus as Savior today.” – Dan Kimball, Outreach Magazine, September/October 2010

Sell Me Jesus

November 30, 2009 in Daily Devotionals with 6 Comments

[How to Share Your Faith] – “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself” (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 5:43, 19:19, 22:39, Mark 12:31, 33, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8).

I am not here to sell you. Everyone believes how he or she chooses to believe. But, do you ever question which way is right? I mean, do you ever feel like Christians push or sell Jesus?

Once upon a time, Mr. or Ms. Bible Thumper told you why Jesus is the only way. If you didn’t pray, believe, and ask Him into your life–you were going straight to hell.

It seems kind of crazy to just sign your life away. I’m sold! What about your heart? Feelings? Thoughts? Emotions, etc? God’s love does not come with a dotted line. It’s m e s s i e r…

I’m a Christian and I believe Jesus is the only way yet I suffer all kinds of agony. My life is never perfect. My health goes through its ups and downs. I question God’s love, and I have a hard time forgiving myself.

I just finished reading Donald Miller’s “Blue Like Jazz” and he said something that changed my whole perspective on receiving God’s love. “I would never talk to my neighbor the way I talked to myself, and that somehow I had come to believe it was wrong to kick other people around but it was okay to do it to myself.” (page 231).

I am my own worst critic. I don’t share my faith because I am afraid. I may not have the right words. Fancy dialect. Convincing arguments. But if I could show you my passion and what God has done in my life (that’s testimony) –I know I could sell you Jesus.

Next time someone tries to sell you Jesus, ask why. You might confuse him or her, but maybe just maybe they will show themselves the same love they are trying to share with you.

* * * * *

Dear Jesus,

We need to be reminded of your love and the reason for our faith. Change the way we think. Transform our thinking, and help us to always be ready to share the hope we have in Jesus whether it’s with a stranger, a neighbor, or most of all–ourselves!

Amen.


Pick & Choose Your Faith?

November 23, 2009 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[Good vs. Evil] – “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 2:10).

I have experienced God’s goodness and I have also experienced hurt. As a Christian, I sometimes get offended when God allows me to suffer. If it were up to me I would never choose bad, pain, or hurtful experiences. Just good. Duh!

Suffering is no fun. Take it from me. I have had 10 years of my life taken from me. My only comfort was my pen and my paper and my daily devotionals. My health refused to cooperate so I choose instead to learn as much as I could in the midst of my suffering.

Yesterday, I was at my former coworkers house watching the Charger vs. Broncos game and I had an interesting conversation. I was sharing my testimony with one of the ladies there about what God was doing in my life. I also shared how he’s used suffering to spur me forward. I thought I was stating things as a matter-of-fact, instead she stops me and said “you always have a choice.”

We do have a choice to accept suffering. Just like we have a choice to accept success.

“As an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy…Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:10-11, 13, 16).

Today no matter what choices you’re facing, be encouraged for suffering is for our benefit.

* * * * *

Dear Jesus,

May we choose YOU instead of fear, joy over hurt, and hope in our sadness. You are Almighty God and we worship You today because You are the only one who can make all things work together for the good.

Amen.

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