I Love To Tell The Story

Be forewarned: This post is really long.

Lately, God's been teaching me a lot about evangelism.I know, that is one of those words that often evokes a negative reaction in people. And in this case, I don't necessarily mean walking up to strangers on the street, handing them a tract, and sharing the Gospel right then and there (although I'm becoming more convinced that there may be a time and place for that). Instead, I'm talking about relationships, following God and showing Him in all I do, getting to know people and as they get to know me they get to see Jesus.

I guess God has been opening my eyes to how He uses His people. He has invited us to be apart of the salvation process, and I don't want to refuse that. Evangelism is one of those things that we are commanded to do but that will come naturally if we are following God's heart. If I'm in God's will, how can my life not tell the story? (And yes, God has given me a new appreciation for that "old story")

There have been a number of ways I've seen and felt God pull me towards evangelism and recognizing its importance. One, clearly, is the mission trips I go on and the big one I'm praying about and planning for this summer. But lately, I've heard a few sermons on it, had a few conversations about it. When I was home, I went to the church my family's been attending. Naturally, the pastor spoke on our mission as Believers (which is evangelism, to make disciples of the world and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to teach them to observe all of God's commandments, and show them that He will be with us until the end). A few things the pastor said that struck me:
"We are all called to evangelism. It is not a spiritual gift." How often do I lie and think that oh, evangelism isn't my gift, when really, it is the gift and commandment to every Believer!!!
"Evangelism involves joy." Ok, he didn't explicitly say this, but he did talk about the "good news," and I started thinking, The Gospel is good news! And shouldn't my life and countenance and words show that? The chance to tell the story - that should bring me great joy!
"Evangelism is not about training or tricks. We are not muzzled. There is power in the truth that saves us!"
"We are all, all, called to go." Amen! I strongly believe this, and if you ask me in person about it, get ready, because this is a passion of mine. I don't care if its just for a weekend or if its for a lifetime, we are all called to go at somepoint in our lives. That calling may differ in time and place, but it is a call for every single Believer.
"God will give us a passion for the those who don't know Him." This is so true!!! If God has called us to evangelize in our lives, will He not give us the desire to do so if we ask? Of course He will! I firmly believe that. If we don't "feel it," pray for that passion, and God will give it! Scary prayer, but how incredible and sweet!

God has also made me very aware of my friends here on campus who don't know Him and the opportunity I have. Not that my every interaction with them is about how I can "convert" them or whatever. But it makes me mindful. He has given me such a love for a lot of new people I am getting to know, through my sorority or through being an RA or through just living life at school, and I am so thankful for that. I have longed prayer to have God's perspective as my own, which is another scary prayer. I feel like God is giving that to me and asking, "What are you going to do with it now?" And that is hard, because I desperately want to show these people the good news, but I am one person, and I am a person who makes grave mistakes, and I can't do it on my own. Nor am I supposed to. But it has changed my perspective, and I am growing bolder in prayer, and I desperately want to love as Jesus does and be Him to my school and my community and my family and my friends and those who just see me pass by. I can't really explain it. But that is where I am right now.

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand (LOVE that). By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

I'm not explaining myself well. I think it sounds like I am manipulative and have an agenda when I'm with people.


That's not is at all. I just want to follow Jesus, and I want to follow Him closely, and I want that to be reflected in my life and be a living Gospel that draws people and gives me opportunities to tell the story. Because I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story because I know 'tis true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story for some have never heard the message of salvation from God's own holy Word. I love to tell the story for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I'm sorry that this post is so long. I'm not good at being concise. But I needed to express myself, and this is my blog, so its all about self-expression! Please be praying for me as I work through this and what it means for my life.

Good news! Sanyesz, one of the youth pastors at the Paulus Center in Hungary, posted on his blog, "Thanks to the summer camps some new people were added to our youthgroup. Our prayer is that they would get to know Christ in the course of this year. We had a celebration a few weeks ago, when 2 of our youth were baptized. Our goal for the year is that those who already follow Christ would get a lot of opportunities to serve Him, too, so we started a ministry team from our youth. I envision them as the future ‘engine’ and rolemodel for the rest of the youth. We started meeting weekly, and currently we’re giving them training about who we are, what we want and how to reach our goals. At the youthmeeting we divided the team according to their ages (mid-school: 11-13 ys – where the leader is János, and 14-18 ys – where I lead), so we can provide for their different needs." How exciting! Please be praying also for their youth group. Two baptisms - that is incredible! I'm praising God for this!