By Stephanie Gossard
A few thoughts on evangelism and a special prayer opportunity for VBS
Interpersonal interactions while flying have a mysterious, once-in-a-lifetime quality to them. I sometimes find people want to engage in significant conversation, maybe because they’ll never see their seatmate again.
Lining up by number for a Southwest flight last fall brought me into conversation with a friendly, thirty-something Chinese man with a thick accent. After hearing about his work and planned move to Michigan because his wife gained a full professorship there, he told me that he had been detained by security for 1.5 hours and had nearly missed his first flight. He spoke in a mildly amused, confidential tone which seemed to say “you know that I was detained because I am from China.” I refrained from delving into political issues, simply saying, “I’m sorry.” He continued chatting about his life and his wife’s work studying proteins, which has something to do with vaccines. I’m not kidding!
As our line boarded the flight, my mind went to my stash of Four Spiritual Laws tracts in my purse. Should I give him one? Despite living and working in the U.S., he would be less likely to hear the gospel than the average U.S. resident. Language, culture, and differentness all serve as barriers to friendship here, potentially walling him off from the gospel. He’d have been extremely unlikely to hear it in China.
I got out a tract, and touched him on the shoulder as we threaded our way along the plane’s center aisle. I said “I’d like you to have this. It’s hard to find in China.” I handed him the tract. He took it, glanced at it, and then started reading the back. That is the last I saw of him.
It’s easy to think such a small action is unlikely to have any impact. Maybe he just threw it away. But here and around the world, some have been rescued from darkness by a tract or even a scrap of scripture blowing down the street.
The spiritual work undergirding evangelism is crucial. We have an enemy as we seek to hold out the words of life. That enemy owns the future of every unbeliever, and guards each soul jealously. Each one who accepts Christ is a painful loss. Witnessing turns into a spiritual battle. The enemy wants to discourage us from sharing the words of life. There tends to be a “mental battle” of discouragement; “he doesn’t want to hear it…she won’t be interested…it’s offensive to ‘impose’ your beliefs on someone else.” Therefore, prayer is a critical ingredient in sharing the gospel. As we pray, we request God’s awesome power to work.
I pray for appropriate boldness, and for the person’s openness to the tract. After giving a tract, I pray that the Lord will remove any barriers to that person believing. I ask that the recipient will read it, that the eyes of his heart will be opened, and that the Lord will help him to believe and be saved. I ask the Lord to protect the witness, and not allow the enemy to snatch it away.
A CALL TO PRAYER FOR VBS
Prayer precedes revival. Prior to Billy Graham Crusades, his team recruited churches to pray seriously for months. Westside, let’s set our hearts on the Lord together. Let’s earnestly pray, asking the Lord to help us put on a wonderful VBS, attract many unbelieving souls, and reap a rich harvest from our efforts---only the Lord can do that! Let’s ask Him to work powerfully in the following ways:
Click the button if you would like to receive short lists of VBS prayer requests by email. We will also be organizing small group prayer gatherings for VBS. Click the other button if you want to be kept informed about these prayer meetings.
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