Stories From the Field

Sometimes fishing for men maybe easier than you think!

June 30, 2008 on 12:38 pm | In Acquaintances | Comments Off

Yesterday God reminded me again of just how easy it is to be fishers of men, especially when The Holy Spirit goes before us ahead of time and prepares people’s heart for what we say to them. As a result, sometime we don’t even need to say much and God will provide those divine opportunities to have an impact on others, even when we are not expecting it! Let me share a recent witnessing opportunity to illustrate this point. About four months ago, a couple from China (let’s call them Lin and Amy) who lived right next to us moved into another building, in our apartment complex. I was kind of disappointed they moved because I was trying to find a way to witness to them and never seemed to find the right opportunity to build bridges to the gospel. I had not seen them much since then and then last weekend we ran into them as we were going to the coffee shop for dinner. When we got to dinner I mentioned to my wife that I really felt convicted that we need to find a way to reach out to them and build bridges to the gospel. I also told my wife that I regretted (when we just saw them earlier) not inviting them to come to our son’s birthday party on Saturday. I was feeling bad that we missed another opportunity again to build bridges to the gospel with them. Furthermore we didn’t even have their phone number or know exactly what apartment unit they lived in. But certainly this was no obstacle for God because five minutes later they show up again at our table and said hello (Apparently they were eating dinner at the same coffee shop as well). I took this as a positive sign from God and invited them to come to our son’s birthday party. So they agreed to come and bring their 14 month old son Tom.

I said to myself that I was not going to use the birthday party to share the gospel with them. In the back of my mind I was just going to get to know them better and create more of a friendship with them and do very limited pre-evangelism with them so that the next time I see them after the party, I would try to build spiritual bridges with them to the gospel. Yet it was clear by the end of the party that God clearly had other plans that day. When they came to the party yesterday, I talked with them for quite a while asking questions about where in China they are from, what he does, how they met, etc. In the course of the conversations I communicated to them that I teach at three of the main seminaries here in Singapore and told them that we are Christians (not intending so say any more). I can’t remember how this came up but I also mentioned that there were probably more Christians in China than in the U.S. where I was from. This seemed to catch Amy’s curiosity. I could tell from her facial reaction alone she was very puzzled by my comment. She said she thought that most of the people in the U.S. were Christians. When she said that, I knew God had clearly opened a door to share some of the gospel with her right at the party! I told her two specific things. First, I told her that I hear stories from Christians all the time of how God is doing miraculous things in China and healing so many people and as a result many Chinese are becoming Christians. Second, I also told her that there are many people in the U.S. who claim to be Christians and go to church, but have never really believed “in Christ.” She again seemed curious by my comment. At that point I explained to her the difference between believing that and believing in Christ. I explained to her that it is not just enough for someone to believe that Jesus is God and that He died on the cross to take the penalty for their sins. That doesn’t make any one a Christian. A Christian is someone who believes in Christ. It is someone who has invited Jesus to come into their lives and forgive them of their sins and change them from the inside out. When I explained this to Amy, her eyes lit up even more and she moved closer to hear me better. It was at this point that Amy told me her husband’s mom became a Christian late in life and then died three years ago. She further shared with me that she attended her funeral and was really amazed that so many people from her village who came to her funeral were Christians and also that they were so warm and friendly to her.

At that point in the conversation I clarify further what it meant to be a Christian. I did this by explaining how Christianity was different from Buddhism. I explained to her that though Buddha taught we should give up on desire, Jesus taught we are to have the right desire. I further explained that a Christian is someone who invites Jesus to come into their life and asks God to change them from the inside out so that they no longer desire to do the bad things, rather they desire to do the good things that God wants them to do. These further clarification also seemed to create greater interest on her part and make her more curious especially because she had been trying to better understand Buddhism. I further explained to her how unique Jesus really is since Buddha never claimed to be a prophet (merely pointed to the way), and Muhammad only claimed to be a prophet. I mentioned that Jesus is the only major religious leader who ever claimed to be God then proved it by doing three things: living a sinless life, fulfilling prophecy, and dying and rising from the dead).

I could tell from her reaction to everything that I said that God was already really working on her heart and that it may not take much for her to put her faith and trust in Christ and it could happen very soon. At that point in my conversation I felt enough seeds had been planted for one day. The next time we see them we are going to try to invite them to our church and also pick up where our conversation ended.

This whole witnessing experience was another reminder to me that fishing for the souls of men (and women) may not be as difficult as we think provided we wait on God’s right timing. It also was a good reminder to me that God is not so concerned about us trying to expose more light to those around us on a daily basis. Rather He is more concerned that we do not cover up any light that is already there and that we make the most of these divine opportunities that He clearly is opening up to us to help others take steps towards Christ!  Can you think of someone in your life right now that God is convicting you to reach out to? If so it is possible that God has already prepared their hearts and so witnessing to them maybe easier than you think? Finding that open door may also be easier than you think when God has prepared the way. Food for thought for all of us.