Just 5 minutes ago, my doorbell rang. I waited for a little bit (surely it was just the UPS guy again) but eventually decided to go check. It was my neighbor, Anna, from El Salvador, who moved here last year and has become a good friend. We gave each other a nice, long hug because we hadn't seen each other for almost the whole winter. With her broken English and my sorry Spanish, we tried to communicate about all the things that had happened since we last talked. She filled me in on her Read More
Meet Gelisa
Those of you who know me know that I love a good story. I love reading stories, telling stories...but most of all, discovering God stories...you know...stories that make you stand in awe of God's personal involvement and power. Recently I asked Jesus to send me some God stories that I could document and share on this blog. I'm so thankful that God brought Gelisa to our church three years ago. It's really quite the story, and I'm thankful that she's willing to share it. So, make sure you're Read More
Everyday Evangelism (5/5): Where to Start?
My husband came up with these Seven Ways to Lean into Evangelism as a part of his evangelism series this year. If you are convinced that sharing Christ is a good idea, but just aren't sure how to begin, read these following suggestions. Pray often and pray specifically. Regardless of whether you understand how prayer works. Make it your regular practice to pray specifically for opportunities to share the gospel. Cultivate camaraderie. The power of doing things in community cannot be Read More
Everyday Evangelism (4/5): Mommy Missionaries
What does it look like to be a mom on mission? When I got pregnant with my first child, I remember thinking, “God, is this really the most effective way for your gospel to spread? For me to have a full-time job caring for a small baby...changing diapers, feeding, and cleaning?” I had been trained to think like a missionary and this seemed counter-intuitive. For the years previous to this, I had been immersed in ministry life and enjoyed feeling productive and significant. What was going to Read More
Everyday Evangelism (3/5): But Why Is It So HARD?
In last week's blog post, I told a story that clarified the gospel. Now whenever I use the term gospel, you know what I mean. The gospel is not doing good deeds (although these are nice...), but rather the age-old message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today I want to discuss: Why is it so hard to share this gospel? When I lived in Iceland, I got to observe dying Christianity at its finest. When discussing this phenomenon with an Icelandic Christian, she summed it Read More
Everyday Evangelism (2/5): “But, what IS the gospel?”
If "evangelism" means sharing the gospel, what then IS the gospel? Fortunately for me, I live with a scholar who set me straight on this issue. Many years ago, our family visited a church while we were travelling. A representative from a humanitarian organization was speaking that day and we listened to his stories about Africa and poverty. His message pinnacled around one particular story. I can't remember every detail, but it involved this man befriending a little African boy and Read More
Everyday Evangelism (1/5): A Taboo Conversation?
I just googled synonyms for evangelism because I know some people hate the word. Sermonizing, propoganda, brainwashing...yikes...I guess I'll stick to evangelism. I know this topic isn't the most comfortable, but here we go.... Recently, I came across a post that resonated with me so deeply that I put it by my sink and so I could pray it every morning. In his open letter to his (and my) denomination, the author began by confronting himself to love Jesus more deeply and tell others Read More