Evangelism is good for our souls. Taking risks is a major part of our own healing journey with Jesus. What happens when those risks are met with the miraculous transformational power of Jesus?
In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus invites his disciples to feed thousands of hungry people. They are tired and want Jesus to send the crowds away. But he invites them to share the little they have. As they say yes to Jesus, albeit begrudgingly, they witness a great miracle. Jesus satisfies the empty stomachs of the masses, and the disciples get a front row seat to the power of God.
My cousin, Erica, decided she was an atheist in college and studied world religions to prove that God wasn’t real. Both of us had experiences of chronic physical pain which gave us a special bond. One day Erica experienced a miraculous healing and told me, “Kelly, do you think this could be God?” I took the risk to invite her into an online Bible study (since she lived in another state).
I said “Let’s study the Bible for four weeks, with an assumption that Jesus could be real, and at the end of the four weeks I am going to ask you to make your own conclusion about Jesus.” By the end of our studies, Erica told me what I never imagined hearing, “I used to think I would regret having anything to do with Jesus. Now I know I would regret it if I didn’t give my life to him.”
I am now a god-parent to Erica’s first child and I watched her dedicate her son to God. Erica and I have continued to share in our sufferings and she has become my biggest mentor in trusting Jesus with chronic pain.
When I think about the greatest moments of joy in my life, this one is in my top five. There is nothing more joyous than seeing Jesus transform lives and the next generation.
How do you need more joy during this pandemic? Have you considered that Jesus’ invitation to do evangelism may be one of the ways he wants to bring you joy? Who is one person you can invite to study the Bible with you this week? Who knows, maybe that person will one day become your biggest mentor.
In my next post, I will talk more about the role of prayer in Erica’s conversion story and in evangelism.
Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash
Kelly Aalseth 