Show and then Tell

"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18).

Some things are worth talking about. But some things need to be talked about. Many of you who have stopped by my blog at this moment to read were looking for an update on Micah. That's worth talking about. Yet there is something I just need to talk about. Bear with me for just a moment, especially if you are not familiar with our student ministry and the students to whom I have the privilege to minister as part of this ministry. I do promise, though, you will be blessed if you read through all the "stuff" I have to write to get to the meat.

At the beginning of September 2007, we launched some aggressive and major changes in our student ministry. Some worked well...others not as well as anticipated. Some were received well...others have been criticized. One change was our Wednesday nights. Reaching Raleigh was launched in place of Wednesday night Bible study. The goal: Reach Raleigh with the love of Jesus Christ.

Last year, in large part, this took place by going to highly populated areas (like a mall) and engaging people in conversation through spiritual questionnaires. This produced a number of great experiences, conversations and even professions of faith. But as is true with most cold turkey conversations like those, there was a good deal of discouragement and disappointing moments. Our numbers for this year were affected, which could be the compilation of the difficulty of those conversations, the busyness of our schedules and the negative statements made by individuals about Reaching Raleigh.

Nevertheless, this September we continued our efforts. We began our first few times of going into Raleigh to share the love of Jesus Christ by seeking to find middle and high school students and hand them an invite card to our worship gathering on Sunday nights. But about three weeks ago, God really impressed upon my heart to move in a different direction. I sum it up in the phrase Show and Then Tell.

For the past two Wednesday nights, our students have been heading into the mall with gift bags (which includes a copy of The Passion of the Christ, The Invitation CD, He Did This Just For You book, a tract and a candy bar). Our students have targeted the store workers. They walk in, introduce themselves and then say, "We want to give you this gift and we want you to know that God loves you."

I've encouraged them to engage individuals in conversation if possible. Ask for prayer needs. See if they have a church home. Inquire about how we can help them. With a gift bag totaling no more than $10.00, you would be amazed at how wide it has opened the door into the lives of individuals there.

The last two weeks hold testimonies too numerous for me to mention. There's the gentleman who received the gift and the later our students saw him in the store reading the evangelistic book by Max Lucado He Did This Just For You. There's the woman whose car had just broke down and she said to the students that she was having a "really bad day." But then she said, "This has made my day. Can I give you a hug?" Or how about the woman whose husband has had a stroke? She is working trying to pay the bills. Taking care of him and trying to make it by are just difficult right now. Her request: A Turkey! She just wanted a food basket if we could provide one.

Then there is Terry. A couple of our students spent 30 to 40 minutes sharing the gospel with him in the store because he took the conversation there. All because these students, front line, courageous, dynamic, Christ-following students, made it a PRIORITY to not just tell people that God loved them, but to SHOW THEM GOD LOVES THEM! The gift isn't a large sum of money. It isn't a huge gift. This gift bag is a small gift which shares about the greatest gift. Yet it is a small gift in the eyes of the world. Oh but I have seen, and heard, and witnessed how such a small gift helps people see, hear, smell, taste, touch and be embraced by the love of Jesus Christ.

Now that is worth writing about. Even more, that is something that needs to be written! Not too long ago I had a parent send me an email telling me how we ought to not do Reaching Raleigh. You know how it is! I was discouraged because I've heard more negative than positive about sharing the love of Jesus Christ through Reaching Raleigh.

The last two weeks have refueled my passion and my commitment to make Wednesdays a mainstay in order that people might know they are loved more than they ever thought was possible. Now the only question is how we're going to continue to fund the gift bags. In two weeks time, we have distributed 100 or more bags. I am praying now for God to provide. Maybe you who have faithfully prayed for Micah and our family would pray for God to provide the needed funds to reach our city with the love of Jesus Christ. I believe our students are going to do it!

And by the way...Micah is doing well. A slight cold right now, but doing well. Each day could hold something new or turn in the oppsoite direction. For now, Praise the Lord for Micah's health!