I went out to the evangelism event with Mr. Luda and Mr. Clarty. As we were busing to downtown Hamilton I was trying to figure out what these two brothers thought about evangelism – and whether they were scared, excited, nervous, bored, calm, etc. I knew that Luda has evangelized in the past and that it was Clarty’s first time to do “random evangelism.” I knew they were both nervous (so was I!) and excited and I was so proud that, despite our human frailties, through Christ, we are still able to live out Matthew 28:19.
Before we started walking I said a quick prayer – that God would take any fear or nervousness away from us and lead us to the right people to speak to. After walking towards the Jackson Square area, Luda spotted an elderly man waiting at the bus-stop – so we made our way over to talk to him. We approached the man and began to start up a conversation with him – Clarty stayed nearby to pray for us.
We introduced ourselves to the man (let’s call him - Phoebo) and told him that we were students from a Christian club at McMaster. We told him that, since we’re students, we’re always stuck in the McMaster bubble and we really wanted to learn more about the city of Hamilton and care for the Hamilton community in that way. As the conversation progressed, we found out that Phoebo was actually a Christian. He shared his testimony with us – he used to be an alcoholic and had other addictions and, in 1995, God set him free from all these temptations. He was able to experience the freedom of living a life for God – and God alone!
By the end of the conversation we really wanted to pray for him. Luda and I were so thankful to have been able to meet Phoebo. We were so encouraged by the faith that he has on our Lord Jesus Christ and, after our prayer, he encouraged us to read a passage from Philippians. He told us to read Philippians 3: 20-21 …. but here’s 17-21.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, withminds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, andfrom it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:17-21
Seriously, praise God! We had such a great conversation with him and concluded that both Luda and I are honoring God through our studies and he was honoring God through his business – and we encouraged him with the verse: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)
When we met up with Clarty, we filled him in on what happened in the discussion and carry on with our walk. We made our way into Jackson Square in hopes to speak to one more person before debriefing with everyone.
We made our way to the foodcourt and were able to meet a first year Nursing student from McMaster – named …“Phoebe”. Her family is from Halifax, she was born in Newmarket and now they live in Hamilton. Praise God that she was really attentive when I was sharing the gospel with her. We discussed God’s love for us, our condition of being separated from experiencing this love and God’s solution to bridge our relationship with him. She had one question during the time that we were discussing the crucifixion of Jesus – she didn’t understand why people hated Jesus so much and why they wanted to kill him. Luda was able to answer her question. After talking for a bit, Clarty was able to share his testimony with the group. By the end of it we got to answer more of her questions and it was a really good chat.
We invited her to the fellowship and that, if she did come, she would be able to meet a lot of different students and first years in her program. Clarty reiterated that - although our club is called "Chinese Christian Fellowship" – you don’t have to be Chinese or Christian to join.
When we asked her if there was anything that she needed prayer for, initially, she rejected our offer because she said “she didn’t deserve it”. After we reassured her of this misconception, we told her that praying is pretty much just talking to God and that God would definitely want to hear from all of us. I decided to share about what I needed prayer for – having a bigger passion to read the word – because that’s, pretty much how we can learn about our big big God . Luda (praise God!) got to share about the struggles of a Christian – loving others even when they hurt us – which I thought was super cool cause non-believers never normally get the chance to hear about some of our hardships. In the end, all three of us prayed for one another and for Phoebe and “it was good” (Genesis 1).
We were all so happy to have been able to have such good conversations that night. We praise God that we were all nervous as we were busing downtown and when we were searching for people to talk to because that only made us cling onto God all the more more.
For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
We are simply called to be messengers of God’s great news – God’s love for each and every one of us should compel us to go out and share about him. Since, everyday we prepare ourselves to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have (1 Pet 3:15) let’s not only share during these big evangelism events – but make this our lifestyle! Our hobby! Our everything!
God bless!
Emily
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