Konban-wa! (good evening/night). As I'm laying in bed I'm amazed at how blessed I am to be here. I was wide awake it about 6:30 this morning, spent some time with God, and ate breakfast with the Barkmans and Tina (a Japan missionary from Taiwan). At 2:30 we headed to the Miyagi Sports Stadium for the Celebration of Hope event. There were probably at least 10,000 people there, probably 40% of whom were not Christians. The event started off with about 3 hours of music from all genres...there was traditional Japanese style and Japanese drumming all the way to American country/western all the way to Kirk Franklin. The whole service was in Japanese but that was ok with me...I am trying to listen to all the Japanese I can so it slows down for me and hopefully will let me learn it easier.
So after the music it was Graham's turn to speak. He spoke on the prodigal son story (one of my favorite Bible passages) and gave the invitation to know the Lord and be forgiven. While many Japanese people walked out during the message, a lot came to the front and prayed for forgiveness. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I do not like at all alter calls in their current, typical form..first, people are often coaxed into it by someone. Two, they get a false sense of what it means to be a believer. And third, and most important, too often when the people leave, they are never discipled and soon are back into their old life. It's not their fault either, it's the believers. If is like planting a seed but not watering it or caring for it and then being surprised when it doesn't grow.. Jesus commanded us to make DESCIPLES (note: converts is not used). An alter call is a good first step in 'planting the seed' but believers then need to tenderly nurture them so they grow.
Ok, off my tangent and back on track. So there was an elderly man in a wheelchair right in front of us, and he seemed very interested in what was being said. He started out as simply an observer, but the more time went on he soon started clapping to the beat of the music and such. When graham gave the invitation to come down, the girl with him asked him a question obviously something like 'do you want to go down?' he nodded and away they went. I was so filled with joy for this man that my eyes started to water. He eventually got down there but then only stayed for about 5 seconds. I have no idea why he left, but it left me praying for him. I won't know until heaven whether or not he is saved, but I pray with all my heart he works it out with God soon.
In your prayers, please pray for 2 things. 1) pray for the elderly man in the wheelchair..I hope to see him in heaven and be able to talk to him. 2) for the Japanese believers here, that they would not squander this opportunity. Pray that they would be focused on making DESCIPLES, not converting people.
Sorry if there are typos..I'm on a touch screen with big fingers and super heavy eyelids...
1 comment:
Praying.
Food for thought for sure. My passion is for discipleship. I appreciate the evangelist's role though. If one is truly converted, then they are sealed and the Lord will get them to the right place for discipleship. If they are not, then at least there is a seed planted. Remember Jesus had many followers who walked away, then more, then more and had very few true-staying, set-their-face-like-flint disciples...
I pray for fertile soil and I DO pray for discipleship ministries to arise in churches and campuses! Nick Hall from PULSE is evangelizing with Winter Jam and thousands are standing up to receive Christ when he gives the invitation. I am on the intercessory prayer team for PULSE and one of my main focuses is on God prepping discipleship ministries on the other side of their hearing and responding to the gospel presentation.
I have walked with the Lord long enough to know that the work...whichever part, is up to Him and His Spirit...and our part is prayer and faithfulness to fulfill the call He has on our life. Franklin has the evangelism call, and I pray for those with the discipleship call to be faithful to what God has called them to do.
GOD BLESS you Kassidy!!! I love your heart for God's kingdom and look forward to more stories. I pray He will penetrate the heart of the man in the wheelchair and that the Word of God will minister to him, and set him free! I am also praying that you will see God's hand at work answering your prayers!
Post a Comment