One Sows - Another Reaps

For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ John 4:37
I read a great story that fits with yesterday's post on witnessing:

The great English preacher Francis Dixon asked a young man in his church named Noelle to give his testimony at a revival. So Noelle stood up and gave this testimony:“I was in Sydney, Australia when a little old man walked up to me and said, ‘Sir, if you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?’

“With that the old man turned on his heel, said, ‘Toodle-loo’, and walked away. So when I got back to England the first thing that I did was to seek out a pastor who led me to Christ.”
After the service, a young man came up to Noelle and said, “That’s my testimony too. I met that same man!” Francis Dixon was so moved by this that when he went on a world tour of preaching, he shared it at every meeting. And when he preached in cities across Australia, he came across hundreds of people with the very same story.

So when Dixon made it to Sydney, he tracked down this old man at his home and told him about all of those people who had come to Christ through him. The old gentleman broke down and said, “Sir, this is the first time in my life that I’ve known of anyone who has ever come to Jesus because of my witness.”

Now that is a great story about how to be yourself and witness with intention!  Some sow the seeds; some harvest. So whatever role God calls you to fulfill, be faithful in it because you never know the impact you can have!

You want me to do what?

We just finished a missions conference at my church.  The final sermon was on four types of evangelism: intercession, relational, service, and proclamation.  The idea was that we are all called to be a witness, but we are not all called to do it in the same way. 

For people who don’t have the spiritual gift of evangelism, the word witness can stir up some unpleasant memories or paralyzing anxieties. In fact, I felt like a complete failure when I tried to follow the FAITH method that was designed to make witnessing easier!

Jim Henderson, author of Evangelism Without Additives: What if Sharing Your Faith Meant Just Being Yourself? suggests just being yourself is the best way to share the Gospel.  The authentic story of the work Christ has done in our lives is the best testimony we have.  When we tell the truth about Christ’s power to save us and keep us from sin, our testimony will be credible.

If the thought of taking classes has kept you from witnessing, try a different approach: be yourself!  Like the blind man Jesus healed, simply say, “Though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

SBTC Empower Evangelism Conference Information

Encouragement

"One word of encouragement when someone is first starting to pursue their dream is worth more than a million words of appreciation when they have acheived it and already become sucessful." Doe Zantamata

I serve as the Director of Women's Ministry at my church. I remember during the first few weeks I would hear criticism about ministries I was developing. People were telling me I wasn't doing things the way they thought it should be done. Some of the men said they would be talking with staff about my leadership.

Then my Pastor sent me an email. "Uh-oh," I thought, "Here it comes."  The email said, "I want you to know that I think you are doing a great job. You're doing exactly what we asked you to do. Just keep at it." My attitude was changed and my confidence came back. I began to work with renewed joy and now, six years later, the Women's Ministry is growing numerically and more important spiritually.

Paul told the Roman believers that he wanted to see them so they could encourage each other. You and I know how helpful that can be. We all appreciate an arm around the shoulder or a kind word.

If you've received some unexpected encouragement, thank God for it. And when the Holy Spirit leads you to encourage someone, go ahead and do it. Be an encourager. Both of you will be glad you did. 
 
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." Romans 1:11-12

Mentoring

One of my favorite aspects of serving with women is mentoring. I enjoy watching women discover new things about themselves and helping them work through the trials of life. When I first began working with women however, mentoring was the last thing I wanted to do!  Nobody told me what mentoring was all about.  I didn't know what I was supposed to do.   I found the process frustrating and I am sure the women I wanted to help would agree.  It is only by God’s grace that I remain in ministry after such a negative experience.  Here are some things I have learned along the way.  I hope they help you as you begin to reach out to others.

Someone to learn from. Find someone with experience to help guide you.  I asked an older woman to teach me how to minister to women.  We continue to meet regularly, and as she builds into my life, I can better build into others.   Learn by watching others with experience.

Going slowly. You can’t help the whole world.  Mentoring can take a lot of time and it is better to serve two or three faithfully instead of nine or ten poorly.  Jesus had an inner circle He worked closely with even as He discipled the twelve.

Regular debriefing. Ask for input from those you trust.  Find someone you can talk with on a weekly or monthly basis to evaluate progress in those you are helping.  Do people see spiritual growth in them?  Can others suggest new materials you might use or ways to help connect them to the church?  There is wisdom in asking for help.

A supervisor to help. Sometimes you run into problems.  Ask your women’s minister or pastor to be available for consultation. I frequently spend evenings on the telephone helping others plan a new approach to situations.

These are just a few ideas.  I would love to hear what you would add to this list!

　"Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited."  Titus 2:3-5

Crazy Busy

I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2

My life is crazy busy right now.  Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about!  It seems there are always more things to do, places to go, and people to meet than there is time to do them!  And while none of us would want a life without meaningful things to do, this fast pace threatens to rob us of the quietness that we need. 

When we’re driving a car there are warning signs to slow us down.  We can’t have our foot on the accelerator all the time. We need those same  kind of reminders in all aspects of our lives.  Today, my body is telling me to slow down.  I need to take take my foot off the accelerator and rest for a while!

The psalmist clearly knew the importance of times of calm and quiet. God Himself “rested” on the seventh day. And with more messages to preach and more people to heal, Jesus went apart from the crowds and rested a while (Matt. 14:13; Mark 6:31). He knew it wasn’t wise to accelerate through life with our gas gauge registering on “weary” all the time.

When was the last time you could say, “I have calmed and quieted my soul”? (Ps. 131:2).  Just for an hour or even a few minutes today turn off the distractions that keep you from listening to God’s voice, and let Him speak to you as you read His Word. Let Him refresh your heart and mind with the strength to live life well for His glory.

Stop and take a break from the busyness of life so that you can refuel your soul.