Thursday, August 15, 2013
How 300 or 400 of us brought Chance to know Jesus.
I told Chance's story last night at Southern Hills in MidPoint. Last night Chance became a Christian. His father-in-law and I baptized him right before services. I thought I would share with you the people involved in helping him find Jesus. I know because the night before I asked him to share the story of his journey.
He did not have much real exposure to Jesus while growing up. But he married Janalyn, a Southern Hills girl, about five years ago. There were church showers and I did the wedding, and some of our people attended. So he got to see a church that cared and was involved in a special time of life. Jesus seeds were being planted.
They are remodeling their house and for the past few months have lived with his in-laws, Don and Carlene. He watched how Jesus was an important part of their life and realized that if he and Janalyn were to have that kind of marriage someday, he better put Jesus in their marriage. There is power in living as a faithful witness.
So they started coming to church. Chance loves music and the whole singing without instruments "blew him away". He was drawn to God and moved by the purity of voices raised in praise. So everyone involved in our praise teams -- and everyone singing in the assembly -- were calling Chance to God.
They attended our Starting Point class. This is something we expect all potential members to attend. He saw the expectations we have for our people in terms of living out our faith. It was here that he first started thinking about baptism. So everyone that is involved in our Starting Point ministry was moving Chance down a spiritual road.
They came to Vacation Bible School. Chance came to the adult class. He heard Randy Harris and Robert Oglesby talk about God and freedom. Janalyn would have been there but she was drafted to help teach. It was exciting to see all those children, and adults, excited about Jesus. Loved the class, loved Mo the Musical. Lots of people met him in class. So everyone that had a part in VBS was motivating Chance to follow Jesus and be part of something incredible.
The last night he heard me talk about Moses and the Burning Bush. He told he didn't really remember everything I talked about (good thing Randy and Robert had already taught), but he did remember one thing. That when God calls you, there are only two answers. No or Go. He said I was talking right to him. It was his "burning bush" moment when God called him.
So he asked if they could come over to our house and talk about baptism. So we did. We talked about the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, about dying for him, and about living for him. We prayed together. And the next night we baptized him.
His confession was a mini-sermon on the love God had for him and how he wanted to follow Jesus. And we baptized him. Don, his father-in- law, prayed over him. Very proud of Don, he only choked up a little. Janalyn was crying tears of joy. So was I.
He is our brother, And by my count, it only took about 300 or 400 of us to reach him.
So don't ever think what you are doing doesn't matter. It does. Every day. Someone is being influenced. So thank you God for Janalyn and her parents. And all those who supported their marriage. Thanks for gifted singers who lead us in praise to you, and thanks for all those who poured themselves into VBS . Thanks for gifted teachers and people who open their home to talk about Jesus.
It matters.
Just ask Chance.
He did not have much real exposure to Jesus while growing up. But he married Janalyn, a Southern Hills girl, about five years ago. There were church showers and I did the wedding, and some of our people attended. So he got to see a church that cared and was involved in a special time of life. Jesus seeds were being planted.
They are remodeling their house and for the past few months have lived with his in-laws, Don and Carlene. He watched how Jesus was an important part of their life and realized that if he and Janalyn were to have that kind of marriage someday, he better put Jesus in their marriage. There is power in living as a faithful witness.
So they started coming to church. Chance loves music and the whole singing without instruments "blew him away". He was drawn to God and moved by the purity of voices raised in praise. So everyone involved in our praise teams -- and everyone singing in the assembly -- were calling Chance to God.
They attended our Starting Point class. This is something we expect all potential members to attend. He saw the expectations we have for our people in terms of living out our faith. It was here that he first started thinking about baptism. So everyone that is involved in our Starting Point ministry was moving Chance down a spiritual road.
They came to Vacation Bible School. Chance came to the adult class. He heard Randy Harris and Robert Oglesby talk about God and freedom. Janalyn would have been there but she was drafted to help teach. It was exciting to see all those children, and adults, excited about Jesus. Loved the class, loved Mo the Musical. Lots of people met him in class. So everyone that had a part in VBS was motivating Chance to follow Jesus and be part of something incredible.
The last night he heard me talk about Moses and the Burning Bush. He told he didn't really remember everything I talked about (good thing Randy and Robert had already taught), but he did remember one thing. That when God calls you, there are only two answers. No or Go. He said I was talking right to him. It was his "burning bush" moment when God called him.
So he asked if they could come over to our house and talk about baptism. So we did. We talked about the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, about dying for him, and about living for him. We prayed together. And the next night we baptized him.
His confession was a mini-sermon on the love God had for him and how he wanted to follow Jesus. And we baptized him. Don, his father-in- law, prayed over him. Very proud of Don, he only choked up a little. Janalyn was crying tears of joy. So was I.
He is our brother, And by my count, it only took about 300 or 400 of us to reach him.
So don't ever think what you are doing doesn't matter. It does. Every day. Someone is being influenced. So thank you God for Janalyn and her parents. And all those who supported their marriage. Thanks for gifted singers who lead us in praise to you, and thanks for all those who poured themselves into VBS . Thanks for gifted teachers and people who open their home to talk about Jesus.
It matters.
Just ask Chance.
