Wednesday, February 17, 2016
God is at work in Idaho
Hope for Life is doing a year long campaign in and around Twin Falls, Idaho this year. There are five congregations working together in a concentrated effort to reach the lost in their part of the world. I was blessed to be there a couple of weeks ago to present my seminar on sharing stories to make disciples.
Right at 60 people attended the seminar. That represents about 40% of their membership for those congregations. They were engaged, motivated, and hungry to learn effective ways to talk to their friends and neighbors.
Sunday night I was preaching at the congregation in Rupert. They had four baptisms, two of whom had attended the seminar. That was the most baptisms at one time that any of them could remember.
But here is what is neat about those precious new Christians.
They were already seeking after Jesus. Their hearts were ready.
The members at Rupert and their leaders had already been working with them. They made friends, invited them to church, shared their stories, studied the Bible with them. Doing life together. These four were ready to give their life to Jesus and enter into his story.
There will be more. They have others they are talking to and these new Christians will talk to friends, family, and neighbors.
Other Christians from the seminar have already let me know about the opportunities they have had to share their story.
And it was pretty cool that the whole church at Rupert and some from other congregations traveled to one of the member's home and witnessed the baptisms. In a hot tub. With snow and ice still on the ground.
So here is what I am praying about for my family in Idaho.
That they will recognize the opportunity when God and the Holy Spirit connect them to seekers.
That they will know the appropriate stories to share with them.
And that they will have the courage to ask if they can tell them a story.
Same thing I am praying for lots of my friends around the country and around the world.
Same thing I pray for me and my Southern Hills family.
So...
Thanks God for what you are doing in Idaho. Thank you for trusting us to work with you in telling our world the good news of your Son. Give the increase.
Right at 60 people attended the seminar. That represents about 40% of their membership for those congregations. They were engaged, motivated, and hungry to learn effective ways to talk to their friends and neighbors.
Sunday night I was preaching at the congregation in Rupert. They had four baptisms, two of whom had attended the seminar. That was the most baptisms at one time that any of them could remember.
But here is what is neat about those precious new Christians.
They were already seeking after Jesus. Their hearts were ready.
The members at Rupert and their leaders had already been working with them. They made friends, invited them to church, shared their stories, studied the Bible with them. Doing life together. These four were ready to give their life to Jesus and enter into his story.
There will be more. They have others they are talking to and these new Christians will talk to friends, family, and neighbors.
Other Christians from the seminar have already let me know about the opportunities they have had to share their story.
And it was pretty cool that the whole church at Rupert and some from other congregations traveled to one of the member's home and witnessed the baptisms. In a hot tub. With snow and ice still on the ground.
So here is what I am praying about for my family in Idaho.
That they will recognize the opportunity when God and the Holy Spirit connect them to seekers.
That they will know the appropriate stories to share with them.
And that they will have the courage to ask if they can tell them a story.
Same thing I am praying for lots of my friends around the country and around the world.
Same thing I pray for me and my Southern Hills family.
So...
Thanks God for what you are doing in Idaho. Thank you for trusting us to work with you in telling our world the good news of your Son. Give the increase.
