Mark 4:26-28a: “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—…” (NIV)
As a disciple of Jesus I am His witness, a mission worker, a church planter, a mother of four, a wife and later a grandmother. I have had to learn to live out the Gospel in all these areas which often causes tension. I also have had to learn to live in another culture all at the same time.
How about you? Do you experience tension living out the Gospel in the many roles God has assigned you?
While still in college, Jim and I married when I was 21. As we were raising support to serve overseas, one of our co-workers asked me:
“What do you have to offer the Filipino’s: what skills or talents do you have, Sterling? What are your passions?”
“UHHHHH, I like people, I love Jesus, I can teach them to type?” (At that time there weren’t laptops). “I have a minor in Secretarial! So I know how to type,” I responded sheepishly.
“Can you sing or play the piano?” he asked.“Uhhh! No!” I said. This really bothered me. Just what could I offer the Filipino people?
Before I married Jim, I thought I couldn’t be a good pastor’s wife because I couldn’t sing or play the piano.
In response, God gave me I Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calls you, that will also do it.” I then dedicated my life to serving God full-time, and was later called to missions.
After arriving in the Philippines, we asked ourselves: “How do we penetrate the soil in order to share the seeds of Christ, the Gospel, and have it bear fruit?” In the meantime, I found out I was pregnant with our first child, thus adding “mother” to the list of what I was called to be..
God used pre-evangelism and hospitality as two guiding tools for us on the mission field:
PRE-EVANGELISM:
- Friendship: God developed people skills in me at an early age, the very thing I would need to serve the Filipinos in sharing the Gospel. I thought, “I can’t sing or play the piano but I can make friends with these people.” So I asked myself: “What’s it like to be friends here?”
After observing, I set out to be a friend to them. As they got close to me they would ask me “Why are you here?” Or ask me questions about life. I could then share from the Bible and the HOPE that is within me.
Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (ESV)
- Learning their Language demonstrated to them that we were there to stay and we cared deeply about them. Knowing their native language would truly touch their hearts in order to share the gospel.
- Our Children: We also trusted the Filipino people with the births of our children. Most upper class Filipinos (Americans were also considered upper class) would go to the next biggest city, thinking it would be better to deliver there, or even go to the States. The Lord used this to build trust, both for them and us.
After homeschooling my kids in the mornings, I often would take them on errands or visits with people. This not only helped my children feel more comfortable in their new culture, it also forged many friendships with the Filipino women.
4. Daily Living and Intentionality: I learned to shop, to thrive and love the people. We would have trips with our kids, too, bringing them along in the process of getting to know people. We had ballet classes for our kids and for local kids as well. We also took exercising classes, played tennis, and ate in their restaurants. We did all of these things simply to connect with the people, but I think we learned more from them than they did from us!
5. Mentoring: Jim discipled the women on our team through a Bible study that we could use to take to those already saved and train them to help us reach out to others. This built my confidence and grew my faith.
After this, a local pastor asked me to teach a Bible study. This gave me the opportunity to disciple the ladies just like Jim did with me. The Pastor would be there to help as well, if needed, since I had never taught women in another culture and language before. I stepped out in Faith, out of something comfortable to something unknown.
After that study my confidence grew even more until I could start a new Bible Study with some local unsaved business women whom I had gotten to know. Many of them are now my sisters in the Lord.
HOSPITALITY:
The home has often been the center of our work. I believe hospitality is also more than serving others just in the home. It is ushering in the welcome of God and strangers unaware in whatever setting you may find yourself. (Romans 15:7 and Hebrew 13:2) Are you approachable? Do you make people feel welcomed? We joined civic clubs, attended important event parties like birthdays or weddings, and had people over for meals. This may not be for you but you can find ways to get in front of people.
Living in the tension of the Gospel of my calling of motherhood and being a missionary was integrative but wasn’t always easy to figure out. We made it an extension of who we were, how God had wired and discipled us, bringing our family along in the process. Therefore, it became fun and very meaningful, planting seeds through pre-evangelism and hospitality. How has God wired and discipled you? What things does your family like to do where you can bring people around? or what ways can you get your family involved in the community to help bring them along in connecting to people?
Mark 4:26-28a: “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—…” (NIV)
Personal Reflection: Do you find tension living out the Gospel in all God has called you to do? In what ways have you found living in another culture, possibly raising a family and living out the Gospel, sowing His seed to others to be helpful? What do you think of Pre-Evangelism and Hospitality? Read Mark 4 and tell us what you think? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section of the blog, Does Living out the Gospel bring tension?
From one Pilgrim to another together on the journey
“Consider how you might encourage one another on as you see the day approaching…..” Hebrews 10:24-25
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