First Time (warning - Christian thread)

[preciousjeni]

Hey all! I just wanted to say that I went for the first time this morning (well yesterday morning) to evangelize! I know it sounds horrible, but it's something I never did before.

As a younger person, I did "lifestyle evangelism" and tried to set a good example. Then I went through my insane years - yes they deserve to be italicized - and now I'm back.

It was a great experience and one of the strangest effects was that, while I'm not very eloquent, for lack of a better word, in prayer, I found my prayers just pouring out today. Very cool! So, I'm a happy girl going into Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday.

Yes, I know that Thanksgiving was created under questionable circumstances, but I love the meaning we've given it.

[trojangal]

Kudos to you!!

Isn't it a great feeling? I know the feeling too, and I'm so excited when ever I get a chance to share my faith and beliefs with my students. Of course, not in the classroom, but through our activities where I can be a role model. I'm active with a group of students called First Priority and a community service group where we go out into the community to help those in need, and to me, it's so important for the kids to see teachers involved in living the walk! It's great to be able to tell the kids if they ask, where I go to church, what my faith is, but mostly, just sharing my beliefs! I definitely try to show them that Christ was important to us as a servant-leader, and that we should follow is example.

Blessings to you on this holiday!


Cheryl

[honeychile]

Congratulations!!!!!!! The "high" of that first time is unlike no other out there! I'm thrilled for you, and glad to see more people (esp greeks!) working for the glory of Jesus!


(edited for spelling error!)

[smiley21]

wow that is pretty amazing. it shows me how i need to work on myself. i doing the best i can by being an example, but i know that my faith needs some fine tuning

great job jeni

[Honeykiss1974]

Congratulations as well!!! I remember my first time and it is scary - moreso nervous because you don't want to come across sounding like an idiot (at least it was for me). LoL

Just continue to lean on the Lord's understanding and strength for He will ALWAYS give you the right words to say.

[trojangal]

Originally posted by honeychile
I'm thrilled for you, and glad to see more people (esp greeks!) working for the glory of Jesus!

COSIGN!!!

One of the largest joys during my collegiate years was knowing that several of the Greek women at my college were very active in Campus Outreach ( similar to Campus Crusaders) and other activities like Baptist Campus Ministries. It was through their great examples that I was able to find my spiritual path again! I was also fortunate enough to serve on a BCM "clown team" to share the word through clown drama. It was a blast, and a great way to show others what I could do.

Now that I'm older, I hope to be an inspiration by serving as a role model, especially to the younger generation who sees/goes through so much these days. It breaks my heart to see so many young teens/teens indulgining in at-risk behaviors, and I feel that if they had a better spiritual relationship with Christ, they can then find the path to make better decisions.

Keep up the good work!

[absoluteZChi]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
[B]Hey all! I just wanted to say that I went for the first time this morning (well yesterday morning) to evangelize! I know it sounds horrible, but it's something I never did before.

Everyone seems so happy for you Jeni ! I can hear the happiness in words...I'm not familiar with this, could someone fill me in.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by absoluteZChi
Everyone seems so happy for you Jeni ! I can hear the happiness in words...I'm not familiar with this, could someone fill me in.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but those of us who responded (and Jeni!) are believing Christians, and we believe in spreading the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Taking that first step into evangelism is a huge step, and there really isn't any going back easily. Sharing your faith can get some major doors slammed in your face (figuratively, not literally!), and I for one am terribly happy and proud of Jeni for making that first step!

After all, isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about - giving thanks to our Lord, who provides so much for us?

[Senusret I]

I think she means (if not, this is what I want to know) what exactly do you do when you evangelize? What does it look like?

[honeychile]

There are so many ways & styles, I'll let Jeni tell y'all about hers!

[preciousjeni]

I'm reading a book right now called Lost in America. It's a new way of looking at evangelism. In my situation, I'm lucky that the people in my village are familiar with my seminary. My group (before I joined up with them) would go into downtown and talk to people on the street. We are so helpless, so all we can do is ask the Holy Spirit for the right words. Sometimes people will hear us. In that case, we tell them about our experience with God, give our testimony (how we came to Christ/became Christians) and try to express the greatness of God in all aspects of life. Many times, people are desperate to hear more and they give their lives to God right then and there. We offer to take them with us to Worship Service/Church to learn about discipleship - since we are called in the Great Commission to "make disciples" not just spread the Gospel.

The people who are not interested will either get nasty and walk away, simply say they don't want to hear anymore or say they've heard it before. We simply pray that we run into them again when they're more receptive.

In my case, we just started walking in the village and knocking on doors. Most of the people did hear us. There was one man who is Jewish who was very interested to hear about a Messianic Jewish congregation in the next village over that welcomed Jews who want to learn more about Jesus.

We also ran into a Catholic clergyman. Personally, I see that there is so much we can all learn from Catholicism...the reverence for God, the devotion to what we're all supposed to be doing. But, I do find that many Catholics aren't certain that they have the relationship with God that will put their names in the Book of Life. You can be Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc. and not be a Christian. Likewise, you can be a Christian and not subscribe to a particular denomination. Just going to Church does not make one a Christian. (Just going to school does not make one a student. You have to have a devotion to study.)

We also ran into a woman who said she was of a different religion, but didn't say what, who was offended at what we were doing.

Hope that explains!!

Oh, to respond to another question, I am a believing and convicted Christian woman, doing my best to fulfill the Great Commission to the best of my ability with the direction and support of the Holy Spirit.

[James]

IT sounds like cult recruitment. I guess the technology of it is the same even though the perception of it is different.

[Honeykiss1974]

Many things we all do (faith-based or otherwise) can be classified as "cult recruitment" (i.e. rush, recruitment, fan clubs, etc.)

~~~~~~~~~

Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k&lt
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
~~~~~~~~

So if you all will excuse me, I'm off to join other cult members of the American Girl series. lol Its on now!

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by absoluteZChi
Everyone seems so happy for you Jeni ! I can hear the happiness in words...I'm not familiar with this, could someone fill me in.

My experience:

We usually evangelize while doing an activity such feeding the homeless, distributing clothing to them, etc. For my church, you have to attend a 6 week course. The course baasically covers things like finding "your style", how to handle rejection (because some people can be nasty) and to not take it person, etc.

Evangelizing isn't just walking around "preaching". lol. Many times you can just simply be having a conversation with someone as you go about your everyday life and can sense when the time is right or when someone is truly hurting and needs to know that there is more to this life than just existing or getting by.

As Honeychile said, there are so many ways and styles that its kind of hard to describe with just one story or scenario.

[James]

Its like public speaking right? Another word for making public presentations?

Very little different than running for student government or some other office . . . or speaking in front of hundreds in a business presentation.