“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name…” (Matthew 28:19)
Has it been four years already? If you’ve followed this blog for anytime, you will already know that a little over four years ago my family and I moved to a new town 30 miles from where we had lived for much of our marriage. It’s a beautiful town… with wonderful people.
Just recently, my husband and I have injected ourselves into the community. Though we are still busy in our local church at our previous location, we know if we are to win this new community for the Lord, we must first get to know them. I have become very involved in the PTA and find myself in the schools weekly. This is really important to me because not only am I helping our schools to run more effectively for our precious children, but I also get to connect with the other moms and teachers in my community.
Last week, I finally went walking at the field in town with one of the moms from my son’s school. It was actually fun! Sometimes I go walking by myself at the State Park but Hubby gets a lot concerned about me walking alone in that hugh park – where is his faith right? So it was really exciting to finally have a friend to walk with, and I’m praying a Home Bible study will develop soon.
Hubby, with his crazy schedule, has also found a way to become a part of our community. He has taken on the responsibility of coaching one of the basketball teams at our Middle School! That was totally a God thing! God opened that door at the time we needed it and Hubby walked right through it. Somehow though, I think this is more play than work for him, Ha! He is having way too much fun, studying plays and “practicing” with our son Jonathan, who is also on his team. Coaching will give him the opportunity to connect with the dads in our community, make some friends and hopefully get a home bible study. I am praying hard for him though, because as a Bible Quizzing coach myself, it can be a little tricky working with parents when their children are involved. He will need the wisdom of God to keep everyone friendly and on the same winning page 😉
All these efforts may seem futile, however the driving force behind all these endeavors is a burden to win our neighbors to the Lord. We no longer want to hide our heads in the sand as we drive to our wonderful home church 30 miles away to worship our magnificent, saving God. I will no longer make excuses or pray for God to send someone else, while countless fathers, mothers, children, and young adults have no idea that Repentance, baptism in Jesus name and the gift of the Holy Ghost is available to lift the guilt of sin and break the invisible, but very real, chains that hold them captive.
Having great conversations with my neighbors about our kids, homes, dogs and the supermarket in town that is closing; is no longer enough. Going to birthday parties, play dates and working together on the stage display is an inditement to my soul, because I know the whole time that if I don’t say something, this soul might be lost for ever.
The Lord has laid this burden heavily on ours hearts and we cannot shake it, neither do we want to shake it. We don’t know how, we have so many fears, so many questions and so many concerns, but they all pale in the light of eternity. “Who will go?” the Master asks, “send me… send me. If the Lord wants someone I’ll go.”
Please help us pray, as I pray for you – apostolic families all over this great nation, to put our sickles in the harvest. The end is nearer than when we first believe. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain…” (John 15:16)
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