Open Air Preaching - Part 1

The Lord has stirred my heart lately. To get up and effect lives. I have had this feeling of ineffectiveness for too long. Maybe 4 years. Alison and I have been attempting to reach out to our neighbors, but, for the most part they have not responded. It feels like we have successfully been showing them that we like them, and that we are kind people, but we have not had opportunities to share our faith with them. We have done things like help them with their yard, pray for their sick relatives, share tools, and have chats over the fence, but our verbal testimony has been scant.

I've been feeling a growing dissatisfaction over this fact. Listening to Ray Comfort preach on evangelism and hell has been motivating. If hell is real, how can I stand by and say nothing while those around me are heading towards it and say nothing? I have become comfortable and mediocre in my faith.

Yes we have done some things that seem to be fruitful; for instance we have been contributing to a young house church plant. Alison and I and one other couples has the opportunity to plant the church about 5 years ago and we have grown in number and depth substantially since then. God has taught us how to love his community deeply. To be spiritually encouraging, healing, and vulnerable together. We have seen healing of different kinds and a clearer sense of identity as sons and daughters of our loving Father. I count this as fruit.

And I believe that it is lasting fruit that we have seen within the church, but still the sense of effectiveness as a Christian in the world has grown painful. It is like the finger of God is poking me in the ribs. Alison and I believe that the Lord may have big things in store for us. It seems clear that He has prepared us for something. We have been so abundantly blessed with spiritually profound mentors and teachers and family, and churches. We ask God, what do you want to do with all this training and experience? Where do you want to take us? To whom do you want us to live among?

We prayerfully wait, as we move with our feet.

-Rod