In Multiply, author and pastor Francis Chan reminds us that making disciples does not have to be a complicated process. At its heart, making disciples simply means telling others about Jesus, and teaching them to follow Him.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine with the MBC Tysons Orchestra mission team. We served at a music camp for kids. Although I felt compelled to join the team, I was unclear how God would use me since I don’t play in the orchestra. But we have developed friendships over the years, and I couldn’t wait to serve together with them.
The language barrier in country was significant. I don’t speak the language; and very few of the kids spoke more than a few words of English. (Fortunately, we had a wonderful translator.) One camper in particular gravitated toward our team. He seemed to have a hard time making friends with his peers. But he was fascinated by my English Bible, and wanted to read it with me at every free moment. I sensed a divine opportunity to invest in this young man for the Kingdom, so I met with him whenever we were able.
I wanted to make the most of our time together in the Word. But our translator was very busy, and was not always available. Then it dawned on me—over the summer at MBC, we had memorized the Romans Road. Now I’m no artist, but I quickly sketched a picture as best I could of a car, with him at the wheel, telling other people about Jesus. Each of the road signs had one of the key verses on them. I asked him to bring his Russian Bible whenever we met from then on. After he sounded out the English words, I asked him to read the verses aloud from his Russian Bible. This way, he would understand what these verses meant.
Other kids seemed interested in what we were doing as well, and several of them copied my drawing. I prayed that the Lord would give them understanding (in spite of my pitiful stick figures) as to how He desires each of us to share our faith with those around us who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As the week went on, I began to think that my camper friend was there for me just as much as I was there for him. I wasn’t sure what I could contribute in an orchestra camp, but here was a young man with a thirst for the Word of God; what a privilege it was to share it with him!
The English Bible I brought with me was given to me as a graduation gift. It represented a lot of hard work, long hours, and also a sense of accomplishment. But the more I thought about it, the more I began to feel like I had just been holding on to it for my new friend.
On the last morning of camp, there were lots of photos, hugs, and more than a few tears shed by the kids (and the grown ups too). I told my camper friend that I had something for him before he left camp. I made sure that our translator was nearby as I told this young man about my Bible. Then I told him how proud of him I was for his thirst for the Word, and how much he had encouraged me as well, and that I wanted him to have the Bible. I had inscribed a verse to share with him on the inside cover. He gave me a big hug, and said “spacibo!” which means, “thank you!”
Making disciples does not have to be complicated. We are each called to share the Word of God with others, just as others have shared it with us. And when God asks us to do something, we can be sure that He will provide for us the opportunity to be obedient to His command.
Ask God who He has placed in your life today with whom you can share the good news of Jesus Christ!
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