| Transforming Success | | Print | |
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Two local teenaged boys joined a ten-day cross-cultural missions training program last year, hosted by Trever and Joan Godard at the Matthew Training Centre in Guadalajara, Mexico. The teenagers were looking for an adventure and a good time. They succeeded at both, though not in ways they initially imagined. God led them in a journey within their hearts, where all real adventures truly begin. One activity planned for the training team was visiting a local hospital with the intention of ministering, or "purposeful giving," to the patients. As the team split off in twos, the boys found their way through the corridors, entering the room of an ill and dying man. Unbeknownst to them, the boys were stepping through a door of opportunity. They approached the man's bed and sat down. Nervously, they asked if they could pray for him. "Pray?" The man questioned, "Who are you? What kind of prayer would you want to pray?" Taken aback by the inquiry, the boys fumbled out, "We are followers of Jesus. And we- we just want to pray that God will... comfort you during this time..." Despite his fragility, the elderly man's gaze was fierce. "If I am wrong about God and my own belief system, I would rather die in sin than accept the prayers from two Jesus followers." Flustered and a little afraid, the two teenagers said a quiet "sorry to bother you, sir" and quickly retreated from the room. They were feeling both embarrassment, for not quite knowing how to respond, and failure, for not being able to minister to the man in a way they were expecting. Nearby, a Christian nurse watched and prayed. Aware of the enormous learning potential of the situation, she had chosen not to caution the boys about the man they approached, and not to rescue them from his harsh response. Rather, she allowed the boys to experience what was before them and prayed that they would respond by allowing the situation to draw them closer to God, into the adventure of everyday life with Christ. They did. The next year, these same two teenagers returned to the Matthew Training Centre. This time, however, there was a difference. They still loved a good time and an adventure. However, instead of aimlessly wandering through life, they realized their experiences had ultimate purpose. Jesus could use them in extraordinary ways, especially when they sought out particular doors through which He was inviting them. Energetically, they rallied the rest of the team to prepare for their time in the hospital. "Come on, everyone!" they cheered, "We need to really pray Jesus will open doors for us while we talk with the people. We don't want the same thing to happen like last time. We really want to be able to minister to them!" They shared the story of the old man, encouraging the group to ask God whom He wanted them each to visit. "Don't worry if they don't respond well," they explained, "It's not about you, it's about what God's doing! So, don't take reactions too personally." The two boys did not allow the situation to defeat them, rather they succeeded by advancing towards a life of discipleship and ministry in service of God. They stepped into the adventure Jesus set before them and their hearts were transformed. What adventure has God set before you? |