牧者心聲 Pastor's Message
07/12/2009
"How Much Time Do You Have To Share?”
1 Thessalonians 5.1-3: “Now, brothers, about times and dates we
do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of
the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying,
"Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as
labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
This week a few of us from church and the missionaries
have been at City College and S.F. State with EPIC, a summer team
designed by Campus Crusade for Christ. Made up of both staff and
college students, the students are learning to share the gospel
through the 4 Spiritual Laws booklet, now known more simply as
KGP (Knowing God Personally). It was a bit challenging to use at
first because I didn't know it too well. Watching only one other
EPIC member use the KGP, it was my turn. With only a ½ an hour
before our day was over, I managed to share with a transfer
student who was waiting for a friend.
Fumbling around with the booklet a bit, I noticed how
bland and awkward it was to read it. Yes, it delivers the gospel in a
concise form, but this method is very different from the method
many of us are acquainted to, which is to befriend people and then
share. This form is very succinct, even up to the broad questions
we ask before sharing the booklet. But, as the missionaries and I
debriefed, we noticed that it does not matter if this method is
different from what they are used to. The end result is still very
similar. EPIC, and also our missionaries are also noticing that in a
way, time is not on their side. With so many students to share with,
and the end of the month only 3 weeks away, this time will pass
faster than they think.
Which is my challenge for you. Who do you often come in
contact with? Co-workers, neighbors, friends? How well do you
know them? How much does it matter? Maybe it does to you,
maybe it does not. But, how important is it for us to share with
those who do not know Jesus, who do not know the gospel? And
really, how much time do we have to spare? Perhaps we should
have the mentality that the EPIC group has, where they see that
their window of opportunity is only so large (or small), meaning
that every chance they have to meet with someone counts. If you
are a Christian, is it that way for you? Jesus will return soon. What
opportunities have you taken to share about HIM? It's not too late
to share about Jesus today!
Brother Benjamin Chung
PS. If you would like to join us, we are still training with EPIC to
outreach to college students in the following weeks. Just let us
know and join us!
| 