Go and Make Disciples

Ladies from a little, evangelical, country church decided to move outside the walls of their church and minister to people in their community. They happened along my parents’ house. My dad was unable to work at that time, having rolled a tractor over on himself, breaking both his legs. Although there were only three of us kids at that time, Mom’s salary didn’t stretch far enough.

Seeing an obvious need, the ladies asked if there was anything my parents needed. Not one to accept charity, my mom reluctantly admitted we were low on food, until the garden vegetables came in. When pressed further, she added that my sister and I could use some socks.

Imagine Mom’s surprise when she came home the next day to a porch filled with groceries. “Not one or two little bags,” she recounted several times over the years. “But a whole porch full.” And tucked in among the groceries were little girls’ socks, warm ones as well as the pretty, lacy kind. Those women never verbally shared the gospel with my parents, but they got the picture. Mom and Dad started attending the church.

My siblings and I pretty much grew up there, taught by knowledgeable, dedicated, caring teachers. One teacher rewarded our memory work by taking us water skiing. We learned as much by watching their lives as we did from the class lessons.

What are you doing to reach your community? One of my brothers mentors men who have just been released from prison. He spends time with them, gives advice when asked, and does a lot of listening. He prays for them and enlists the rest of us to do the same. He introduces them to other church members with similar interests. Can you imagine how much easier it for these gentlemen to set foot in the door of a church when they are accompanied by someone who cares about them?

Many Open Bible ministers and lay people find ways to bless their community. You will read about a few of them in this issue. Thankfully, their attitude is quite different than that of a friend who, a few years back, approached her pastor about adding a fitness room to the church – not so people in the community could have a safe, inexpensive place to exercise – but so she wouldn’t have to work out with non-believers. They made her uncomfortable.

You know, if we were very careful, we would never have to rub shoulders with the “world” at all. We could patronize only “Christian” shops, offices, and schools. Others would be welcome to join us, as long as we approved.

I don’t know if my parents would have walked in the doors of their little church without that initial contact from those ladies. They had both done some things they were not proud of and most likely would have felt condemned in most churches. Thankfully, the women visiting our house that day didn’t wait for “us” to come to “them.”

Jesus told us to “go” and make disciples of all nations. He knew the nations would not simply “come” on their own.

Andrea Johnson,
Managing Editor,
Message of the Open Bible