Читать книгу I Love the Word Impossible - Ann Kiemel - Страница 14

loving one another—

that’s where evangelism begins.

how

can we change our world…

if we cannot even care about each other in our

own circle?

pick a growing church in the New

Testament.

how about thessalonica? everyone poured in,

not because the sunday school teacher was

so fantastic,

or the curricula… or even the program.

they didn’t even bring in a special musical

group.

but… wow, how they loved one another!

there was john.

would our kids love him too?

shy. inhibited.

not too lovable. but they did love him!

not just on sunday, but every day.

because kids are everyday people.

they loved john every day until he smiled.

and then until one day he laughed.

his mother had called some time ago.

john in a flood of tears had said,

“oh, I’m such a failure… but ann and the kids

love me.

that’s my only hope.”

the non-Christian mother was impressed.

she started coming to church.

it’s kids having the courage to tell each

other…

“i love you”; “i need you”;

“i believe in you”;

or, “i’ve failed you. i’m sorry.”

and proving it by day-to-day caring.

this is evangelism.

listen to our football players…

big, tough…

telling one of the simple, shy, ordinary girls:

“mary, i love you… i really do.”

no laughter, no silly stuff.

deadly serious… really caring about each

other.

“this is how to measure your love: that you lay

down your life for your friends.”

to pray for one another. to feel.

i came to a church with ninety teens.

ordinary setting. youth room.

all the regular stuff.

on-the-beat kids.

announcements.

little circle of weak singing.

regular lessons.

the works.

but i had a BIG GOD

who wanted to do BIG THINGS.

through committed teens!

so… forget the ordinary hymn singing.

forget it…

the little circle of teens week after week after

week.

the same old routine of drab commitment and

blah faith.

expecting nothing.

and not much happening.

i refused to buy it.

not because i am some great expert.

i was totally inadequate.

but i did have a very special God.

if He could do anything,

why couldn’t we start to change our world in

exciting ways?

why couldn’t we reach hundreds more?

i mean, if God is God…

why little drab stuff?