StreetLife - Where’s Your Faith?
We have many encounters as we walk about and pray for people. This past month I have been struck by two random encounters we have had in different places and on different days. No outreach is the same and normally we are open to what God is doing whilst we are out and who He may bring along our path.
The Bible recommends us to be always ready to share why and how we have faith. The verse goes like this, taken from 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Such a great verse and packed with top tips such as Jesus is in charge not us and any sharing should be with love and kindness.
Throughout our December outreaches we have been out inviting people to consider the Gift of God toward them. On one such day we were asked by a man we met, Mike how strong our faith was on a scale of 1-10 and if we could prove that God was real. My response was my faith is a strong 10 and that sadly I can’t prove God is real but in my heart I know, that I know, that know he is real and He is love. I explained that this is not about a text book clever answer or evidence but rather that faith is born in the heart of the hearer and no matter what we have done you can be forgiven when we accept the work Jesus did on the cross to reconcile and bring humanity back into relationship with God the father - love in action. Mike replied with a tear in their eye, your faith is very strong. We spoke for some time and then ended up praying on street with Mike, hands open wide he openly received payer. I that God would reveal Himself to the heart and that the mind would follow. What a God set up that was.
Another day on a cold dark evening we walked and found a woman sat on a bench looking low and down. We asked if she was ok and she began to tell us that all was not ok. Ruth was sleeping in a tent waiting to be housed but was having trouble getting the breakthrough. We took for a bite to eat and drink in a cafe as sometimes outreach needs to be sensible - she was cold, hungry and tired. As we went in Ruth asked me what she could have - that question alone was moving to me, can you and I imagine having to feel to ask permission to eat ? We sat and spoke for sometime about faith and God and listened to her life story, again we were able to pray together in the cafe before she went on her way. We have been able to chat with her since and try to help her get a bit more action going toward her getting a safer place to stay. In the meantime we pray for Ruth to be kept safe.
Two very different encounters but both had the hand of God on them. We are thankful that we could be out on those specific days remember always be ready to give a reason and do it with love and kindness.