I met on a Saturday morning with my church’s evangelism team. We studied Scriptures and prayed for God to provide opportunities to share the gospel at the park. Then we broke into small groups to meet with people and point them to Christ.
As we strolled along the concrete sidewalk, I saw a lady playing ball with her son in a large field of grass. I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to speak to her. I told her we wanted to encourage people. She said, “Thank you.” Then I tried to tell her about Jesus, but she shook her head. I started to walk away when a man from my group asked her to church. She announced that she didn’t speak English. The accent sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. My friend then asked which language she spoke. It was one I had studied in college. Still, I wanted to leave. I hadn’t used the language in years, and my skills were rusty. I was embarrassed. I tried to justify that if I couldn’t speak clearly, it would reflect poorly on God. Yet, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t let me depart. My feet stuck to the ground until I shared about Jesus. I wound up having a five-minute gospel conversation in a foreign language with the lady. I felt like I suddenly had the gift of tongues because I understood her and also recalled Christian vocabulary. Amazingly, she grasped my poor grammar and complimented my pronunciation. My mouth gaped in shock. Definitely a work of God. She said her mother prayed for her. I responded that was nice but not enough. She needed a personal relationship with Christ. I told her God wanted her to know He loved her so much, that He sent me to share that love in words she could comprehend. She took it as a sign from God and indicated she would look into reading the Bible. I showed her where to download the Bible app to get her language and recommended the book of John. As I finished my blog series on the “I Am” statements of Jesus, I realized that His story doesn’t stop there. Because of who Jesus is, our lives are changed when we believe in Christ. My encounter at the park reminded me of Paul’s words in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (NKJV). Jesus didn’t die just for English speakers. He died for all nations, tribes, and tongues (Revelation 7:9). Salvation is for everyone who believes, for the Jews first and also for the Greeks. The Gentiles. People like me. Like the lady on the sidewalk with her little boy. Who knows, maybe one day I will rejoice in heaven standing beside this woman and her son. What a joy that would be. I can’t let shame of unused language skills make me ashamed of the gospel. As a believer, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I pray that God will empower you to be unashamed too.
11 Comments
6/7/2023 11:12:34 am
Thanks for sharing your story with honesty. It shows how God blesses our efforts no matter how feeble we think they might be.
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Joanna Eccles
6/7/2023 09:48:35 pm
When we are weak, He is strong.
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6/7/2023 10:15:48 pm
Joanna, I distinctly remember a time when I was on a team with many people far more qualified to share the gospel than I, at least how I judged it. In that experience, none of them shared with a particular man, but my spirit burned within me. I finally did it, under the inspiration of the Spirit. God taught me a huge lesson that day. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Joanna Eccles
7/4/2023 03:39:39 pm
I am so thankful you were obedient to share with that man that day. We will continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to use the words of truth you shared then.
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Yvonne Morgan
6/9/2023 11:06:16 am
Amen Joanna. I love this testimony, especially how you shared in another language. May God grow the seed you planted
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Joanna Eccles
7/4/2023 03:40:19 pm
Thanks for praying that God will water the seed in her heart and continue to call her towards Christ.
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6/9/2023 02:15:19 pm
How wonderful that God gave you just the words you needed to share the love of Jesus with this woman. Your message is a reminder that God will equip us the share the Good News if we step out in faith. Thank you, Joanna.
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Joanna Eccles
7/4/2023 03:41:09 pm
God equips us for what He call us to do. He is a good God like that. :D
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J.D. Wininger
7/1/2023 10:56:36 pm
So much to appreciate about this post Ms. Joanna. So often, God wants to use the least so that there can be no mistaking He was involved in it. What was the likelihood of your meeting someone who needed the special language skills you could provide to help them learn about Jesus. Sure sounded like a "Jesus thang" to me. Y'all may better know it as a "Divine Appointment." Whatever you call it, sounds like God arranged to have the right person, with the right skills, at the right time to help spread His message. And in the process, He grew your evangelism skills and your faith all at the same time. Proud of you then, proud of you now young lady.
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Joanna Eccles
7/4/2023 03:42:03 pm
I am thankful for Divine Appointments because it reminds us that God is intentional where He takes us if we will but look for it.
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AuthorJoanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over twenty years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program. She is passionate about discipleship and helping people grow in Christ. Joanna enjoys coffee and reading, and currently lives in Florida. Categories
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