2009 Evangelism Experiences
This semester the Gospel was shared over 300 times by Fusion Candidates in their travels across the USA. Here are just a few of the reports from our candidate's sharing the Gospel this fall. These experiences are amazing and speak well to the faithfulness of these young people to share the Good News as the Lord has commanded.
Public Transportation: Getting Sick and SAVED in New Orleans
From Danny B. (Age 22)
While we were in New Orleans I developed a pretty bad respiratory infection. We found an urgent care and went in to see if I could get some anti-biotics.
The lady at the front desk told me that they didn’t accept my insurance and that I would have to pay $125 cash. I walked out of the place disappointed. I thought it over and decided that I absolutely needed to get the anti-biotics. I went back in and paid the money and they escorted me to a back room.
I was reading my Bible when a nurse named Ashley walked in. She commented on the Book I was reading and said “Religion is so complicated”. I began to share with her how simple my relationship with Christ was. I began to share that she too was sinful and in need of a Savior.
In the process of my basic Romans-road presentation, she broke down and started crying. There in that doctor’s office Ashley prayed to receive Christ. I really felt the spirit was moving in her.
The night before we had met the college pastor for the First Baptist Church of New Orleans. I gave Ashley my Bible and the telephone number for the college minister. I told her how important it is to get involved with other like-minded Christian people. She agreed to call him and we went our separate ways.
First Time for Everything
From Katlin T. (Age 18)
To tell you truth I really did not do any witnessing before I came to Fusion; I kind of was scared of what people would think. Now I am not scared of anything and have a greater understanding of the Gospel. Over the past couple of months I have enjoyed sharing my faith with the people I have met on the street. Some of them have felt the same way I have. I did not lead anyone to a commitment [in Christ] but I did have a lot of really good conversations sharing Jesus. I feel like I made an impact in their lives. I hope that all the people I talked to will continue to keep their eyes upon God. All this talking to people has helped me out a lot in being able to share my faith more easily.
Though In Fear, On the Path to Christ
From Danielle B. (Age 18)
Amy* is from northeast Africa. I came to know her through street evangelism at the church I have been working at this semester. She is a young Muslim devoted to her family. I formed a relationship with Amy by having her draw henna tattoos on my arms. The art takes a few hours to dry so I had a good bit of time to just talk to her and get to know her. I cultivated this friendship for about a month, all the while asking questions about her faith, and telling her what I believed in as a Christian.
I spent a lot of time reading books and watching princess movies with Amy. She seemed very interested in having someone just love her and spend time with her, and she is so sweet that it was hard to do anything besides just enjoy her company.
About three weeks ago I took Amy to McDonald’s and I told her that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and that I know the Bible is the true word of God. Then I told her about Jesus and how He could save her from eternal separation from God.
Amy was very interested, so much so that she told us that she wished she could become a Christian. She said that her family would never let her become a Christian though. Later on we were able to find out that she has been reading a Bible we gave her and that she secretly prays to Jesus. She is so close to a decision that it hurts to think about it.
*Name changed for security reasons.
Olymanians Need Strengthing Too
From Matt E. (Age 19)
In the KCI airport, Jennifer G. and I approached the only man we could find sitting in the airport so late at night. He was trying to sleep in the chairs. We got talking to him and it didn’t stop for two hours.
He told us his life story up to that point, which was amazing. God was working in his life and it was really evident. He was an Olympian and originally from Lybia. He was trying to get to his Wife and child who were in Wisconsin. We talked with him about the Bible and found that he was an Arab Christian who needed spiritual strengthening. Jennifer and I shared and prayed with him and gave him the comfort that he needed.
A Somali Muslim Comes to Christ
From Nate S. (Age 19)
I met a young man named Kevin*, who had moved here from Somalia and had been here for three years. He was a devout Muslim. I told him that they were sharing about the truth of Jesus Christ. He got a funny look on his face and asked how it happened that English speaking girls made friends with kids that only spoke "Kenyan." I told him that we have a love for all people and desire to see all people come to the knowledge of Christ.
We got a little acquainted and then for some reason, I felt impressed to ask, because of his dress, if he liked hip—hop. He said, “Heck, Yeah! I love rap!” I told him that I liked it too and asked him if he would like to rap for me. He told me no, that I should rap, instead. So I did.
I took the opportunity to give him the Gospel through rap. As I got done, I asked him if he understood what I said and would he like me to explain it better. He said that he would. I tried to share with him in detail that Adam and Eve were created perfect and that they sinned against God, and that God being a perfect judge has to punish sin and can’t let it slide. I told him how all men have sinned and come under the same situation where they need a savior and that Christ was the propitiation for our sins.
I told him that Christ was the only man that ever lived a perfect life. He asked how he did that, which opened it up for me to explain that Christ was God in the flesh and that the only way we could be saved was if we confess that Jesus is God and truly believe that.
At this point, he got angry with the fact that I called Jesus God and said that Jesus never claimed he was God. I showed him various passages that Jesus and the Father are one and that He can only do what He sees the Father do, and that Jesus said He was the way, and that He was not born not of a man, but of a spirit.
After a long discussion standing in the freezing cold, he said that he wanted to go to the church to be saved. I told him that he could do it right there. He asked,’ What to I do? What do I do?” I told him, with tears in my eyes, that all you had to do was genuinely believe that Jesus was God in the flesh and that the Father raised him from the dead, confess it with his mouth and repent from his sins.
His family then came outside and started yelling at him in his language. It was apparent that they were angry, but he did not seem to care. He said that he wanted to learn as much as we knew so that he could share with his family and they could come to know Christ, too.
Please pray for Kevin. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in a family and community who not only dont't believe in Jesus but also threaten those that do. I know that God is faithful and just to complete what He has begun and I pray that God will send someone faithful to these Somalians, knowing the challenges they will have to overcome to talk to these individuals. Glory be to God for the power of His gospel and the working of His Spirit in the lives of those that have come to know Him.
*Name changed for security reasons.