A voice woke her in the darkness. “You must share the gospel.” He commanded.
“But Lord, I don’t know how to share the gospel! I am afraid." she argued.
“Then you must learn how to share it. Today.
Although the woman couldn't discern whether the command came in a dream or whether she was awake, there was no denying that God had spoken clearly and unequivocally. The 78 year old woman set out to obey, immediately. Walking to the only church that she could find in her area of Bangkok she waited patiently for the Sunday morning service to begin. The gentle, old woman-of-faith was not surprised to hear from the pulpit that morning, that a free class would be held following lunch to teach people how to share the gospel. She, along with 61 other believers gathered that afternoon while Jenni taught a 3 hour workshop. She used e3 materials to teach on evangelism, sharing a personal testimony to your circle of influence and how to use the evangecube within a Thai Buddhist culture. At the conclusion of the session, each person was equipped with an evangecube on the condition that they would use it a minimum of 3 times the following week. Strict accountability was set up as the newly trained signed out their cubes.
In all, we saw 62 trained believers challenged to reach their own community, one church equipped with church planting materials and 75 cubes left behind. Nothing to it… an afternoon class, simple training, equipping materials. Within a few weeks we were back in America.
During our time in Thailand we were well aware of the resistance to the Good News among the Thai people. Within the missions community this was a constant prayer focus. Last week we received an email from Nitiaya, our Compass 31 administrator in Thailand, asking for more materials and Evangecubes on behalf of that church in Bangkok. My initial thoughts were excitement but then, frankly, a bit of skepticism. Many times we train leaders and church members and they love the Evangcubes with all the colorful pictures. Everyone wants one! So I responded by asking how many they were requesting along with a reminder that everyone who receives one needs to be trained and held accountable for using it. Nitiaya responded immediately with some incredible news. The church that Jenni was able to train had developed a schedule for continued training, discipleship and accountability. The initial group had been using their evangecubes faithfully, successfully doing evangelism over the past several months and introduced many of their friends and relatives to Jesus. Nitaya reported that the Thai loved the story told using the cube and that there were many were coming to faith. The new believers are now meeting in a cell group and the mother church was looking into helping them formalize into a new church!!!
e3 Partners focus has always been to pray for and equip our national brothers and sisters to be obedient to the Great Commission, so they can join God in His work of reaching the lost. God, in His mercy and perfect timing, seems to be empowering and inviting His people in this church in Thailand to be a part of His plan and He is doing that by saying, “You must evangelize.”
“But Lord, I don’t know how to share the gospel! I am afraid." she argued.
“Then you must learn how to share it. Today.
Although the woman couldn't discern whether the command came in a dream or whether she was awake, there was no denying that God had spoken clearly and unequivocally. The 78 year old woman set out to obey, immediately. Walking to the only church that she could find in her area of Bangkok she waited patiently for the Sunday morning service to begin. The gentle, old woman-of-faith was not surprised to hear from the pulpit that morning, that a free class would be held following lunch to teach people how to share the gospel. She, along with 61 other believers gathered that afternoon while Jenni taught a 3 hour workshop. She used e3 materials to teach on evangelism, sharing a personal testimony to your circle of influence and how to use the evangecube within a Thai Buddhist culture. At the conclusion of the session, each person was equipped with an evangecube on the condition that they would use it a minimum of 3 times the following week. Strict accountability was set up as the newly trained signed out their cubes.
In all, we saw 62 trained believers challenged to reach their own community, one church equipped with church planting materials and 75 cubes left behind. Nothing to it… an afternoon class, simple training, equipping materials. Within a few weeks we were back in America.
During our time in Thailand we were well aware of the resistance to the Good News among the Thai people. Within the missions community this was a constant prayer focus. Last week we received an email from Nitiaya, our Compass 31 administrator in Thailand, asking for more materials and Evangecubes on behalf of that church in Bangkok. My initial thoughts were excitement but then, frankly, a bit of skepticism. Many times we train leaders and church members and they love the Evangcubes with all the colorful pictures. Everyone wants one! So I responded by asking how many they were requesting along with a reminder that everyone who receives one needs to be trained and held accountable for using it. Nitiaya responded immediately with some incredible news. The church that Jenni was able to train had developed a schedule for continued training, discipleship and accountability. The initial group had been using their evangecubes faithfully, successfully doing evangelism over the past several months and introduced many of their friends and relatives to Jesus. Nitaya reported that the Thai loved the story told using the cube and that there were many were coming to faith. The new believers are now meeting in a cell group and the mother church was looking into helping them formalize into a new church!!!
e3 Partners focus has always been to pray for and equip our national brothers and sisters to be obedient to the Great Commission, so they can join God in His work of reaching the lost. God, in His mercy and perfect timing, seems to be empowering and inviting His people in this church in Thailand to be a part of His plan and He is doing that by saying, “You must evangelize.”
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