This past Saturday we had a wonderful turn out for A Song for Peace auditions! I was able to cast almost all of the remaining parts from this audition! But even more importantly we were able to welcome a young man into the family of Christ! I had been rehearsing with him for over 6 months in a previous play and had no idea that he was the first cousin of Alexzander, the young boy that this play was inspired by! This young man is a talented actor but has personal obstacles in his life that I believe will be transformed into a testimony one day!
A few months ago while driving this young man home from rehearsal I was able to share the gospel with him. He thought that you go to heaven by following the ten commandments. I explained that we couldn't follow these perfectly and that is why Jesus came. He paid the price for our shortcomings (sin). After that conversation I wasn't sure if I did a good job of explaining things (which I'm sure that many of you have felt time to time). I tried to focus on remembering that the Holy Spirit does the transformation not our imperfect words. Well at the audition another guy who is friends with my brother just started asking him if had prayed and asked Jesus to be his savior? I started feeling worried that he was coming on to strong or what the teenager would think. I walked away to answer some questions and when I turned around my brother, his friend, and the teenage boy were in the corner reading scripture and praying! He had wanted to accept the lord right there! That taught me two lessons:
1. Sometimes we plant a seed, someone else waters it and "leads the person to Christ" and the Holy Spirit does the transformation.
2. It is important to be ready to share the gospel any time. Even if you don't have a relationship with that person. That is how we mistakenly look at evangelism sometimes. It's not about us developing a relationship with someone so that we are not rejected when the invitation is given for Christ. It is about sharing the truth and trusting that when the Holy Spirit says SPEAK He knows that person is ready.
I am so happy to welcome a brother into the family of Christ (although God already knew this young man was His). Please continue to pray for us. Pray that we submit this play 100% to God and stay focused on Jesus throughout the whole process!
Please check out asongforpeace.org for more information!
