Ministry is about connections. An Isolationist cannot be a successful soul winner. We are constantly looking to build connections and find points of contact. On the Night of Lights, we handed out 198 lit balloons with the text “Das Licht dieser Welt”… ( The light of the World…) and our church’s web address. On the website, we created an online Tract called “Das Licht”. This serves not only to spread the gospel, but also to help our young believers to break into sharing the gospel.
In the spring, we had ink pens made up that have a touch-point for touch screens. On the pens we printed “Get in Touch” and our web address. Again, we have a link on our site with the title “Get in Touch” which explains salvation with text, testimonies, and multi-media. As our people give out these pens, they are not only inviting people to investigate our church, they are also taking steps in becoming soul winners. We have had many hits on these pages. I even received a phone call from a young man asking me about Christ, heaven, hell and salvation as a result of his visit to our page. Please pray that God will bless our efforts.
This Fall I was invited to teach baseball at another local school. This school is comprised of 5th- 7th graders. We are excited as they have also asked me to speak in chapel. This only became possible after Chelli was asked to teach English there. Connections.
The schools here in German take week-long field trips and this year I was asked to accompany Samantha’s class trip. On the way there, I had the opportunity to speak with one of her teachers at length on the train. Very quickly it turned to spiritual things. She had spent some time as an exchange student in the states and had experienced the difference between American and German churches. Unbeknownst to us, as I worked to turn the conversation towards Christ and salvation, we were being observed.
As we prepared to change trains, an older gentleman approached me with the whispered question, “Has anyone helped you with your rosacea ?” I told him that I have struggled with it for some time, but that I had not been to a doctor. He asked me to follow him out of the train, but as we exited the one train, we could see our next train waiting on us. He quickly said, “I will walk with you” as he wrote out a prescription and explained how to apply the medication.
Now this is not normal. Germans, generally do not approach strangers in such a manor. They are more reserved, unless they have official business or they are trying to sell something. This all took the teacher that I had been speaking with by storm. Here I was clarifying Jesus, salvation, and our reason for being in Germany, and God reaches down through this man’s actions placing his stamp of proof and approval on all that I was saying. The teacher was in awe.
She exclaimed how strange and wonderful that was. She then said,“ you have to tell me if the medicine works. That would be the hammer.” We had a wonderful week. I had witnessing opportunities every day. At the end of the week she stated how thankful she was that I came and helped them with the class. She also invited our family to a BBQ sometime in the future. It is very rare that a teacher allows themselves to open up to the parents of her students. Please pray for this connection. She is so close to salvation.
Oh, yes, the medication has completely cleared up the rosacea. Praise God! He always does better than we could ever imagine.
Thank you for your support!
Paul Sudbrock