The Love Experiment

Tonight as I was doing my laundry I began to think about the ways that Christians evangelize to the world. I see groups come down here for short-term missions trips to do construction and programs. They preach to adults, children, and hand out tracks. Then I began to think about evangelism in the United States. We have churches that people come to, and people invite their friends. College ministries give rides to drunk people and feed the homeless. Each of those things is sharing the love of God with other people. I then began to think of the people that stand in Denver or around the bars and tell people they are going to hell because they are drunk. The people that stand with signs and say that God hates sinners and how they are going to hell. There is no love in that message. The Gospel of Christ is filled with love. I then decided to try and experiment.

When people are standing in downtown Ft. Collins telling the college students they are going to hell for drinking most of the people walk by them. I decided to see what would happen if you just told people that Jesus loves them. Many times the world gets a hateful message and not one filled with love. I entered a website and began to ask the people one question. I asked, "Do you want someone to love you unconditionally?" Most people are looking for the love of parents, a spouse, or friends. We are lonely without love. I figured that this question would get some responses, and responses I did get. Some people said I was weird, others said yes and asked why, others stated that they already had that love. Some said how it would be so nice but they don't believe in an unconditional love.

I responded to each one of these people by saying something like this, "This unconditional love is the love of God. He loves you so very much and all we have to do is accept it." The responses blew me away. Very few said that they have already accepted God. Some replied that they were happy the way they were and that they didn't need any more love. They only need the love of their family and that is all this life is about. What surprised me the most was the hate that came from some people. One girl said that she was an Atheist. She claimed that I was being hateful and shoving crazy, uneducated beliefs down her throat. How am I being hateful when I am saying something so good? That is the best news!! It is His love for us that saves us! It is also God that teaches us how to truly love one another. Without accepting God's love it can be hard to love other people.

Some people have hardened their heart so much that they get angry when you talk about love; especially the love of God. How is it that we can best show the love of God to this world? Is it standing on a street corner telling people that Jesus loves them? Is it going on a website and sharing with people? Is it through church services and missions work? Or does God use each one of these ways to bring people to him? Maybe what I said to one person will plant a seed in them. I don't know what will happen. One thing I do know is that without God this life is worthless. Acts 20:24 tells us that we need to testify the good news of God's grace to the world. The Holy Spirit will touch the lives of the people. That is not our job.

New Adventures

Over the last few weeks a few new adventures and ministries have come up.  About two weeks ago we received a shipment of 6,000 Bibles and 4,000 backpacks from Biblica Publishing.  4,000 of the Bibles are sports New Testaments with testimonies from different athletes.  Albert Pujols, first baseman for the Angels, is probably the biggest baseball player to come out of the Dominican Republic. He is on the cover and his testimony inside. Now we have the task of distributing these Bibles to different churches and at different events.  Within the last few weeks we have added two more short-term teams from the US that will be coming this month.  We have a team from Florida that will be coming and doing sports camps! What a perfect way to reach children and give out sports Bibles and backpacks.  I am actually going to talk with Mitch (the missionary I am working with) right now to figure out ways we can distribute these Bibles.  Our main goal is to get God's Word into the hands of the people that need Him!

The second thing that has come up is that I have been asked to work with some kids and do baseball every Saturday.  My church has a children's ministry at an apartment complex.  They have something planned for them each weekend and now we will be starting baseball.  One of the kids came up to me yesterday and said, "Are you going to be practicing with us?" I responded, "Yes." He said, "Well what is our team name going to be?"  He ended up walking away and giving me a huge high five!  The kids here love baseball and that is such an awesome way to show the love of God.

Prayer requests are:
1) Pray for the travel and ministries of each team that is coming down this month.
2) Pray that these Bibles get into the hands of people that need God's Word.
3) Pray for strength and guidance as God continues to work in my life here and as I look toward the future.
4) Pray for this new baseball ministry that I have agreed to take in my already busy schedule.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. It means so much to me. God bless.