For many years, I taught a seminar called “Friendship Evangelism.” \u00a0The basis of this teaching was that people are much more susceptible to hear the promises of the Gospel, if they know and respect you. \u00a0We all have a knowledge of the friendship of David and Jonathan from the Bible. \u00a0Even if we only vague know the details, their love for each other has inspired men and women for generations.<\/p>\n
Recently, I saw a simple–yet dramatic–example of friendship that threw me a bit. \u00a0Several weeks ago, I needed some equipment at our\u00a0Sunday Special Gathering program. \u00a0It was locked in the home of an elder. \u00a0I’d been on a trip when the equipment had been\u00a0used the last time. \u00a0As I came home, this\u00a0program elder left town for his vacation. \u00a0Our paths crossed. \u00a0Everyone knew that this man badly needed a break and rest from the stress of his profession. \u00a0He and I had been in contact for a couple of days regarding the equipment. \u00a0But there seemed only one way to get access to the equipment. \u00a0We needed to find one of his employees who had a key and have him deliver it. \u00a0It seemed to be a simple situation.<\/p>\n
However, the employee had also taken a trip that weekend; and he could not be reached. \u00a0Every early Sunday morning, the elder\u00a0realized that he could not get in contact with his employee. \u00a0I talked with the elder on the phone. \u00a0“You will have your equipment,” he said emphatically.<\/p>\n
“Are you bringing it?” I asked.<\/p>\n
Silence screamed from\u00a0the other end.<\/p>\n
“Please, don’t bring the equipment\u00a0you need this break much more than I need my stuff. \u00a0I can work thing out. \u00a0Don’t do this.”<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
“You are going to bring this no matter what I say, aren’t you?” I asked.<\/p>\n
“You will have your equipment,” \u00a0firmly, he assured me.<\/p>\n
Within an hour, the equipment was being mounted and my friend was laughing about having to leave his vacation to deliver some wires. \u00a0I was deeply touched by this generous gesture and act of love for our members, who are mentally challenged.<\/p>\n
This is the kind of friendship that woos people toward the God of Heaven who gave His all to deliver us from the grief and darkness of our lost condition. \u00a0The question for me is no longer\u00a0whether I will die for a\u00a0lost generation. \u00a0I’ve become more realistic in my expections.<\/p>\n
Would\u00a0I leave my vacation to enable a friend who does not know Jesus\u00a0to have the equipment she\u00a0needs?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For many years, I taught a seminar called “Friendship Evangelism.” \u00a0The basis of this teaching was that people are much more susceptible to hear the promises of the Gospel, if they know and respect you. \u00a0We all have a knowledge of the friendship of David and Jonathan from the Bible. \u00a0Even if we only vague…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,182,669,40,186],"tags":[690,21,688,696,7,699,720,715,701,694,689,6,676],"class_list":["post-3508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-disability","category-disability-ministry-2","category-faith","category-hope","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-friendship","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-special-needs"],"yoast_head":"\n