This whole week we (the project students) have been working our way into our jobs, and learning completely new skill sets. For me its been filleting chicken! :) A little clarification before I say anything else, Chick Fil A's mascots are cows, NOT chickens because it would be kind of weird to have a chicken advertising chicken sandwiches. I mean come on, these are his brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. The cows are trying to get more people to eat chicken so THEY don't get eaten. Saavy? No, but seriously, our crew is a great crew to work with, everyone is very polite down here and they talk with the craziest accents!
Part of our integration into this working class also involves forming relationships with many of the employees (this is not at all hard to do because they are great people! :) and to find ways of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, or at least to start spiritual conversations.
Something that I've realized after taking a year off after high school, is that the workplace is probably one of the most challenging places to share your faith in. Oftentimes its so fast-paced and people don't really talk except for the "workplace" language, and you certainly don't have time to deeply discuss the idea of what eternity holds for each and every person. However, I'm learning that each and every Christian CAN be a witness no matter where they are in two ways; firstly being to set a Christ-like example. No matter how well you can present your message, if you're a slacker at work, or do a sloppy job with your tasks it reflects upon what sort of a person you are. WE are Christ's ambassadors to the world. WE need to act in a Christ-like way towards those at our workplaces, and that includes; not complaining, doing your best in every task, and being cheerful.
Sure this description sounds like a company orientation pamphlet for new-hires, but it's so very true. I find myself many times forgetting this. If I go in for work and I'm having a bad day, I really tend to lose sight of the fact that the shift is temporary, and that in all things I need to give thanks to God above; for a job, for a great crew, for steady business that pays my checks...for EVERYTHING. Even the rough days at work teach us something.
Enough on that.
Secondly the way each Christian can witness at their workplace is inviting co-workers to environments that CAN foster and sustain deep conversations about life, and no, church isn't the only place where you can do this. A group of co-workers meeting up and grabbing breakfast or coffee, or a softball game at the park, or (if you have one handy) a trip to the beach to relax after work.
There are all kinds of places in which God can (and will) use His witnesses to share His truth.
I was looking at our Quest surveys the other day (Quest surveys are quick 5 question surveys that we use to initiate conversations on the beach) and I realized that at this point in the trip I have been able to approach 30 people about Christ, and for about half of those I have been able to explain the gospel with them.
I don't say this to place numbers on people, but to encourage anyone who might read this who experiences hesitation about sharing their faith with others. More people than you might think are very open to the idea of Christ, and so long as they see that you are genuinely interested in them, and that they aren't just a number to you.
We have about 100 students on this project.
If I have had the guts to tell 30 people about Christ (which by the way is all God because I would have never been able to do that on my own), just imagine how many people have been approached with the good news in these last couple weeks. :)
We have had many people choose to dedicate their lives to Christ already, and we continue to encourage those who are believers in the area to stand boldly and to not be ashamed of their beliefs.
That is something that has been pressed upon my heart a lot lately. This whole concept of Christ's sacrifice, and the way we hide Him in our lives still blows my mind today.
This man who had done no wrong to anyone, was ridiculed, humiliated, tortured and murdered all to save the people who had done and are still doing wrong to Him today.
And we in America are too afraid to say anything about Him.
I am very guilty of this myself. I do not take every opportunity to tell others about Him, though I should. But when you think about it, shouldn't we as believers WANT to?
I mean think about this; one day this world will pass on. All the parties you went to will be gone, the friendships that you've worked for will break and distance, the crazy things you did when you were young are going to be distant memories.
People say Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Why do they say that? Because those that say it often do not have any hope for new life. They do not realize that the best is yet to come. They just think that they have to "live it up" while on earth because when we die it's all over.
I used to believe that.
The reason I smile now, is because I know that there is more to this life than temporary experience.
That is why we are here (on summer project), so that more people may experience this joy.
Paul writes in Ephesians 3:7-9:
"I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things."
But it SHOULDN'T just happen on summer project. If you read this, I would urge you to ask yourself this...
Are you living a life for Him or a life for the temporary world?
On another note, I will be meeting with the youth pastor down here (Walt) and we will be discussing an idea of mine to get the youth of the North Myrtle community involved in 24/7 witnessing.
I will essentially be beginning a study of the Bible that is open to anyone (whether Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other faith). The concept is to present what the Bible actually says, rather than these common misconceptions drawn in the mainstream media and in movies and such.
I pray that God will bring non-believers to the study in hopes that they will be able to discuss what they believe in a non-threatening environment.
(Romans 14:1)
The second aim of the study is to encourage the middle and high schoolers to begin their own Bible studies even after the project leaves, so that Christ may be shared year round among the youth.
Please pray that if it is God's will, that He would bless that outreach.
Please continue to pray for our beach and workplace outreach down here in North Myrtle and that God would continue to bless our project members.
Please pray for all the members' safety, and that those who we are able to share with will be able to experience God's working in their lives.
Please pray for God to provide the rest of my support
(I'm at $1,450 right now, so I will need another $1,200 roughly)
In Him,
Josh
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