Stepping out in Essex

This just came in from Russell Godward (left) in England. He writes:

This is me with Tom. We met a few years back as I was out praying and sharing the gospel in town. He asked if he could come with us and learn to make disciples. He's an ordinary guy who had spent 20 years sitting on the back row of his church wondering how he could be involved beyong turning up faithfully, giving his tithes, loving other members and helping out. Now he makes disciples everywhere, and trains others to do the same!

Last week we met, caught up with each other, prayed and studied together and then walked through town searching for people who were open to the gospel. We didn't have to go far.

There's a new housing estate being constructed and we were praying for people who might live there, that Jesus would prepare them for the gospel. Tom wants to make a start there. As we got to the site the security guy came out of his booth to meet us. We chatted and offered to pray for him, so he shares stories of crime, prison and brokenness in his life. His mate comes over and wants prayer as well. We pray for them both.

Then we share the gospel with them using the 3-Circles. “Andrew”, the first guy, tells us he was raised in a Pentecostal family and believes this message of Jesus, even though he is far from God at the moment. The other guy, “Stan”, also believes this message. We invite them to repent and follow Jesus, but they need the power to break free from their sin and brokenness, so we lay hands on them and pray more. They need to return to work, so we make plans to return and share some more.

Tom and I return the next day. As we meet Andrew, the site manager comes over to find out what's going on. We pray for “Jerry”, the site manager, as he has the funeral of his best friend the next day. We also share the gospel, and he is keen to talk but not ready to follow Jesus. Tom chats with him some more, and I get time alone with Andrew.

Andrew has had a great 24 hours! He and his partner managed to resolve some things we prayed about yesterday, and he can begin to see a way ahead for his life. We pray together again, and he gives me his address and wants me to come over and meet his partner and family. I asked him what he was thinking about the gospel that he had just seen me share with Jerry. He says, "I really believe it, and I am going to go home and share that same story with my four brothers and sister - they need reminding of the message of Jesus!" We pray together for his siblings.

I text Andrew some encouragement over the next few days, keeping in touch. Then Tom and I returned this week. Andrew was ready and excited to meet at the construction entrance. We pray together, care for each other, share a story about Jesus calling his first disciples in the book of Mark, studying the passage together. We then set goals to keep following Jesus and sharing with others, and plan to meet again in the next few days.

There are many books written about what it will take to engage the post-Christian, postmodern, Western context. Fortunately Russell hasn’t read them.