Sharing Christ with Others

I invite members to share here your joys in how you have been privileged to share Christ with others and bring them into a knowledge of the truth of God's love.

Here's a quote that inspires me.



Each of us both can and should make a "personal effort to bring" souls "to the Saviour."

May God bless as we do His work here on earth,

Green Cochoa.

I'm so happy for the opportunities I have where I am to reach out to others, despite the illegalities of doing so. People are hungry, and they are still reached by the same methods of friendship evangelism as has always been effective.

Recently, I have been privileged to participate in a new outreach venture--an experiment, really. We passed out a signup sheet for free music lessons in our classes, and about 40 people signed up! (We had no idea how we could handle so many with so few musical instruments and teachers to teach them.)

The idea came during a Sabbath afternoon discussion at our house. About a month earlier we had begun meeting for church every Sabbath in our home (I stay with a local family in one big house) due to the distance and inconvenience of attending the big church in the city. Now, as we contemplated how we might attract the students, mostly university or high-school students, from our English classes to our home where we would have opportunity to share Christ with them, the idea of music came into our manager's mind.

We had not expected such a great interest. Forty students! Where would they all sit in our home? This represented over half of our student body at that time, and we were simply unprepared for this. How would we teach so many students with so few instruments?

But God was at work. Saturday and Sunday on that weekend were festival days, with dragonboat races taking place and many students, released from their classes, getting together with friends. Would all forty actually come?

“Lord,” I prayed, “please help the right students to come. Please send your angels and your Holy Spirit to my home so that when they come in, the students will feel your peace and happiness abiding there. Help them to feel comfortable and welcome above all else, that they may continue to visit us and have opportunity to get to know You.”

One of the teachers had arranged for the students to meet him at the school at 10:30 in the morning on Saturday so that he could lead them out to the house. None of them had ever been to the home, and the muddy road threatened to discourage any among them who might be afraid of getting soiled in passing through its deep puddles.

Finally, a few minutes past eleven o'clock, we heard the motorcycles approaching. Eleven students had shown up! We much appreciated the help of some minutemen volunteers to come teach guitar and piano that first Sabbath with us. Even with the smaller group size, we had our hands full.

The worship hour continued almost as normal, with the sermon consisting of a personal testimony as to how God had gifted me with the ability to play the accordion and how I had been led to this country six months earlier. Then we ate a nice lunch together, followed by the music lessons. It was nearly four o'clock in the afternoon when the last of the students left, and a number of them appeared to have truly enjoyed their time in our home.

The second Sabbath, twelve students came with much the same program as before. Some new students had come this time, and some had not returned. But all seemed to enjoy the music lessons and the time spent in our home. This is an ongoing work. We look for creative ways to spread God's love with those around us who have never felt what it is like to be in a Christian home. They will not understand the love of God without first seeing it exemplified in our lives, a living representation which they can witness firsthand.

This past Sabbath, nineteen students came for the music program. My joy was full as I led the singing and watched as two of my favorite students cheerfully sat and sang, in English, "For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, to die on Calvary's tree, from sin to set me free! Someday He's coming back--oh what glory that will be! Wonderful, His love, to me!" I was forced to turn away from the sight lest they should see tears in my face. It was only their second time to attend our house church service and learn music afterward. They are from an animist background, and know nothing of God--but you wouldn't have known it to see the happiness in their faces as they sang out those words.

We are excited! It is evident that God is at work. We feel His presence and rejoice to have the privilege of sharing our joy with the students. God has put in our hearts a deep interest and genuine love for them, and we continue to pray for wisdom as to how we can reach them best.

I would like to thank those of you who still make a habit of praying for the missionaries. We need your prayers and support, and I just thank God for the privilege of sharing this joy of serving Him.

Please pray that these students will keep coming and learning more each week about the God who loved them so much He died for them.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

"They will not understand the love of God without first seeing it exemplified in our lives, a living representation which they can witness firsthand."

AMEN!

Thank you so, so, so much for sharing. It warms my heart to hear how people are responding to the love of Jesus, especially people who have zero knowledge of Him. Your are letting your light shine. Thank you, Jesus. What a wonderful way to shine, too, through music lessons. Again, thank you for sharing. My day is brighter.

My roommate during survival school instructor training in the Air Force back in 1980 has been in my prayers for many years. Just recently he moved nearby. We hang out from time to time. Lately he has been asking questions about faith. He shared with me the other day he has been impressed with my faith and peace of mind. I'm taking it slow and easy being careful not to unload the whole container on him. He likes team-teaching with me, which is amazing since it is very Christ-centered. Recently his mother had a mini stroke. He was super upset, falling apart, coming unglued. He pleaded with me for peace. I prayed with him, for him, and for his mother. He immediately felt relieved. He thanked me profusely. It's an ongoing work. Thank you for praying for my friend - Buddy.