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New International exists to proclaim Christ and make disciples globally. Let us join with God as He continues to make all things new; He gives us new vision of new ways to reach new communities with the Good News of Christ, bringing new light to hearts that have previously been lost.
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Written by David - Working in the Middle East and with the Media Team
As I’m back in the States during my video editing phase, I’m reflecting on my time in the Middle East. Having spent the last eight years in West Palm Beach, FL, I’ve become accustomed to different kinds of evangelism. Namely, I’ve become accustomed to charismatic evangelical circles who evangelize in the streets, the workplace, and coffee shops. I’m used to people who carry the strong, heavy emotional and spiritual gravitas that fuels their steps, their decision-making, and their livelihoods. They are a people who exude the energy of drive and purpose. For a long time, I’ve believed that evangelism must be projected in an explicit manner. So it wasn’t until I reached the Middle East that my perspective shifted.
Being in the Middle East, I was curious about how our host operated. After all, he was the director of a library and community center in a closed country, who was clearly well-acclimated to the socio-political culture there. Which, in communicating with the loving, warm, and welcoming friends who lived there, meant that he never had these upfront conversations. It wasn’t until about halfway into my time there that I had the opportunity to ask him about it behind closed doors. He talked about how “evangelism” as we know it isn’t really an option for him. Instead, he focuses on the relationships. And he really focuses on the relationships: what matters to the people, who they are, what they like, being an advocate for them, etc. It is only by the open curiosity of those who ask questions do simple conversations occur.
This struck me. Beforehand, it had never really occurred to me that God could work in a rather “implicit” manner. But when our host talked about how creating a community-driven atmosphere allowed Christ to be present within camps for children, baking classes, English tutoring, and so on, it hit me that Christ can influence through the simple things. It's the wholesome, peace-bestowing atmosphere that allows God to work without words, but show. And it’s that kind of informative experience that can help shape how I operate with my ministry in the future.
