Ministry Highlight & Reflection
One of my ministry highlights in August is witnessing God’s providence in reinvigorating the Parramatta Worker’s Ministry while we are in lockdown. I had the great pleasure and privilege of working with my trainer and evangelist from City Bible Forum, Caroline Spencer, on preparing, organising and sharpening the online Share Jesus training that we had originally planned for face to face. In God’s kindness, we started seeing an increase of expression of interests from the initial 5 to over 30 online registrations both from workers in St John’s and also those outside of St Johns.
On the day, we were extremely thankful for the accessibility and reliability of the technology platforms (i.e. Zoom, Mural, Sli.do), and I was super encouraged to see 27 workers of different backgrounds, professions and age taking out 2 hours from their Saturday to come to the zoom training event. For majority of us present on the day, we share the common challenge of having conversations that doesn’t go deep and are often not asked by colleagues about our faith/beliefs.
Caroline walked us through her reflection on Colossians 4:2-6 and shared her tips on how we might share Jesus in our everyday conversations. We learnt a 3 step iterative process of rubber band questions, nudge questions and adding salt (Jesus x factor) to our conversations. Since the training session, I’ve further reflected upon it and want to share three reflection points with you:
Reflection #1 listen and really listen
In Colossians 4:6b ESV “so that you may know how you ought to answer each person”, is a very helpful reminder that the person that we are speaking to, is an individual, is unique, is different and is fearfully and wonderfully made by our creator. Sometimes, I know that I am very quick to make assumptions about the person especially if I have known them for a long time.
This verse has really challenged me to be quicker to listen to each person and be very aware of my own assumptions and consciously not bringing these assumptions into the conversation. Please pray that God would help me to arrive to each conversation with a pair of listening ear and really listen to what the person has to say.
Reflection #2 listen to understand, not to respond (yet)
In Colossians 4:5 ESV “walk in wisdom towards outsiders making the best use of the time”, the words that really stood out for me is “wisdom” and “best use of the time”. Sometimes, I know when I am in conversations, I am looking for an opportunity to share, speak and offer solutions, but this verse has challenged me to think about how I can be wiser in using the time that I have with each person in each conversation.
I am challenged to think more deeply about really listening, asking more questions to understand the person and how their experiences in life shape their world views and perspectives. Please pray that God would help me to walk in wisdom and be making the best use of the time from each conversation, pray that I would be patient to listen and understand the person that I am speaking to.
Reflection #3 share Jesus when I can
In Colossians 4:6 ESV “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” has encouraged me to speak the gospel truth when the opportunity presents itself.
I know that in past conversations, I wished that I had shared about Jesus, conversations I wished that I could have shared more about Jesus and conversations that I wished that I could have shared more graciously about Jesus. Please pray that God would continue to present opportunities in my life to speak about Jesus, pray that I would boldly share when opportunity arises and that my speech would always be gracious.
Prayer Points
- Please praise God for his word that is useful to teach, correct, rebuke and train us in righteousness as a servant in our Christ Jesus.
- Please pray that God would provide wisdom to Caroline and I as we plan for future online training sessions
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