JAC Online

Outreach Primer
by Soldier Brent Gaines

 

Some of these ideas aren't my own but let's just give Glory to God for them all. Okay? Okay. I'm going to try and talk from some of my experiences and I hope y'all can learn from what God has done in me.

 

I don't really think outreach has some great secret. If there is one I don't know it and please tell me! I think it is all about love. Sometimes I had (sometimes still do) a hard time evangelizing and ministering to people experiencing homelessness because the world and the enemy put up barriers in my heart. These barriers withheld God's love from splashing out of me. I wanted Holy Spirit to do a cannon ball and splash everyone around me but He seemed unable to do so. What was holding me back from being used by God? After some self reflection I found I had a lot of barriers. So I got these barriers, I meet Jesus, He doesn't like barriers, and He knocks them down. That brings me to this…

 

Let Jesus tear the walls down!

 

If you want to reach people at high risk (whatever that means) you have to acknowledge the fact that there is some prejudices and stigmas probably somewhere inside of you. If not praise God for your sanctification. So spend a moment to think about what that looks like for you. What can keep you from helping and talking to anyone at anytime? Race? Gender? Body odor? Accent? Facial hair? Clothing? What is holding you back from allowing God to use you in a mighty and powerful way?

 

ADMIT. Admit to yourself and God what that thing is that's holding you back from sharing God's Love. For me it was fear. I was afraid. I was scared of people experiencing homelessness. It feels weird admitting it. I can't tell you why exactly. Most likely because the world had trained me to believe if I hung around people like “that” they would cause bodily harm to me. Like I go to hand some one a sandwich and ask if they need prayer and I get stabbed. I can tell you I have given out a few thousand sandwiches and it's never happened. Someone did pull a knife on me today under a bridge but in a playful, South Carolina, just making sure you know I have one kinda way. No biggie. How did I overcome this fear?

 

BELIEVE. I had faith my God, Creator of the Universe, God of Brent, would protect me. I knew that He would prepare me for whatever I would meet and also cover me. It wasn't an instant faith. It took time and I wasn't a very trusting person. I noticed this awesome thing start happening eventually. The more faith I had the more God moved! How amazing it was/is/will be. I ask God to move a mountain in my life and its freaking gone. I had more mountains then the Himalayas, I tell you. Praise God He destroyed them all! With each step of faith and each miracle I became less afraid. I don't hope God will protect me. I KNOW HE WILL. Plus even if I did get a black eye taking prayer request how awesome would that be.

 

CONFESS. I confessed. I told God that I had all these nasty yucky walls in my heart. They were keeping me from loving the unlovable and they had to go. I heard Jesus can break every chain, move mountains, surely He can handle my walls built on lies. I need to just repent. So...  I repented, repented from all the lies that had built a stronghold inside to keep God's Love and Divine plan for my life from happening. Examples? God please forgive me for believing the lie that someone's situation determines their worth. God cast out the lie that these people can't be saved. God bind up the lie that I can't make a difference. See - not so hard :-). Through the work of Holy Spirit I shut the door to the enemy. He was no longer welcome to muck up my relationship with God or others. Now that I had a relationship with God, He smashed to bits my walls. I was free to allow God to use me to build His kingdom if... I was obedient.

 

I was/am obedient to God. Now I had this great relationship with Christ. I'm asking Him stuff and He is asking me stuff and it is AWESOME! There is this unexpected thing happening though. I ask Jesus to do things but He also asks me to do things. Not because He makes me do it but because it’s the relationship we have. I'm like, "Jesus do you mind laying your hand on my daughter as she sleeps and healing any brokenness and fear she experienced today." In my divine imagination He is there and totally does that because He is Jesus and is able to love and heal like a hurricane. I notice also though He is like, "Hey Brent, that man sitting on the stoop of your administration office is in desperate need of someone to show they love him. You know that guy everyone walks past and won't make eye contact with because he smells of mildew from the rain two nights ago, his beard is a bit long, he walks with a limp. Go tell him that I love him dearly and I died for his sins that he may know me the way you do." Assuming all your/my walls is busted up because Jesus tore them down, this shouldn’t be a problem. Remember the ones that tell you your words aren't good enough, he won't listen to you, he seeks to hurt you, and he has already had enough chances. Without those in your way you are free to listen to Christ.

 

God spoke some truth in my life I want to share. I had a very difficult situation in my life and I asked, almost pleading with, Jesus " Where are You in this situation?! I look everywhere for Your face Lord. Where are you moving?! Do you even care?" My Savior smiled and whispered to me, "I'm in you and you are in me, and we are in this situation. If you choose to drift away from Me or not set My example then nobody will. Wherever you are and I'm in you My Love and Light will shine into this darkness. If you fall away or run you will prevent that which we both desperately desire." I ask you where are you seeking Jesus? Is He also seeking you there as well to be His Light? It's in His nature. Is it in yours? I heard once "God wants to go super on your natural!!!" Glory to God and Good News to Others

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

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