Will You Be “The One?”
Now…this is an important question to ask. When it comes to be your turn…will you be ready to be “The One?”
At this point, you don’t have any idea what I’m writing about, so I’ll explain. Linda and I are taking a 5-month discipleship course under the teaching of our senior pastor, Tony Walliser. Last night he shared an experience on a recent two-week mission trip to Ethiopia. The team he visited was helping indigenous people disciple local people under The Timothy Initiative. Once people go through this discipleship training, they start local home churches, and the movement is expanding rapidly.
What Does It Mean to Be “The One”?
Villages without any Christians are identified as “Red Villages.” Pastor Tony and the small team he was with went into one of these red villages with an interpreter prayerfully seeking to encounter people to connect with and pray for through a process called “Care and Prayer.” With this system, you walk up and knock on a door, introduce yourself, and ask if anyone needs prayer. The goal is to engage people with the gospel.
Well, as Tony and his team were walking into this village, before they could approach any houses, a man walks up the street and speaks to them directly. They thought this was highly unusual since strangers are not normally approached. This man engaged the interpreter and asked Tony if he was “The One”? The villager shared a most amazing story. For the prior three nights he experienced the same dream. In his dream he heard repeatedly from Jesus, who he did not know, that a white man would come into his village and would tell him all about Jesus. So, Tony responded through the interpreter that he was there to talk about Jesus. The team led him to believing faith in Jesus Christ. So, this village, without ever previously encountering or hearing of a Christian, now had its first convert.
How Can You Prepare to Be “The One”?
So, are you ready to be the One? Maybe you won’t go to Africa or need an interpreter. But are you ready to share about Jesus and the difference He has made in your life? You don’t have to fear you won’t know what to say because Jesus will help you. You don’t need to know all the Bible verses or have a degree in theology. All you need to have is a heart to share Who changed your life, the desire to help someone else find Jesus, and the ability to share your testimony in a simple and effective way. Here’s how to be “The One”:
- Write a simple testimony identifying two or three ways your life was different before Christ (like I was unloved, lonely, or angry).
- Write a description about how you came to faith in Jesus Christ.
- Write out two-or three-ways knowing Jesus changed your life (finding true love at last, no longer angry, or lonely)
- Then be prepared to ask this question –“Do you have a story like this?”
When the opportunity arises, start a simple dialogue. If the person doesn’t have a story like yours that ends in salvation, you now have an open door to explain and perhaps lead him or her to know Christ.
Sharing your faith can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Through the Apostle Paul, God provided an effective roadmap for sharing your faith often called the “Romans Road.” This link will help you read and understand it, and it’s followed by a brief video for further explanation.
So, there you have it! Start working on this simple 45 second testimony process that is changing lives worldwide. As you begin praying for opportunities to share, watch God work!
