Testimonies from 2012

Teaching Evangelism By Reversing Roles-December 2012

The original student I was supposed to meet last Friday at 2:30 was unable to make our meeting, so I began talking with another young

On Saturday, December 1st, I was in downtown Holland, MI, itching to witness to someone.  However, the Lord seemed to shut my mouth and I sensed Him telling me to wait.  My friend (whom I was waiting for) showed up and we spent an hour walking around talking.  About that time, I saw three young men walking down the street with their Bible’s in hand.  I mentioned to my friend, “I hope they come try to witness to me.”  They did not approach me, and headed into a coffee shop across the street.  I felt a connection to these three young men, and told my friend that I was going to “reverse evangelize” them.  This meant that I would “pretend” to be an unbeliever, learning more about Christianity.  It would help these guys learn to effectively share the gospel.  I had experienced this once before myself, only then I was experiencing it from the opposite side.

I followed them into the coffee shop, and after they sat down with their coffees and Bibles, I waited until prompted by the Spirit to go and talk to them.  I casually walked up to them and noted that they had Bibles.  I mentioned I was “new to West Michigan and was learning more about Christianity.”  I asked them to tell me more about it.  They starred, wide-eyed at each other, before they began witnessing to me about Jesus Christ.  I listened patiently to them as they shared.  I could tell they were not real used to sharing their faith, but were excited at the opportunity.  Then I asked them a few tough questions, (what they thought about the dead being raised in Africa, and what would happen if I died and did not have Jesus as my Lord and Savior).  Eventually, I disclosed the truth, that I was already a Christian.  They were somewhat surprised, but told me “You asked too good of questions to not be a Christian.”

This led to an hour conversation, where I began teaching them a bit more about the Trinity and the primary source of power in evangelism: the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  It was kind of an off-the-cuff crash course in Gateways to Empowered Ministries, a textbook by Dr. Brad Long and Rev. Douglas McMurry on the Holy Spirit that I used in teaching.  I kept asking the three guys if I was keeping them from their study, and they kept assuring me that I was definitely not and they wanted more.  Eventually, I closed by inviting them to join me the following Tuesday if they wanted to in the same coffee shop at 4pm.

The following Tuesday, two of the three showed up and we did an in-depth study on the first work of the Holy Spirit: New Birth with John 3 as our text.  Honestly, I did not prepare or even know what we were going to be talking about, but simply showed up with my Bible and God did his thing.  I could not believe how easily it flowed.  The guys mentioned that they were not sure I would show up that day, as they thought I might be an angel.  I laughed at that!

I received an e-mail this past Wednesday, where the guys (all three this time) asked me to go out to eat with them.  Last Saturday, we went out to Applebee’s in Holland.  They insisted on paying for me, and even gave me a 10-dollar gift card at the end to come back.  I could not believe their generosity and hunger for truth.  We spent from 6-9 pm in Applebee’s, this time discussing the second work of the Holy Spirit: sanctification with Galatians 5 as our text.

I’m now friends with these guys on Facebook, and all are eagerly waiting to continue meeting with me after Christmas break.  In addition to our Bible study, we’ve shared testimonies with each other and had some very deep discussions.  One of them made the comment to me, “I didn’t think people like you really existed anymore, that would stand for truth like this.”  I noted that crazy times we live in, and that we must stay grounded on scripture and the love of Jesus and not let the culture lead us astray.  Even if it gets bad in the days ahead, Biblically we are only to fear the Lord, not man or persecution.  These guys were hungry for just that.  They are my new disciples of Holland, MI!.  Go God!  Pray for us.  It’s been special for them and for me.

From Gas Station to Salvation!-September 2012

I was getting gas on the north side of Grand Rapids while simultaneously talking to a mentor of mine on the phone.  A large African American man asked me for a dollar to put more gas in his gas can.  I heard the Lord telling me to give him a $20, and so I did.  He was amazed and thanked me.  As he slowly walked away, I asked him if I could ask him a question.  Eagerly he agreed.  I knew what the Lord was asking me to ask, though he was a pretty big dude.  But because God is for us and not against us, I knew I could step out and ask it.  “If you were to die today, would you go to heaven or hell?”

“Sir, I can see you are a man of God,” was his response.  “Yes,” I nodded.  He looked down.  “I’d go to hell.”  Then I heard a summary of his life of poor choices.  While he talked, I dismissed myself from the phone call, knowing my mentor had heard enough to know he should start praying on his end (which he did).

I paid for my gas and he asked for a ride to his car.  I heard the Lord’s go-ahead and invited him into my car with me.  This felt a little bold, as he was pretty big. He was a former semi-pro football player, and I’m pretty sure he must have played offensive guard!

While we drove, I continued sharing the gospel with him, having started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Was it my best presentation ever?  No it wasn’t.  But everything I said was true and God used it. The experience really reminded me of the verse from Zechariah 4:6 “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.”   When I asked if he wanted to give his life to Jesus today, he said, “yes.”  We prayed together, and he surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior.  When I asked him how he felt after praying, he said, “I have more peace.”  He physically looked much better!

I gave him a Bible and my card to keep in contact.  I also encouraged him to begin to ask God what needed to change in his life so he could walk closer with Jesus.

Church (and Evangelism) in a Hot Tub-August 2012

Tuesday night, we stopped in Ludington, MI on our way up to Sleeping Bear Dunes.  I was sitting in the hot tub in the Best Western, relaxing.  A young man came and sat near me and I heard the Lord telling me to talk to him.  When I asked what to say, I heard, “Just introduce yourself.”  This seemed like a poor conversation starter, but I’ve learned that if God says to do it, it will work.  “I’m Jay,” I stated out of the blue, and we began talking.

An hour later, I was still teaching this young twenty-something Catholic man from Detroit, MI (we’ll call him Larry) about spiritual things, (specifically how Jesus followed the Holy Spirit during his ministry and that application to us today).  By this time, several others had joined us in the hot tub and were listening.

When we finished, he asked me how I knew to talk to him.  I shared with him how the Lord had just simply lead me to introduce myself.  He was clearly blessed and I headed up to my room to get a business card for him as he wanted to stay in touch.  On my way out, a woman who had been in the hot tub came and thanked me for my teaching, asking if I was going into the ministry.  I found out she was Lutheran, and we joked about how all denominations were different and faith in Jesus was the key (and the Lutherans would be playing Uker in heaven).

When I got back with my card, I found the young man waiting for me.  I prayed for him, and among my prayers was a leading to pray for revival in the Catholic church.  When I finished, I could see tears in his eyes, and he thanked me again.

The next morning, I recieved an e-mail from Larry, thanking me for what I had shared with him.  He told him he’d seen a miracle years before, and hearing my teaching helped him to understand and grow in his faith.  After writing him back, I thought this was the end of it.  But this past Saturday, I saw yet another piece of this story, one that makes me marvel at the sovereignty of God.

I often do listening prayer for people, asking the Lord how to pray for them.  The Sunday before my parents arrived (August 12), I was doing listening prayer and recorded it in my phone.  I prayed for a number of people that I am ministering to, and among that list was “Larry.”  I had not known anyone by that name that I was ministering to, but had been lead to pray for him anyway to grow in his faith, praising God for what he was doing in his life.  It seemed very strange at the time, but I’d heard the Lord direct me to do it.  I forgot I had done this until this past Saturday (August 18) when I was praying and fasting into some other areas of life and the Lord lead me to review that recording.  It definitely strengthened my faith!  WOW!  As the Newsboys say, “Our God’s not dead, He’s surely alive, He’s living on the inside, roaring like a lion….”

Stepping Out Boldly in the Skatepark-June 2012

It was Saturday evening, June 9 at 10:00.  I went out for a walk before going to bed.  I felt the Lord summoning me to the skate park.  I was a bit reluctant since it was dark, but obeyed.  As I approached, I could make out a few individuals under the shelter talking.  I felt the Lord was saying that I was to go boldly up to them and do as He said.

As I approached closer, two thoughts came to my head:  “cancer” and “pray for the one with the purse.”  I approached the group.  I told them I was on a  walk and felt lead to pray with the individual with the purse.  There were three adults and one small child in a stroller, two women and 1 man.  The man was a bit alarmed at my request, and asked if this was some kind of joke?

I calmly told him that I had no intentions other than to be obedient and pray for the one whom I was shown.  I asked (and looked) to see who had the purse and saw that the young African American girl did.  Coldly, she told me to pray and just get on with my walk.  However, I stayed calm.  I asked if she or anyone in her family were sick.  She was startled!  She (Shelly was her name) told me she had cancer…..As I prayed asking Jesus to heal her, I choked up, overwhelmed with a sudden compassion.

When I finished, all three of them seemed different.  Their eyes were wide and they seemed to soften.  Shelly told me she believed in God and went to church some.  I told her it would be good to know if she got healed and that I would keep her in prayer.  She told me that “I’d probably know even if she didn’t tell me, as I had already known she had a purse and had cancer!”  I left, blessing them and leaving them in amazement.  Praise God.

Pray for Shelly to be healed of cancer and for God to use this encounter as a witness of His love and mercy!

This story reflects what I believe is becoming a cornerstone of the ministry God is building in my life.  Whether it is teaching, evangelism, prayer, or mentorship, God desires for people to encounter Him—not just study who He is intellectually, but know Him through encounter.  All real relationships that we have on this earth are based on experiences with one another.  While I believe we can certainly get too caught up in pursuing spiritual highs, experiences with God make our Christianity an ongoing reality and keep our relationship with Him fresh.

Please pray that God continues to provide me with opportunities to bring His Kingdom to this earth so people encounter Him—-and that the Holy Spirit would quicken hearts.

In Jesus’ Name, Sober Up!-May 2012

Saturday I headed downtown to catch part of an afternoon healing conference.  After arriving, Kristen and I prayed for someone…but both sensed I was not supposed to be apart of that afternoon session.  Puzzled as to why I came that day, I walked to a nearby park and journaled for a bit.  Then, I asked the Lord what was next.  He responded, “You asked me on the way here if you could pray for people, so go do it now.”

I walked out of the park and began to pray.  I hadn’t gone 20 paces when I saw a woman walking.  Without thinking, I blurted out, “I’m out on a prayer walk.  How can I pray for you, ma’am?”  Her jaw dropped, and She got excited.  “I need prayer sooooooo bad!  You are an answer to my prayers!”  That’s how I met “Mary” (not her real name).   I heard the grim details of her story there on the sidewalk in downtown Grand Rapids.  She claimed emphatically to be a Christian and believed she was forgiven by Jesus blood, but she’d been dealt a rough hand in life and made a number of big blunders.  She was abused growing up, her parents stole money from the church when they were treasurers, she and her husband had both been in jail, and she just got kicked out of the live in boyfriend’s house where she was living.  Oh, and she was sipping on some whiskey while I talked to her….in broad daylight!  In my own mind, I wondered if this conversation was even safe, yet the Lord assured me to keep going and I never feared.

After a time, of listening, I knew her primary issue was unforgiveness, (in addition to abuse, generational curses, and adultery)  but she was too emotional and tipsy to receive much from me.  Recalling what I heard an evangelist from KC IHOP do in such situations, I asked her if I could pray for her to sober up and she agreed.  I commanded her to sober up in Jesus name!  She sobered up.  Her speech became smoother and her whole story came out.

She talked to me for over an hour and I could tell she just needed to get stuff out (can you believe I listened that long?  That’s proof alone God was working!!)  When she stopped to breath, I was able to share some of my own hurts and how unforgiveness had caged me in for years as well.  She listened.  Eventually, I lead her over to the park bench and looked for my teaching on unforgiveness.  I finally found one copy left in the outside pocket of my bag and gave it to her.  I took her through the same teaching I had taught college students in a recent small group.  She started to forgive her parents, but every time she began more hurt came out.  I could see she was going to need hours and I had only another 20 minutes.

I told her about two local parachurch ministries that could help her, giving her the addresses of both.   In the end, I was able to anoint her with oil and pray healing and direction for her.  I told her this would not all go away, and that she needed to walk forward.  I left her in a far better mood with a plan to visit a local ministry and realizing her past didn’t have to determine her future.  Go God!  Pray for “Mary” that she follows through and that God uses the teaching I gave her.