The World on Wednesday by Jim Smithies, Bethel's Pastor of World
Our World story this week covers three areas in which Bethel is the common denominator.
First, please pray for the 12 of us who are going to Jamaica, leaving early Sunday morning, to serve at New Generation Camp, to enhance their ability to reach Jamaicans for Christ: Dan, Caren, Tom, Donna, Michael, Katelyn, Alayna, Preston, Stacy, Cay, Cheryl and Jim.
Secondly, please read and celebrate the article below written by our own Blake Ackerson, who is a full-time missionary with Bridges ministry in Houston. It is a great testimony to "going" and to depending upon the Holy Spirit. Please thank God for Blake and pray for his ministry.
Thirdly, Bethel is reaching international students right here in Tyler through Emily Manasco and ISI. Please consider creating our own stories like Blake's by coming alongside Emily.
Blake's Article:
As I sat down to have lunch with Shantanu, one of my close Indian friends who came to our conference in DC, I didn’t expect for him to ask this question, “If you live according to Jesus’ teachings, then why don’t you focus on feeding the poor and helping the needy? That’s what Jesus did. Why doesn’t Houston Bridges focus onraising money to help the poor?”
Shantanu was right. Why don’t we give all of our efforts to social causes? I have a desire to help those in need and the need is great in Houston. I was thankful for Shantanu’s question and convicted by it, but at the same time incredibly caught off guard by his question. He was comparing my life with Jesus' which was a very humbling experience.
I quickly turned in the silence of my mind and prayed, “How do I answer his question, Lord?....Help me. Give me something to say from Your Word.” In that moment, it was no strike of genius but the guidance from the Spirit that brought to remembrance these words…“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Shantanu’s dilemma was that he saw that man’s greatest need was of a physical nature. This student has an incredible desire to serve those who are in physical need but sees our physical needs at a higher priority over our spiritual needs.
When I read this passage, I explained that Jesus had a great physical need after not eating for 40 days. When He was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread in order to meet His physical need, He chose rather to have fellowship with God, which is also man’s greatest need. It just turns out that Jesus is the Word of God by which man lives, and through receiving this Bread of Life we have fellowship with God.
Through this difficult question, God gave me an opportunity to share the Gospel and to reveal to Shantanu that man’s greatest need is of a spiritual nature. After explaining that man has betrayed God through our sin and lost fellowship with him, I asked him if he desired to hear how God has provided a way to restore this relationship. To his nod, I then shared with him that the purpose of Jesus’ life was not to meet our temporary physical needs, but He came to stand in the gap between God and man through His death and resurrection, and choosing to have faith in Him we have a restored relationship with our Creator. I told him that the desire of Bridges is to make known to internationals this gift that meets man’s greatest need.
When I asked him if he would like to choose to receive this gift and to follow Jesus, he did not understand what that meant. It was clear to me that no matter how much I explained, it was not in God’s timing for Shantanu to receive the Bread of Life. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share Christ with my friend, and I am praying that God will give him the gift of faith.
I am so thankful to be a part of this ministry that builds “bridges” between cultures and worldviews so that internationals like Shantanu can hear about our Savior. One opportunity that I’m excited about is building a bridge with the Graduate Indian Student Organization. Through this I’m looking forward to making some lasting relationships and hoping that many will seek answers like Shantanu.
Everyday in ministry is a blessing and I want to thank you for being a part of it so that internationals that have come to us can hear the good news of Christ.
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