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Questions about: What is a Calling?

Peter: (05/02/01) Recently, God has given me a real passion for those who don't know Him. I spend hours per week talking to people on my dorm floor mostly and praying for them. I want more than anything else for them to be captivated by the love of Jesus like He has done to me, but it is just not happening. Evangelism is just not where my gift lies. My point, I guess, goes back to missions. What should be my mindset with it? Do people go into missions that are not gifted with evangelism? I know there are certainly other ways to serve Him, but it all leads back to preaching His Word, in the end; and why has He put such a fire in my heart for it if i am just going to be spinning my wheels? Thank you so much for your work here.

Peter

Jack: Thanks, Peter, for your note, your heart, and your passion to share the Gospel. Several thoughts come to mind as I read your question:

1) Lack of response: Peter, lots of people have shared the Gospel with minimum results. How many responded to Noah, WHO WAS called a "herald of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), as he prepared the Ark? Or Isaiah, who was called (chp 6) to preach but warned that no one would listen. It would be interesting to note the number of pioneer missionaries who spent years sharing the Gospel without any kind of response. Sometimes, a lot of sowing is needed, and then another will reap (note John 4:37,38).

2) Review your methods: Sometimes we need to get help with our methods. It might be beneficial for you to ask a more experienced student evangelist to accompany you and evaluate your presentation. It's often humbling, but it's a great way to learn.

3) Differing gifts: You may not have the gift of evangelist, but this should not deter you from either sharing the Gospel or considering being a missionary. I don't think I have the gift of an evangelist, Peter, but I helped scores of Colombian students learn to share the Gospel. Not many accepted Christ with me, but others, using the method I had taught them, saw a lot of fruit! My gifts lay in other areas: vision, teaching, training, encouraging, and building. All of these gifts - and many more - are needed wherever we want to see God's Church planted and nurtured into growth.

So, keep on sharing the Gospel, ask others to evaluate your methods, and open yourself to many ways of serving. The Lord will guide you more and more into His purposes for your life and, I trust, one day to a cross-cultural ministry.

Blessings on you!

Jack

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