First of all, God doesn't always tell us why He does things. For example, in Deuteronomy 29:29, Moses tells us that "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."

It is interesting to follow the pattern of God working together with obedient members of His creation to carry out His grand plan of rescue of His fallen people. In Exodus 19:6, He commissioned Israel to be a "nation of priests," links between him and the other nations. His vision for them was that they would show to the pagan nations His character, His love, and His plan of redemption. In Isaiah 43, He calls them His witnesses, whom He has created for His glory. Paul describes this is 2 Cor 5:18, where he says that God has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

As for impressing people with great miracles and displays of power, it is instructive to review Jesus' ministry. The Pharisees admitted his acts of healing and even raising Lazarus to life, yet they did not believe. The problem was moral not intellectual. The greatest impact on an unbelieving group of people is the vital life of God lived out in a person, people like you and me.

Interestingly enough, many people today in the Muslim world record visions and dreams of Jesus which have brought them to seek out Christians. Paul, in Romans 1, reminds us that the very existence of the complex created world gives us enough light to recognize that God exists and to seek Him. Yet, he shows that people don't respond because they are proud, selfserving, and basically sinful.

It is in this context, that God still calls His believing people, His Church, to be His witnesses whenever and wherever they have an opportunity. Yet, we do not work alone. He calls us His co-laborers - He gives us His Spirit, guides us, works in peoples' hearts, and goes before us as the Good Shepherd. He is working all the time! But for some reason, He has decided to include us in this activity. John Wesley even said that God does nothing but as the answer to the prayers of His children. Wow! Why does He limit Himself in this way? We don't know, but it is a great encouragement for us to be faithful to Him and His calling.

I'm not sure if this will be helpful to you, Oby, but it is the best answer I can give at the present time. So, praise the Lord for His calling upon your life, and join with millions of others to be His witnesses of His grace today!