January 15, 2010
Is this real? Oh ye of little faith.
Over the years, I have repeatedly told the believers here that God is fully able to bring many contacts at once if he so pleases. That is one of those truths which we know, but which we don't really think will ever happen.
Well, it's happening! I shared with you a few days ago that on Sunday afternoon, there were about 20 unbelievers at our introductory meeting to our English course. After the meeting was over, we had an hour and a half of boldly and clearly sharing the gospel with these people. Their openness to what they were hearing was truly a work of God.
At the meeting was a couple in their 40s who had the wife's mother with them. The mother is from Naples, and is here visiting because she is in depression, and the daughter is trying to care for her. Knowing that I am a pastor, they asked if they could bring her on Monday evening to talk with me. So on Monday night, we had over an hour with this couple and the mother, and I explained to her about Jesus Christ. They purchased a Bible for her, and said they would like to come to the Bible study on Wednesday night, because they saw that it was helpful for the mother to listen to me.
On Wednesday morning, I felt impressed by the Spirit to prepare a very evangelistic Bible study. That evening, about one hour before the study, that wife called and asked if there was room at our Bible study not just for her and her husband and her mother, but also for her siblings and their mates, and a number of their children. To make a long story short, there were 15 of them. So that evening, we had 12 adult unbelievers at our Bible study. That is the most unbelievers we've ever had. The study was a very clear evangelistic message, it was very evident that the unbelievers were tracking very closely what I was saying. Afterwards, they asked me to have a pastoral prayer for their mother, and they gathered around as a family. I prayed that God would not simply solve her depression problem, but even more so, her eternal problem, that of her eternal condemnation and need of a Savior Jesus Christ. I prayed that each one present would recognize his own need of a Savior. They thanked me deeply, and we expect at least some of them back. I'll keep you posted.
In addition to that extended family, the youngman Gianni, whom we had evangelized many months ago but who had stopped coming, came back. It was clear that God is still at work in his heart. Pray for him, the girl he lives with is very much against him coming to hear the gospel from us, but he is very drawn.
So, between Sunday and Wednesday we were able to share the Gospel with more than 30 new people. We have never had that many contacts at one time in over 20 years.
Regarding English course, we've had a number of those who came on Sunday asked if their friends or relatives could come, it looks like we could easily have about 30 unbelievers at the course, in addition to several of the believers from our church. In fact, we may need to divide the group into two, and meet on two separate evening, to have room for everyone. Keeping in mind that we've already talked openly about Jesus Christ with the group, and most responded very positively, we see God's hand greatly at work.
Pray that we would be ready for whatever God sends our way. Pray that we would keep our eyes upon Jesus Christ, and find our hope in him, not in results, but at the same time that we would be useful vessels for whatever he wants to accomplish.
There is much, much more to share, but these are intensely busy days and I must stop here. I ask you to pray for God's daily grace. At the same time, may we all continue to pray that God would use the tragedy in Haiti to bring glory to his name and save many people in that spiritually dark land.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer!!
Marco (and Sherrie)
Italy
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