ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Just a few days ago, I was sitting in a restaurant with Bill, a dear friend of mine whom I led to the Lord a few years ago. We were talking about his spiritual growth when the conversation transitioned to the mess our world is in.
Bill particularly was concerned with the terrorist threat and the crisis we face on so many international fronts such as Iraq, Iran and North Korea. I shared with my friend about the power of God to change a nation. He was pretty skeptical about the ability or the willingness of our government to do anything about all of this, and about the general future of our world.
In the middle of our conversation, a server I knew came to our table and said, “There is a man eating here today who knows you. I think you may want to talk to him.” The man, Pastor Joe, was a godly leader from a local church in the area. I had worked with him in unity events when I was a pastor. As we began to talk, it was obvious that he was excited. I was stunned when I found out why — he was preaching his wife’s funeral that afternoon.
He shared with us the opportunity that this would present. Many people would be there who did not know Christ. He had been married to his dear wife for 52 years. For the last eight she had battled Alzheimer’s disease. Joe told me about five people who had come to Christ through his wife’s illness. He shared of her courage and grace through terrible suffering. He told me about one young man who had no interest in his witness until he met Joe’s wife.
“When I realized that you lived with this joy while your wife has this horrible disease, I knew that what you had was real,” the man told Joe. And he became a follower of Christ! And then Joe spoke with passion about the specific people who would be at the funeral that day who needed Jesus.
What an incredible honor it was to turn that restaurant into a sanctuary and go to the Father on behalf of Joe, as I prayed for God’s Spirit to fill Him as he preached, and to draw people to Jesus. As soon as I finished, a woman approached Joe and said, “I knew your wife. I can’t tell you how she impacted my life. I thank God for both of you.” Then I watched Joe make his way out the door and on to his mission.
My friend Bill watched this whole scene. Then something occurred to me.
“Bill,” I said, “Do you know why America has been so blessed by God? Why we are glad we live here instead of in a place like Iran or North Korea?”
“Why?” he asked.
“I believe it is because of frail elderly women with Alzheimer’s and humble, passionate pastors who may never have their name in lights and millions more just like them. For more than 200 years, an army of Christ-followers just like Joe and his wife have spread out across this land, loving, serving, sharing the Good News of Jesus, often at incredible sacrifice. One by one they don’t make the news. But together, they have changed history. This country was born in spiritual power and blessing because of them. This country has been sustained by them. And if we want to change America and this world, I think all we have to do is join them.”
We sat in silence for a few moments and then had the opportunity to pray and share with our server, as we enjoyed the privilege of joining Joe’s mission.
If the Lord delays his coming, those living 200 years from now are depending on us to keep this country great and to continue to be a light of goodness and hope to the whole world. And that requires the sacrifice of those who are defending us in far-away places right now. And it requires that we do our best to choose godly people to govern us. But I think most of all, it requires something of you. Something that will take you out of your comfort zones and your comfortable pews. Something that will take you away from self-centered, club-like Christianity and into the lives of people you have not even noticed. And something that will become the greatest joy of your life. To make America great again, to bring hope to the world again, we must make evangelism good news again.
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John Avant is vice president for evangelization at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.
