How often do we put on blinders and
only focus on what is immediately in front of us? Whether in life or in the ministries we
serve, it can be very easy to see only one piece at a time. What happens if when we live life and as we
serve, we take a 360 degree view? Would
there be some amazing God-orchestrated intersections? Let me share a couple of
examples.
Five years ago I quit my job and
launched Into the Field. I have had the honor
of walking alongside people with a passion for their faith and serving
others. My serving has taken me to China
six times and allowed me to assist the launch of a China-focused ministry,
chinaconnect.
Each year my family is involved
with International Friendships (IFI). We
pick-up, host, and forge relationships with students – who always seem to be
from China – and invite them to join us at church.
In China, much is about “guanxi”
– or relationships. Guanxi allows you to
connect in a different way; it opens opportunities. The guanxi that we develop with our IFI students
allows us to share our faith, and me to share about my work in China. As a result, one student expressed desire to go
with our 2012 team serving some of China’s forgotten children.
Fei joined the team, participated
in pre-trip training, listened intently during devotions, and blossomed as she
loved on kids at the orphanage. During our
time in Beijing, we met her parents - completing the circle of those
relationships. Her life has gotten busy,
and we don’t see her as much, but one never knows when the seeds of faith that
were planted will grow and bloom.
This is not where the intersections
ended in China. Another IFI student, one
who came to faith while at The Ohio State University and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (UALC), now lives in Beijing. Because of the guanxi that I and others
developed, we were able to connect with her on a Sunday morning and introduce
her to a church. She was new to the city
and had not yet found one.
The goal of living 360 continued
with the provision of Bibles to a rural Chinese church - someone heard we were
coming and thought we might have resources to help. We also provided financial support to college
students for additional Biblical training.
God is at work. If we let Him, He will bless us with the
opportunity to play a role in His plans.
If our focus was narrowed only to Into the Field, to chinaconnect, IFI, UALC, or to relationships
established in the past, many of the ministry moments may not have
happened. Work to live 360 degrees. You’ll be blessed.
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