Seeing potential in others is key to the expansion of the kingdom of God.
I met Tim when I served at the international church in Warsaw. I asked this young international worker what he dreamed of doing, and Tim told me he wanted to see an English-speaking church right in the heart of the city. I gave him two years to make his dream a reality. Tim had never even preached a sermon, but 27 months later, City Church was planted—right in the heart of the city!
I think my impact on Tim and the church he established came simply from believing in him. I believed in Tim before he believed in himself. Jesus took a ragtag group of twelve and transformed the world. Paul traveled to a city, shared the gospel and established a church, turning it over to untested elders and trusting God’s Spirit to lead them.
We need to believe in others.
As we look to “double our reach” in the next 10 years, it will require trusting untested people to do amazing things. If we want to multiply disciples everywhere, we need help.
When I served in Poland I sent out a prayer letter photo with the words “Help Wanted.” This led to the first of our Ambrose interns joining us in Poland. She and her husband had a lasting impact on the youth of our Polish church, including our daughter. Another intern, Jonathan, began a student church with Norwegian medical students that met in our home. He later went on to serve in Germany and then central Asia.
While at the international church in Warsaw, we invested in a number of young people and helped train them to serve. Most of the current leadership of the church came out of that group of young people.
Perhaps that is the best word to use: “invested.” A pastor heading overseas invested in me as a teenager, leading to the first message I ever delivered at the age of 15. That was a transforming event. Time and again I have seen other examples of how the investment of time and prayer have changed lives and expanded the kingdom.
So how can you invest in others? Be open to the Spirit’s leading, take time to pray and then to engage with the person God has led you to. Believe in them more than they believe in themselves. Equip, encourage and release them to serve.
One young Arab man I discipled had to flee because of persecution. We were able to connect him with a local church in his new location where they too saw God’s hand in this man’s life. They invested in him and gave him opportunities to serve. Now he is serving the Lord faithfully, along with his new wife. He has completed training with another organization as a cross-cultural worker.
Another couple spent years with us but needed to leave their overseas assignment to care for an aging parent. They recently moved to a new part of their community in Canada in order to better connect with refugees whose language they learned overseas.
As my wife and I draw near to retirement, and in our role as area directors, I am committed to doubling my reach for Christ. That means identifying and investing in others who can go to places I cannot go, who can do things impossible for me to do, and who can be effective ambassadors for Jesus. In Canada and around the world, there are opportunities for each of us to invest in the growth of others, and transformation of the world.
How about you? The Help Wanted sign is still posted. Inquire within.
Don and his wife Betty have served with the Alliance since 1994. First as church planters in Saskatchewan, then 20 years in Poland and 5 in the Middle East. Today they reside in Central Asia and serve as area directors (ADs) for The Alliance Canada.
Visit thealliancecanada.ca/gift/don-and-betty/ to financially partner with Don and Betty.