During the GIC the students of St. Michael’s were brought to see how we are missionaries without having to travel by plane, boat, or donkey. We, as teens and their families, took to the streets of our own city to experience the righteousness of God. We were brought face to face with the reality of hell and the empty souls of our very close neighbors. The Holy Spirit led us to boldly share and pray for passing pedestrians on the streets right around where we work, live, and play. How embarrassing, right? WRONG! It was a chance to further bring the Kingdom into our “holy” city.

Leading up to this day, Satan had his stronghold in my opinion of what we were doing. I kept thinking, “What if I see one of the families I teach?!” or “I’m going to be one of those weird people!”. I am ashamed of my fear to proclaim the word and truth of the Gospel. I so selfishly was holding onto my own salvation without a care for the lost that are dying around me and how God intended to use me. It was not easy to approach strangers. Many of our students became very aware of how important it is to be able to actually articulate what they believe and why.

We all left, invigorated by this experience, but I confess it’s been all too easy to fall back into my daily contentment with life. One day on the streets of our temporary home, and many peoples’ lives were possibly saved by the soil we prepared or the seeds we planted in their hearts. What if we all lived that radically every day, if we all just accepted the “weird” factor together?  Charleston, our friends, tourists, neighbors, families, and co-workers,  need the truth of everlasting life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So my question to you, just like we ask our students, do you live with a reality that somebody you live with, work with, or spend time with is dying? We all are the missionaries. Be one today.

Matthew 5:6, 10-12 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
~ Molly Hare