25th Street: My Vision Vs. God's

My original goal in beginning an evangelistic ministry on the streets was to share the gospel with the world, watch people get saved and disciple them in the faith. I thought it would be so cool to be able to say what Paul did to the Corinthians, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15) 

It's been a year and a half now since I began this ministry and let's just say that nothing is ever what you think it will be. Isn't that the way life is though? Take anything for an example and it rings true that whatever your preconceptions are, you can just about guarantee that it will be nothing like that.

In the time that I have invested on 25^th street I would have thought that I would have at least 10 new people plugged into our church, or for that matter any church, by now. But as of yet not one person has been plugged into a church through this ministry, at least that I know of.

I don't blame myself because I know that I have done everything in my power to plug people into local churches. I recognize that it's not my fault, but it's because we live in an age where people's hearts have grown cold. This was prophesied by Paul in his letter to Timothy when he exhorted Timothy with these words,

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

There is no way to overturn the Word of God. God etched these words into the fabric of time before the world began. They will be fulfilled no matter how many zealous young street preachers like myself try to fight against the tide of unbelief we are faced with today, because I do not have the power to change hearts. That is a power reserved for God alone.

I have been discouraged by this lack of results. In fact, over the last two months or so I have recognized that my passion to hit the street with the Word has greatly decreased. I'm not as fervent as I once was. Though I believe that some of this is due to the maturity that I have been granted, because I am not overly anxious like I was before, I also recognize that some of it is due to my lack of vision.

God's vision for this ministry was not the same as mine. I think that is often the case when we embark on any project to serve God. We have a vision for what we would like to accomplish, what results we would like to achieve and the like, but God has an entirely different vision in mind. He gives us the passion, the gifts, and the resources to carry out our vision, while holding back from us how exactly He is going to use us.

I've already stated my vision, to see the unbelieving world come to Christ and be discipled, but now I would like to share what God's vision was for this ministry. God knew that I needed to be humbled, and that is the first thing He has done.

There was once a time when I believed that I was going to plant a church in a small mountain town with just my wife, while I worked a part or full-time job. My thought was that I was going to knock every door in town and lead people to the Lord. My goal was the glory of God, but I retained a sense of pride that I could do this single handedly. When I began the ministry on 25^th street, I had much the same feeling of pride. I won't tell you that today I don't struggle with pride in my ability to share the gospel- that would be a lie. But I will tell you that God has greatly humbled me. I once thought that there was a best approach that will work for anyone while sharing the gospel, and that I had it. I was clearly wrong. My lack of what I deemed “results” proves this. God has helped me to realize that I am not Mr. Awesome Evangelist. I'm just a guy who wants to see people come to know Christ.

God's vision was also to give me a few close friends – dear brothers in the Lord who are equally passionate to share the gospel. Tyler Woodhead is not someone I ever thought that I would view as a close friend and dear brother, but his passion to share the gospel led him to be my number one partner in the ministry on 25^th. He and I have spent countless hours talking about theology, evangelism, marriage, kids, personal struggles, pitfalls, problems, and just about anything else you can think of. We've shared many a laugh and have mourned together over the hardness of heart that we see every week. We have prayed for one another and challenged one another.

Another friend I have made is Patrick Cross. He is planting a church with Tyler near where we share the gospel on 25^th street and has done his best to join Tyler and me as much as possible. Patrick's willingness to openly share his struggles with me between the gospel conversations we have with people who pass by has allowed me to be open with him about mine. We too have prayed and I have seen into the heart of a man whose heart breaks for a world that is lost and without a shepherd. His heart to shepherd them is rare, and a blessing to see. If it weren't for the ministry on 25^th street, I would have been too busy to ever get to know these men, to bless them, and to be blessed by them.

I also would never have had the discipleship opportunities that I've had. Organic discipleship opportunities with kids from youth group, students from Bible college who have joined us on a mission trip, people from church, and other random believers have been such a blessing. Believers who are unprepared have been challenged by the world, head-on, to prepare themselves to be able to answer sincere, pertinent, and legitimate questions. I have been there to help them answer those questions and find greater faith in what they believe, which will grow into maturity and boldness for the Lord.

When I envisioned who I was going to talk to on 25^th, I thought of all the intelligent people I could challenge and be challenged by. Little did I realize that God had in mind not that I would debate intellectuals, though I have a few times, but that I would rather love the simple street people who regularly walk by. He envisioned that I would encourage those who are struggling through their addiction to meth, the most prominent drug in the area, and that I would pray for people who have recently found themselves homeless and without any idea of where to turn.

God's vision for the ministry on 25^th street also included the opportunity to challenge believers who do not join us to be bold witnesses for Christ. I can't tell you how many believers have told me that when they see me they are convicted that they do not share the gospel more. Even though I do not see most of them ever again, I have to trust God to bring that momentary conviction into a lifestyle of evangelism for the glory of His great name.

I have also had the chance to confront believers on false doctrines that they have accepted, and seen a man return to Biblical truth. I have even confronted a believer for justifying sin, for which purpose he has come to respect me, and I still see him often. I say this not to make myself look great, but to share with you what God has done to glorify himself through this ministry.

I didn't expect all the ways that God would use this ministry in my life, and in the life of countless others. I wish I could remember every face that God has touched through His Word spoken through me and those who have joined me. We have witnessed many people accept Christ as Savior, only to never hear from them again. Often times, even if we try to follow up with people, it's to no end. We trust that God will do His work and bring them back to us if He wants to, and we count it a blessing to have been there to witness a heart turn to God in humble repentance.

My vision for the ministry on 25^th street was too narrow, and too self-promoting. After a year and a half of this ministry, I have seen God work in numerous ways. In fact, I think it is possible that most believers only experience a few times in their entire lives what I experience regularly. This ministry has changed my life. It's too bad that I often revert back to my narrow focus and lose focus on what God is doing through me and others. Even though it's not what I expected, it's what God intended.

Today was my last day on the street until I pick up the ministry next summer when it gets warm again. I hope to use this time to reflect on what God has done and to refocus my vision to be more in line with His. His ways are better than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, just as the prophet Isaiah said. Next year, I hope to start out with a fresh new vision of what God will do on 25^th street, and then watch as once again, He shows me that there is more in store than I had even know now.

Thank you God for using me, a sinner.