There are many good and kind people in the world who want to make a difference, however, without the enabling of the Lord, it is difficult to serve in the love of Christ. “The problem was that he wanted to serve like other people who attended the church, but he was not allowed to do anything serious.”
As people walk through the doors of a church, it is the responsibility of the pastor (and other church members) to make sure that those people have truly heard the message of the Gospel. If saved, discipleship begins and the hunger of wanting to serve in a worldly sense gives way to a God-honoring desire; a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to proclaim His name to those around.
“I explained to him that it was not enough to be just a kind and good person, but he needed Christ. And then, if he wanted to serve in the church, he would be able to share this burden of ministry with his brothers and sisters in Christ.” Continue to pray for SGA-supported missionary pastorsas they lead their congregations in discernment and truth.
Andrei is a young brother who, not yet knowing God, fought in every way for the opportunity to serve Him. He recently returned from the army. He seriously began to think about following Christ during his studies in the university. He looked at the people in the church and at those who surrounded him in everyday life.
Like most people his age, he decided to try everything that this world offered him. However, the result was the same—disappointment, pain, and regret for what he had done. Despite the fact that he grew up in a family of churchgoing parents, his path to knowing God was not easy. He had never seen examples of people who truly humbled themselves before God. That is why he decided for himself that he could live as he wanted and at the same time go to church—this is enough.
For several years, he traveled from one city to another, but everywhere he went he was perceived as a guest, no matter how long he stayed in the church. The problem was that he wanted to serve, like other people who attended the church, but he was not allowed to do anything serious. When he came to my church, I offered him an opportunity to serve in the “Choose Life” project, so that he could try himself in the role of a minister. In the end, we came to the point where I explained to him that it was not enough to be just a kind and good person, but he needed Christ. And then, if he wanted to serve in the church, he would be able to share this burden of ministry with his brothers and sisters in Christ.
After some time, he repented. We worked with him for a long time discipling him and came to the conclusions that he truly had repented and was saved through faith. Now he joyfully takes part in music and youth ministry.