Its Not Okay to Give Up

Tom & Michelle,
Josh, Leo

It’s not okay that we often give up too soon.  Society today wants everything instantaneously and is not willing to wait on God.   We have found that when reaching out to normal working families that it takes time to build the relationship and see them open their hearts to the gospel.  It’s not okay that Satan frequently gets the best of us as we give up.

Recently we started a Family Life Homebuilders group.   The content focuses on strengthening the marriage relationship and tackles some of the common sources of problems in marriage.  It is a desperate need where we live.   Many people give up on marriage.  In our group two young men are already on their second marriage and are hoping things go better this time.  The group is designed for seekers and gradually introduces bible verses.  We had wanted to start such a group for a long time but it had never worked out (people moved away, an approaching major event, sickness, etc.)   One of the couples who joined our group we have known for several years and have made repeated attempts to invite them to explore the person of Jesus.   We first met them through an Executive Training Series we were conducting at the time.  We invited them to some holiday outreaches for Easter and Christmas.  Later we met and shared the gospel but there was something holding him back.   We invited them to church and several times they said they were coming but never showed up.   We tried to maintain contact from time to time but eventually lost touch.    We reconnected when a Park Street short term team came to teach a business seminar.  Then they disappeared again for a while.   During a listening prayer time, God placed them on Michelle’s heart but it did not work out to connect with them right then.  Then a few months later, we received a phone call out of the blue.  They wanted to visit our church.  Wow!  It was them initiating this and not us.  They came a couple of times and stopped.  We thought about inviting them to Story of the Soul outreach but then thought it might be better to invite new people.    A while later, we get another phone call out of the blue inviting us to her 30^th birthday.  We met family members on both sides and the relationship was rekindled.  We invited them to the next Story of the Soul and the wife’s heart was greatly touched.  Michelle began doing some basic discipleship lessons with her and she was eating it up.  Michelle could clearly see the Spirit working in her heart.  Then things cooled off a little bit.  When we started this group, they became active engaged participants.  It’s not okay when we don’t heed God’s promptings.  However, we are thankful that He gives us second chances.

Another couple that has joined the group stems from a relationship that Tom has developed over the years.  They first met at a conference and Tom began meeting him regularly for life coaching.  They talked about Jesus as the life source that can bring real and lasting change but something was holding him back from completely giving his life to Christ.  They met several times and then became busy with other things and quit meeting regularly.   Then Tom received a phone call out of the blue inviting Tom to his birthday party to teach his friends how to play poker.  That evening Tom met a number of his friends who had also studied abroad.   Later we were invited to the wedding of one of those friends.  Now our friend is talking about inviting some of those friends to a similar homebuilders group.  He is very close to opening his heart to Jesus.

Many more examples abound of almost giving up.  It’s not okay when we don’t swallow our pride and keep initiating.  We had tried for a while to partner with the campus ministry but things had never worked out.  We were ready to give up and just move on but last year we had an opportunity to teach leadership classes to students and we brought in some campus staff to help.  As a result, one young man came to faith who now wants to join staff and work with students when he graduates.  That would not have happened if we had given up.

We may never know how many times we gave up too soon with a family member, a colleague, a distant relative.  When we stop and ask God to put people on our hearts and then wait for His reply, we might be amazed at what He does through us.  It’s not okay to start believing that it’s too late for God to use us.

Tom and Michelle are business people in Central Asia