“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of God is at hand.’ Saint Pope John-Paul wrote this in his Encyclical letter “Redemptoris Missio”. He went on to write that the best form of evangelization is when we live a truly Christian life, and not just talk about it. “People today put more trust in witness than in teachers, in experience than in teaching, and in life and action than in theories.” I find these to be very powerful words.When I read these words, I was reminded that in many evangelical churches, members give their “testimony” as a witness to their faith in Jesus. It has been a long time since I heard anyone give a personal testimony, sharing a brief story of their life, how they became Christian and the difference being in relationship with Jesus and his Church has changed their life. Perhaps that is why I like reading stories about the lives of the saints. These were real people, living in a real world, who loved Jesus and gave their lives to serving him and others. They are real heroes.
Most of the people who read this column have a conversion story to tell and yet we rarely hear them. It seems relatively easy to compose. Just answer these few questions. What was your life like before you encountered Jesus? How did you encounter Jesus? What happened and what was it like? What effect did that encounter have on your life and how did it change you? Answer the basic journalistic questions: Who, What, Where, Why, When and How.
For me, though I grew up in the Catholic Church, received a great religious education, received the Sacraments, was an Altar Boy, and wanted to be a priest, I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus until one evening in a dorm room at CMU when I was 19 years old. I was listening to Garth, a young man associated with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship who was talking with a roommate about giving his life to Jesus, inviting him into your life and giving yourself to him. Garth noticed me and simply said, “You are ready aren’t you.” I said yes and we prayed, and I gave myself to Jesus and Jesus gave himself to me. The rest is history. My life has never been the same.
What about you? Do you have a testimony? What is your story. As Saint John-Paul wrote, “People, today put more trust in witness than in teachers, in experience than in teaching, and in life and action than in theories.” More later.
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
