I love it when a message or a song from a weekend service stays with me for a couple of weeks.
Recently when John and Eleanor Mumford visited The Vineyard, a portion of both their individual messages resonated in my spirit and finds me chewing on their words several weeks later.
During his message John Mumford showed pictures of several famous evangelists and shared briefly their stories of how they came to know Christ as their personal savior. He started with Billy Graham and was able to trace back five or six generations to the men responsible for each generational transformation.
His message reminded me of Six Degrees of Separation from a craze in Hollywood years ago that spawned a Play, a movie and a board game (and an obsession with Kevin Bacon). The Six Degrees theory refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth.
John Mumford’s message challenged me to think about my walk with Christ. Because I’m a first generation believer in my family tree, I started wondering what kind of influence I’ve had on my children. Will the Christian foundations I’ve laid for them and the examples I’ve set be responsible for any of them influencing their children and beyond?
I may think of myself as just another ordinary believer who’ll probably not impact many people for Christ – but what about my children or my grandchildren. What kind of impact will they have on the Body of Christ? Will the things they’ve learned from me challenge them to lead someone to Christ who could influence hundreds or thousands?
My youngest daughter who until recently has been very shy about her faith in God has been spreading her spiritual wings now that she’s away at college. She’d shared with me that she’d been witnessing to her roommate and praying for friends of hers.
When she shared that with me I started thinking on the Six Degrees theory. Who will she change for Christ? Who will her friends share their new faith in Christ with?
As believers we need to have that boldness for sharing our faith and not be afraid to stop and pray with friends and strangers alike.
John Mumford’s wife, Eleanor challenged us to be bold in our witnessing for Christ. She suggested even if we’re inconvenienced (or not suitably dressed and sans make up) it doesn’t matter. What matters is being obedient to Christ and heeding that voice that tells us to pray with people.
We don’t always get to see the effects our prayers or witnessing will have on others. Maybe the seeds we plant won’t take root for years. But, for all we know we could be only six degrees away from witnessing to the next Billy Graham. Don’t be afraid to share the Gospel!
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3 (NLT)
Blessings in Christ,
Kathy
www.kathleenkurlin.com
