In Church: undercover #3 I shared with you the story of Manju and Kenny, the Indian couple who broke down in their vehicle in front of our gathering place last week.  They came in to find a full meal and an embracing community of Christ followers.  As I mentioned, Manju invited us to her house to do our meal and have our worship time.  Well, last night a dozen and a half people enjoyed a full meal that was a mix of American food and Americanized Indian food and had a great time singing and sharing and praying.

“I like your parties.”

In addition to Manju, Kenny and their three boys, there was a young Indian college student attending the meeting.  Jean was more than a little nervous about how her international friend would react to the full worship service, but she brought him for the food.  Jean was thrilled to find out after the service that he loved our American “parties”.  He also told another person that he hoped to make it back the following week.  What was it that stood out?  It was the fact that a group of people so openly shared their life struggles!  It’s true… he told Jean that he’d never seen people open up so much in a group setting!  In our weakness, He is made strong!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10

One of our mantras since we bagan our new community has been, “Don’t come to us, we’ll come to you.”  It rose up from our God given passion to be missionaries where we live.  Last Sunday night was a test for us… would we stand for our aspirational value of going out, or would we protect our Sunday night worship and choose to stay inside the four walls of New Leaf Consignment Galleries?  I’m so proud that the people God has put in my life chose to step out and “GO”!

“Things have been going great this week, I even started reading my Bible every day!”

Manju and Kenny seem thrilled that we didn’t decide to cancel our worship service last Sunday so that we would avoid making them feel uncomfortable.  I’ll never forget the moment last Sunday that I asked around to a couple of people if we should go ahead and meet or just call it a night.  We could have chosen either path (maybe).  To be truthful, I was emotionally leaning toward letting it go.   Then I heard the still small voice say simply… “if you’ll do it, I’ll bless it.”  He fulfills all His promises!

Six people were left as I was packing up my stuff after the “gathering”.  We stood at the front door and had the opportunity to probe a little further into the spiritual journeys of these two beautiful people.  It is so obvious that God is poking and prodding and that He has some amazing ideas for the rest of these folks lives!  It is our job to simply sit back and watch as He gently instructs us about how we can take tiny steps toward introducing them to a new life that only a Savior can bring.