October, '24 Letter
John Wesley’s letter to a Methodist Society member: “You have one business on earth - to save souls. Give yourself wholly to this."; “As far as we are able with God’s help: We will speak of the love of God. We will live in a way that draws others to Jesus. We will share our Faith with others.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Recently while walking around the Church Hall at St Andrew’s, I came across these words from the Rainbows and Brownies Rules: “Respect each other, forgiveness and friendship, trust and share with each other, make sure everyone is safe, show kindness, being helpful, include everyone, etc...” Later on, I read from an article by Stephanie Dietrich (2022), about the United Nations Goals which seek to support a global development which ends ‘poverty in all its forms and everywhere, leaving no one behind’ by 2030.” Surely God is at work in so many different ways in our local, national and international communities through charitable activities, initiatives, projects, governments, institutions, and organisations.
If that is the case, then, what do faith-based institutions, charities, organisations and groups have to offer that non-faith organisations are not offering? Christians around the world are called to point all people, leaving no one behind, to Jesus: The Life, the Truth and the Way by speaking of Him. Our Methodist Way of Life on Evangelism says: “As far as we are able with God’s help: We will speak of the love of God. We will live in a way that draws others to Jesus. We will share our Faith with others.” We are all called to share our faith in a way that gives the other person the opportunity to partake or not, and perhaps also for the other persons to share their own experiences. In John Wesley’s letter to a person in the Methodist Society, he wrote: "you have one business on earth - to save souls. Give yourself wholly to this." This is still every Christian’s mission today.
However, while we share our faith in Jesus Christ with wisdom, gentleness, kindness, integrity and respect, we will not please everyone, nor will everyone appreciate our courage, passion, resilience, and commitment. In fact, some will be offended by mentioning the name of Jesus in any conversation with them. This is a challenge for every Christian; as it causes fear, resentment and mutes our calling and commitment to speaking of Jesus. I want to encourage you as I encourage myself to reflect on the words from Matthew 10:24 “a disciple is not above His teacher, nor a servant above his master.” Jesus didn’t please everyone; the first disciples didn’t please everyone, no matter how careful we try, we cannot please everyone either. However, with God’s help through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be faithful and never stop sharing our faith no matter what comes our way. As John Wesley’s letter says, we have one business on earth - to gently point everyone to the one who saves every soul that seeks him wholeheartedly. We are to give ourselves wholly to this.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with our minds and spirits. Amen.
Yours in His service
Deacon Marcianne Uwimana.