Glimpses of Something Bigger

I have been visiting a high school just south of Tábor for the past couple of years.  It's been my way of meeting students, getting exposed to Czech youth culture outside fo the church, and to encourage the youth group kids that attend that school.  It's been pretty uneventful over the past couple of years.  There have been a few students that I have really connected with and have been able to share Christ with.  But, no revivals have happened.  A few things have happened in the past month or so that show glimmers of something bigger...I hope.  I was sitting in the language department office one morning with a couple of the teachers when one of them asked me about my faith.  This teacher was Catholic and was frustrated with a situtation in her church and she wanted to ask me what I thought.  As we discussed the essentials of the Gospel another teacher was listening.  This teacher is not a believer, but was very interested in our conversation.  On another occasion I was having lunch with a different teacher when the topic of my faith in Christ came up.  As I patiently listened and answered her questions we were able to go through the whole Gospel.  These two teachers have also given me extraodinary permission to speak about spiritual things in class as well.  It's Easter season and so the topic in class has been on the differences between American and Czech Easter traditions.  Czech's have an Easter tradition of baking a lamb-shaped cake.  I've asked them if they know where this tradion comes from.  Most have no idea, just that it is fun and tastes good.  Occasionally one will say "Jesus is the lamb."  But they don't know why Christ is portrayed as a baby sheep.  With the teacher in the classroom I then go into explaining the Old Testament picture of a spotless lamb as payment for sin and that Christ died on the cross as the final fulfillment of that OT picture.  Yesterday the teacher asked me about important Easter symbols for Americans.  After a quick little blurb about the Easter bunny I explained the significance of the cross and the empty tomb.  My faith rests on these things.

Another encouraging thing is prayer.  Each Thursday after class I have started gathering with a few of the youth group kids in front of the school for prayer. We pray for courage to share Christ with our friends.  We pray for God's glory to be revealed in this school.  We pray for the teachers.  I've been able to encourage the kids with these stories.  God's movement begins with prayer.  I'm praying that He will show Himself powerfully to these young believers. 

Comments

[Aleisha Stephens]

Awesome!

[Marie]

Yes - truly awesome!!