Archive for May, 2010

I love hearing stories of how God is at work in His church. Such stories remind me that it is normative for Jesus to be active in the lives and hearts of His people, and they remind me of the greater context in which we “do” church.

If you’ve been around RBC much at all, you already know that each year for the past six years we have hosted a stage production called Conversations the week before Easter. Through hospitality, music, real life stories, and dramatic vignettes,  we seek to communicate the power of the Gospel of Jesus in a loving, practical and relevant way.  There are many stories that can be shared about how Christ has used Conversations as a means to reach hearts for His glory, and I wanted to take time to share one with you in the form of an email that one of our staff received after this year’s production:

Thanks so much for your emails and for the personal card and gift in the mail.  I really appreciate you reaching out, and have been meaning to write back to you for a while because I wanted to share an encouraging story with you.  I hope that you will share this with others who may also be encouraged.

I have been looking for a new church recently, and Ali has recently joined me in my search over the last month or so.  Ali has a mixed-faith background and described herself to me as a “seeker” when I broached the subject when we first became friends (just a few months ago).  We came to visit RBC on Palm Sunday, and heard about Conversations.  God has most certainly been pursuing Ali through various circumstances that have come together in just the right timing.

Although I consider myself a strong Christian, the last two years have been the toughest of my life.  My faith and my motivation for evangelism has waned lower than ever.  However, despite my recent brokenness and struggles, God used RBC and me to draw Ali to himself.  When we attended Conversations that Tuesday night, we were both incredibly impressed and moved to tears.  Afterward, I invited Ali in to chat, and I had the privilege of leading her in a prayer to give her life to Christ, just before Easter.  I wanted to share this with you because I know that those involved in Conversations will be greatly encouraged to know that they were a key role in Ali’s decision.  Conversations also greatly encouraged and softened my somewhat hardened heart – praise God!

Ali and I are signed up for the Starting Point class that begins this coming Sunday, and she is eagerly reading her bible daily, always excited to pray and worship and attend church.  I not only praise God for bringing Ali into an eternal relationship with Him, but also the incredible encouragement she is to me!

Thanks again for the warm welcome to RBC.

For His Glory,
Kristin

While church productions and programs come and go, the work of Jesus remains steadfast and strong and will endure for eternity. What a humbling thought that He would use so small a thing as a stage production to do a great and lasting work in the hearts of those who saw and heard what Jesus has done in the lives of others. Be encouraged – God is at work in His church.

Have a story to tell from your experience at Conversations this year? I’d love to hear about it.