Door to door… Perhaps the most feared activity that missions groups face on short term mission trips. Typically the trips are all about getting out of a comfort zone, but door to door evangelism often takes that to a whole new level.
Door to door evangelism requires a student to have the courage to knock on a stranger’s door and tell them about Jesus without knowing at all how they may react. There is no way to know what the person’s background is, their spirituality, or, in this case, their attitude toward young American teenagers in their neighborhood.
Despite the uncertainties of door to door, the group from Houston Christian High School divided into smaller groups, grabbed translators, and boldly walked among the homes of the Pantanal neighborhood of Granada, Nicaragua. The groups purposely went door to door every day in hopes that they could build relationships and have meaningful, Bible-focused discussions.
Some groups spoke with families in need of encouragement and prayer in faith. Some groups talked to people that claimed Christianity but had very confusing beliefs about the Christian walk. Some groups spoke with people who adored the Bible and simply wanted to have someone to talk to about it. One group in particular spoke to one young man, who was looking for a change in a very big way.
Two Houston Christian students, David and John, and their group leader and Bible teacher, Joe, connected with the young man early in the week. They saw him standing just outside his home, and realized they had seen him on the soccer field the previous day. They decided to approach him to build a relationship and boldly see where he was spiritually.
They found out his name was Douglas. At first, he was a bit quiet, but the guys pressed in. They found a way to connect. For the next several days, they would return back to visit Douglas. John remarked on their school blog:
“We talked and had small conversation, but once again nothing major. The next day, I passed him on the street again. This time, he invites me into his home and asks to hear about God!”
They would go into his home, open the Word together, encourage him, pray for him, and discover that he wants to know more and more about Christ. He wanted to make a life-change.
Little did they know about Douglas, but that his “life-change” would be a change that would affect more than just him. As John wrote, “I then find out he is a gang leader [in Pantanal], who wants to change his life and follow Christ.” Douglas was a gang leader who wanted to make a change for Christ!
We never know where people are in their life. We never know where or who God might be leading us to talk to or reach out to. We never know what their life story might be, but what we do know is that if we are faithful to God’s call, He will be faithful to use and protect us…not for our glory, but for His. Who knows what lives Douglas, who has such influence, is about to affect in his community.
Sure, door to door is hard and risky. But, we never know who God might be leading us to and what effect that might have on the Kingdom.
