"What are you giving away?"

They didn't even have to go and find her. Instead, she called down at them from the second story window of the largest Haitian home Matt had ever seen, then again "What are you giving away? Do you have books?"

Matt, Cammie, and four of our students were out for the first "Evangelization" Day. After months of planning, many different meetings and a lot of prayer, a vision that began with Matt's fourth year class was finally realized on Wednesday. Every Wednesday and Thursday, groups of students, led by students, are going out to a specific near-by and unchurched neighborhood. Half work on evangelism. Half work on discipleship.

Matt returned from their first outing ON FIRE. It was a joy for him to walk house to house, planting Jesus in peoples lives. But it was an even greater joy for him to look around and watch students doing the same thing, animatedly telling people about their Jesus.

Many wanted Jesus. More wanted MORE of Him. The whole walk home, the students chattered excitedly about how to disciple...who should lead Bible studies, what they should study, how they should share, and where. But even their walk home was scattered with salvations.

Without missing a beat, one of the students leading the group called back up to the young woman, "No books! Just Jesus! We're giving away Jesus!"

"I'LL TAKE HIM!" she shouted, disappearing from the window as she ran down stairs to let them in the gate. As they entered, Matt realized that she was clearly one of the daughters of this very wealthy family. They sat on the porch, and two other young women joined her. The students talked to them about the Lord and about what it meant to become a Christian. And she DID take Him. She and the others with her.
Another man, just moments later on the walk home, said the same thing: "What will you give me?"

"We'll give you Jesus!"

"I WANT THAT." And right there, another conversation, another conversion.

If you don't have goosebumps it's because I'm insufficient to tell such a story! Just on the way HOME from evangelizing a community students led four people to Christ.

And yesterday, a new group of students, made up mostly of those in the first year, went out again, to the same community, going to more homes, setting up Bible studies, praying with people.

Though this community is very close to campus, they were all greatly burdened for those they walked past in order to get there. "We must tell EVERYONE!" one exclaimed, all agreeing.


This is BIG stuff! It's huge because what I'm telling you about is something only GOD can do!

It's huge because what I'm telling you about is student dreamed, student led, student carried out! Matt and Cammie were just along for the ride!

This is huge because this cost NO money! The Lord used them to convert the very poor, and to convert the very rich!

It's huge because this week, in a very practical and simple way, we saw the students of Emmaus Seminary DO what they've been learning about, some for four years, and we saw them LOVE it, and we saw the Lord bless their efforts, and saw the Lord burn in their hearts!

It's huge because they have learned at EBS the importance of discipleship, something that is greatly lacking here, and are passionate about doing it and doing it well.

What they are doing, bringing people to Christ, discipling them, teaching them, praying together, singing together, serving the Lord...we call that CHURCH! And without a building, without a sound system, without nice clothes, without money, they are church planting!

This was week one! We're trusting the Lord for many great stories to come! Please be praising the Lord with us for those coming to Him, and praying for these new converts, some of whom are now joining the students in going door to door. Please be praying for the students as they seek to follow the Lord's leading, and for Matt and Cammie as they join them! Pray that none of them would become discouraged for any reason, but that they would be willing to "go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach, ....with lips that give thanks to His name!" Hebrews 13:13

It has been an insane week of meetings, projects and teaching, but Matt's class on Psalms has been amazing and a godly confirmation for him, and the Lord continues to work on our stubborn hearts! Don has joined our field, a friend from Sharptown UMC, to work full-time on completing the new seminary campus, an encouragement to many. Hopefully blogger is fixed now (again!) and we can all catch up!


And there is salvation in no one else;
for there is NO other name under heaven
that has been given among men
by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12