06 Aug What getting lost in Tulum, Mexico, taught me about Evangelism by Sandra Chambers
I recently headed to the Mexican Riviera for a media trip (I’m a freelance travel writer). One morning our group of six set out on a tour to visit Tulum, the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city.
After an in-depth history lesson, our tour guide set us free for half an hour to explore the ruins on our own. Being an avid photographer, I can easily wander off, distracted by beautiful scenery or interesting things to photograph. But we had a designated place to meet so I thought I was good.
When it was time, I headed to the exit, but no one from my group was there. Fearing I had missed them, I started walking back towards where we had left the van a good mile or so away. But at the parking lot there were at least one hundred different vans and buses! By this time, I was hot and tired, and it didn’t help that I couldn’t speak a word of Spanish. I asked several drivers for help, and they’d just point me in one direction or another. After walking in circles for what was now an hour, I began to panic!
Finally, a man approached me, asking me in English if I needed help. When I explained my situation, he spoke words that calmed my heart. “You may feel panicked, but I assure you, it’s ok. I’m going to help you find your group.” After showing him my bracelet that had the name of my tour company on it, he told me to follow him. He walked with me, stopping to ask a few locals something in Spanish and finally led me through the area to another van from my tour company.
The driver ushered me inside his air-conditioned van, gave me water, a cold towel, and a banana. Immediately, he was on the phone with the tour center trying to locate my tour bus. Within 20 minutes I was safely reunited with my tour group.
As a result of this experience, God gave me a new perspective of how He wants me to treat people who may not know Him. Instead of just seeing them impersonally as unbelievers who need salvation, I am to see them through His eyes of love. I am to see them as a person who is lost, possibly tired and thirsty, fearful, perhaps desperately trying to find their way home.
As I thought more about this revelation, I jotted down a few principles to remember as I seek to help people find their way to God:
- Speak to them in a language they understand (not religious jargon).
- Don’t just point the way to God; walk with them and guide them.
- Meet their immediate need a cup of cold water, nourishment, a soothing cold wash clothe for their physical, emotional or spiritual wounds.
4. Speak words of comfort and love to them as God’s ambassadors.
Sandra has a passionate desire to help Christians develop a purposeful, powerful and passionate prayer life. Her book, LORD, IT’S BORING IN MY PRAYER CLOSET (How To Revitalize Your Prayer Life) is available at Amazon and on Kindle. It’s a great personal read or can be used for a small group study on prayer. Check out Sandra’s blog at PrayerWaves.com.
She also teaches an online class on prayer at Beadisciple.com.
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