Here’s an interesting exchange I had recently. I have many like it. It seems when people leave an old system, their first passion is to start a new one. The unspoken thought is that systems will work pretty well if the right people are in charge. The reality is that systems themselves are destructive to relational and organic growth.
It seems all of this stems from the fact that we really don’t trust that Jesus is capable of building his church—that he cannot give rise to the reality of his family if we don’t “start something”. It’s as if living loved and loving just won’t be enough to let him do all he wants to do.
Here’s a passionate brother who is anxious to start his own church and my responses:
Mike: I just found out about you and what you are doing because my daughter sent me to your web for information about how to start an open church at home. I am just a new born baby, about 4 years now, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit about 3 years ago and I have been preparing myself to follow God’s plan for my life. I am considering going to a Bible college this September and the Lord spoke to me and asked me to start an Open Church with some of my family members and friends. I have read some of your articles regarding Church and think have helped me tremendously on how to approach the Lord’s command.
My response: I’m pleased to hear of your passion, but I don’t have any advice on how someone should approach starting a church, except to tell them not to. People who start a church end up basing it around their vision or gifts and it will either bog down or simply become the outgrowth of one person. I am convinced real church emerges as an organic outgrowth of relationships people are already sharing. So the question is not, how do we start a church, but rather, how do we facilitate people caring for each other and growing spiritually together and see over time whether or not church life emerges from that reality? I really don’t think we need to start churches. Jesus started the only one that matters at Pentecost 2000 years ago. We just need to live in that reality instead of starting more institutions that only further divide the body. That’s probably not what you wanted to hear, but I honestly thing the way God works is very different than the way we do…
Mike: I guess I used the term CHURCH incorrectly, because what I want to do is getting people… friends… family and share with them my experience, to try to have them become true Christians and then share our love with Jesus. I love your honesty. God bless you.
My response: I’m sure Father will lead you. If I could encourage you in anything it would be to share your life freely, but look to come alongside someone else’s journey. Once we try to get people to have the experience we have, we’ll manipulate them instead of serve them. Jesus just wants you to come alongside folks and give them truth as they are ready for it. Once we start trying to manage people’s spirituality, people will run from us. God will show you. I love your heart and passion, but church leadership has done this wrong for a long time and its why people are fleeing from the church instead of finding God in her.
Mike: Thank you Wayne, I understand what you are saying. Please tell me in your opinion then what I should do. How do I try to tell people about how wonderful Jesus is, about eternal life, about relationship with GOD. I am so new at this. I am a 71 years old newborn baby so willing to do good. Any advice will be incredible for me.
My response: What should you do? Follow him. If you don’t know what that means yet, just live in his love and love others around you. In time it will be clear what he wants you to do. If you don’t know now, other than to follow someone else’s form, then maybe you are moving ahead of him. I’m really serious about this. We’re just asked to love like he loves us (John 13:34-35), to proclaim the gospel as we have opportunity and to help others follow Jesus who want to follow him (Matthew 28:19-20). We are not told to plant a church, for he said he would build his own. He’s good at this. He knows what to do. Just help others as God gives you grace. Don’t try to start something. Don’t try to ‘get people’ to do anything. Live your life before them until they are hungry enough to ask for help. Then help them learn to live loved and follow Jesus. And the gospel will spread…
* * * * * *
When I last heard from Mike, he seemed to have captured what I was saying. We must not forget that the ‘early church’ did not arise out of a plan to get people to do anything. The early church emerged out of a revelation of who Jesus is, and hungry hearts responded who wanted to know God and live in his life. There was no recruitment campaign and no strategy to manage people through a hierarchical system. They lived as a family and grew to discover how they could embrace his life together and live transformed in the culture.
I actually think when we try to ‘start something’, we’ve already made a step away from his reality. It’s not that God won’t go with us and that our efforts won’t be fruitful at some level, but they will never help people discover the depth of relationship and transformation that comes from a relationship with him. Unfortunately, for many, the thing we start will be come their substitute for knowing God themselves.
Somehow we have to think differently—that our calling is not to build the church, but to present an authentic demonstration of the Gospel in how we live and what we say. Then, we take the time to equip those who want to know him, how to live in a relationship with him. As a pool of people discover how to live loved and love, then the church can take on a variety of forms and expressions in various times and seasons.
Our focus will remain on him and what he’s doing in the world, rather than sustaining our institution, be it in a building or a home. Then we have a shot at the church of Jesus Christ being known in the world as a people who are being transformed by him.
Once one begins to rest from all that striving to make something happen…that one amazingly begins to recongnize all the things already going on around them that have Father’s hand prints all over them. Learning how to love and live graciously in the midst of all of that is a powerful transforming thing indeed without a whole lot of extra effort. It’s just responding to what is already happening.
Once one begins to rest from all that striving to make something happen…that one amazingly begins to recongnize all the things already going on around them that have Father’s hand prints all over them. Learning how to love and live graciously in the midst of all of that is a powerful transforming thing indeed without a whole lot of extra effort. It’s just responding to what is already happening.
This is a really informative page. Thank you!
This is a really informative page. Thank you!
Hi Wayne, great post. How and where do you see ‘apostolic’ calling/gifting fitting with this framework? when i say ‘apostolic’ i am talking about what Paul and others modelled in the NT not some of the nonsense presented as apostolic today! it seems that he went out, in teams, with a very intentional focus – indeed not to plant churches, but to share the life and message of jesus and make obedient followers of jesus. do you still see a place for this or should we just ‘hang loose’ and let God do his thing?!
Well…once again Wayne, you shot straight to the heart of the matter. Simply following Him day to day without barriers and/or ‘performance snags.’ Thanks for sharing this conversation with the rest of us.
I went from being a rebellious, hedonistic drug abusing teen ager and young adult to a Pharisaical ultra-separatist fundamentalist baptist over the course of five to ten years. I settled there in the darkest dankest pit of despair that lasted around fifteen. I firmly believed that I had come into the saving relationship with Jesus Christ. But gradually the word relationship was replaced with service in my religious lexicon. unfortunately it was enthusiastically encouraged by the respected leadership. In fact, the more I applied that word “service” the greater, I was loved and admired. Life was great on the surface, but like clawing your way out of a tomb on the inside. I began a search around three years ago for a genuine vibrant life changing experience with Jesus Christ. In my search, I stumbled across and read “So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore”. The insight about relationship was a lighthouse in dangerous harbor. I have read some of your other books and started listening to the God Journey podcast “regularly”. The insight that God has given has been a wonderful blessing in my life. My wife has been reading “He Loves Me” and is thoroughly enjoying it. She was very fearful when we decided to leave the institutions and begin this journey. I am even beginning to see the Lord working in my seventeen year old son, who of course is the repository of all knowledge and wisdom. My prayers are with you and the others on this wonderful journey.
Hi Wayne, great post. How and where do you see ‘apostolic’ calling/gifting fitting with this framework? when i say ‘apostolic’ i am talking about what Paul and others modelled in the NT not some of the nonsense presented as apostolic today! it seems that he went out, in teams, with a very intentional focus – indeed not to plant churches, but to share the life and message of jesus and make obedient followers of jesus. do you still see a place for this or should we just ‘hang loose’ and let God do his thing?!
Well…once again Wayne, you shot straight to the heart of the matter. Simply following Him day to day without barriers and/or ‘performance snags.’ Thanks for sharing this conversation with the rest of us.
Wayne—Even several years out of the system now, I still read the wisdom of your words with amazement. It is all so confoundedly simple, isn’t it?
I was thinking only this morning how detrimental institutional thinking is to our relationship with Father and each other. But that’s only the beginning….schools….politics….healthcare….the list is endless and the bad fruit of such is in abundance. It’s ugly tentacles are so pervasive.
I’m so glad that this dear brother was receptive to what you had to say; he’s welcome at our table anytime. 🙂 Where the spirit of the Lord is….THERE IS FREEDOM.
I went from being a rebellious, hedonistic drug abusing teen ager and young adult to a Pharisaical ultra-separatist fundamentalist baptist over the course of five to ten years. I settled there in the darkest dankest pit of despair that lasted around fifteen. I firmly believed that I had come into the saving relationship with Jesus Christ. But gradually the word relationship was replaced with service in my religious lexicon. unfortunately it was enthusiastically encouraged by the respected leadership. In fact, the more I applied that word “service” the greater, I was loved and admired. Life was great on the surface, but like clawing your way out of a tomb on the inside. I began a search around three years ago for a genuine vibrant life changing experience with Jesus Christ. In my search, I stumbled across and read “So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore”. The insight about relationship was a lighthouse in dangerous harbor. I have read some of your other books and started listening to the God Journey podcast “regularly”. The insight that God has given has been a wonderful blessing in my life. My wife has been reading “He Loves Me” and is thoroughly enjoying it. She was very fearful when we decided to leave the institutions and begin this journey. I am even beginning to see the Lord working in my seventeen year old son, who of course is the repository of all knowledge and wisdom. My prayers are with you and the others on this wonderful journey.
I like this. The fact that we think that the church is something we have to START belies the fact that Jesus already started it, as you mentioned.
As I mentioned in my blog post on this topic:
I was commenting on another post I was reading recently where the author realizes that house church alone wasn’t the answer, but creating disciples.
To me, this works out in experience – I have been helping a group of people along in their lives for a little while, and – though we’ve never met ‘face to face’ (our interactions are all online) I have never met such a great group of people, who have influenced me in so many ways before. The LORD has really used our relationships to push us all towards growing in his kingdom – and through it I even led one of their family members to the Lord! God is so AWESOME!
Great post again, my brother… I plan on referencing this post in a follow up post on my blog, if you don’t mind…..
Wayne—Even several years out of the system now, I still read the wisdom of your words with amazement. It is all so confoundedly simple, isn’t it?
I was thinking only this morning how detrimental institutional thinking is to our relationship with Father and each other. But that’s only the beginning….schools….politics….healthcare….the list is endless and the bad fruit of such is in abundance. It’s ugly tentacles are so pervasive.
I’m so glad that this dear brother was receptive to what you had to say; he’s welcome at our table anytime. 🙂 Where the spirit of the Lord is….THERE IS FREEDOM.
I like this. The fact that we think that the church is something we have to START belies the fact that Jesus already started it, as you mentioned.
As I mentioned in my blog post on this topic:
I was commenting on another post I was reading recently where the author realizes that house church alone wasn’t the answer, but creating disciples.
To me, this works out in experience – I have been helping a group of people along in their lives for a little while, and – though we’ve never met ‘face to face’ (our interactions are all online) I have never met such a great group of people, who have influenced me in so many ways before. The LORD has really used our relationships to push us all towards growing in his kingdom – and through it I even led one of their family members to the Lord! God is so AWESOME!
Great post again, my brother… I plan on referencing this post in a follow up post on my blog, if you don’t mind…..
Greatly put Wayne.
I have some friends who have gotten into Gene Edwards’ writings, and while I have enjoyed a couple his books, I have had to take a step back with some of the things he puts forth. My friends are truly great brothers and I love the fellowship we have when we do make contact, but they always seem to try to get me to join them in an effort to maintain this sharing of Christ “together” as they put it. In one of our last conversations I questioned one of them my concerns about how trying to be the true church, seems like a step away from what (or Who) they embraced in the early church they are trying to “model”. Isn’t being “the true Church” the mistake every other denomination has made so far? Suddenly that new thing becomes the center, or the personality who started it, and not Jesus.
It’s difficult because I truly love the friendship that i share with them, but suddenly my friendship with them causes me to be tagged as a follower of “the house church movement” (whatever that is), with my “institutional church following” (whatever that is) friends. (not sure if this makes sense… but nice post)
Yes, Alexander, I do see a place for gifted and experienced men and women to spend a significant part of their lives helping equip others to live in his relationship to Jesus. Unfortunately, and not always intentionally, such ministries have more often offered a substitute for that relationship, rather than being a supplement of it. For more you can read here: https://www.lifestream.org/LSBL.dec02.html
Greatly put Wayne.
I have some friends who have gotten into Gene Edwards’ writings, and while I have enjoyed a couple his books, I have had to take a step back with some of the things he puts forth. My friends are truly great brothers and I love the fellowship we have when we do make contact, but they always seem to try to get me to join them in an effort to maintain this sharing of Christ “together” as they put it. In one of our last conversations I questioned one of them my concerns about how trying to be the true church, seems like a step away from what (or Who) they embraced in the early church they are trying to “model”. Isn’t being “the true Church” the mistake every other denomination has made so far? Suddenly that new thing becomes the center, or the personality who started it, and not Jesus.
It’s difficult because I truly love the friendship that i share with them, but suddenly my friendship with them causes me to be tagged as a follower of “the house church movement” (whatever that is), with my “institutional church following” (whatever that is) friends. (not sure if this makes sense… but nice post)
Yes, Alexander, I do see a place for gifted and experienced men and women to spend a significant part of their lives helping equip others to live in his relationship to Jesus. Unfortunately, and not always intentionally, such ministries have more often offered a substitute for that relationship, rather than being a supplement of it. For more you can read here: https://www.lifestream.org/LSBL.dec02.html
Wayne hi again. thanks for your reply. yes! this is the heart of it for us too – as servants our role is to connect people with a living relationship with jesus, so they become dependent on him not on us or our forms. this is what we are doing amongst the desperate and forgotten in the southern most townships in Africa. it is a privilege.
This is a radically new approach to ‘leadership’ here in Africa but our vision is partly to raise up servant leaders who will serve Africa rather than continue the process of power abuse which pervades both secular and church contexts here.
This makes a lot of sense to me and I find it very freeing: I’ve never realls fitted in ‘traditional’ or ‘modern’ churches and I’m still looking at alternatives where we can be real and love people and be loved without having to jump through hoops. Quite how it fits into our life and current church situation is another matter, but I’m sure God has some very creative ideas.
Thanks for posting.
Wayne hi again. thanks for your reply. yes! this is the heart of it for us too – as servants our role is to connect people with a living relationship with jesus, so they become dependent on him not on us or our forms. this is what we are doing amongst the desperate and forgotten in the southern most townships in Africa. it is a privilege.
This is a radically new approach to ‘leadership’ here in Africa but our vision is partly to raise up servant leaders who will serve Africa rather than continue the process of power abuse which pervades both secular and church contexts here.
Our small church plant happened to us, in many ways. After 7 years of living and serving in our inner city community, the relationships we built had developed to such a stage that to form into a community of faith together was only natural. This flew in the face of church planting methods we had heard about before, but have been very blessed at what has been born as a result.
Peace,
Jamie
This makes a lot of sense to me and I find it very freeing: I’ve never realls fitted in ‘traditional’ or ‘modern’ churches and I’m still looking at alternatives where we can be real and love people and be loved without having to jump through hoops. Quite how it fits into our life and current church situation is another matter, but I’m sure God has some very creative ideas.
Thanks for posting.
Our small church plant happened to us, in many ways. After 7 years of living and serving in our inner city community, the relationships we built had developed to such a stage that to form into a community of faith together was only natural. This flew in the face of church planting methods we had heard about before, but have been very blessed at what has been born as a result.
Peace,
Jamie
My husband and I have been completely blown away with this, for us, new stuff, we both have read, The Shack, So you don’t want to go to church anymore, and He loves me…. We have also both gone … WOW!!! this is what we thought but had never put into words … We have both been through a hurrendously challenging time in our marriage, but love each other to bits and have now come through to look at a much brighter future for us both and our family .. I was readin the blogg to understand more and get more info just for us and I just want to say thank you so much for helping the Lord reveal to us this much brighter future, as many people we have a testimony and a half, both quite unbelievable and have been transformed inside out pretty much and now this new stuff has helped us get to know our creator better and stand with our heads up proud to be what we are and proud to share our Father gently with other people all around us that have not had the oportunites we have had, but have not had the hurts in a church either so receive what we share with open hearts, this is just with people we meet every day, we hardley go to our church anymore, many people have left hurt and will not ever be open again to His Love, thinking it was God who hurt them when it was just some misguided people trying to do their best and what they thought was right… but as I said very misguided… Anyhow … THANK YOU HEAPS … ;o)
My husband and I have been completely blown away with this, for us, new stuff, we both have read, The Shack, So you don’t want to go to church anymore, and He loves me…. We have also both gone … WOW!!! this is what we thought but had never put into words … We have both been through a hurrendously challenging time in our marriage, but love each other to bits and have now come through to look at a much brighter future for us both and our family .. I was readin the blogg to understand more and get more info just for us and I just want to say thank you so much for helping the Lord reveal to us this much brighter future, as many people we have a testimony and a half, both quite unbelievable and have been transformed inside out pretty much and now this new stuff has helped us get to know our creator better and stand with our heads up proud to be what we are and proud to share our Father gently with other people all around us that have not had the oportunites we have had, but have not had the hurts in a church either so receive what we share with open hearts, this is just with people we meet every day, we hardley go to our church anymore, many people have left hurt and will not ever be open again to His Love, thinking it was God who hurt them when it was just some misguided people trying to do their best and what they thought was right… but as I said very misguided… Anyhow … THANK YOU HEAPS … ;o)
Wayne thank you for sharing this with us. I’m a slow learner and though I am not even tempted to “plant a church” I do find that in my passion to see people find real relationship with Father I can be tempted to attempt to get people to conform to the journey Father has me on. Simply living loved and then living love has become almost a motto for me. However sometimes it becomes hard to live in His love alone much of the time however I know in my heart for me that is part of the growing process Father in his love and perfect wisdom has chosen for me for a season nevertheless knowing that does not always make it easy. I say that, because I believe many tempted to “plant” or start a Church are often in a similar season and do not recognize it and mistake their desire for connection as a call do what only Jesus can do at least right…
Wayne thank you for sharing this with us. I’m a slow learner and though I am not even tempted to “plant a church” I do find that in my passion to see people find real relationship with Father I can be tempted to attempt to get people to conform to the journey Father has me on. Simply living loved and then living love has become almost a motto for me. However sometimes it becomes hard to live in His love alone much of the time however I know in my heart for me that is part of the growing process Father in his love and perfect wisdom has chosen for me for a season nevertheless knowing that does not always make it easy. I say that, because I believe many tempted to “plant” or start a Church are often in a similar season and do not recognize it and mistake their desire for connection as a call do what only Jesus can do at least right…
I have to tell you that I have not read this as clearly and well put as this.
Thank you for sharing this conversation with Mike.
I can hear alot of his words are the thoughts that have gone through my head, and the conversations that I have had with other believers about this very topic.
My husband and I are in a season of transition. Both of us are worship leaders in the church, and have been feeling a stirring in our hearts that there is something terribly wrong with the organized church. That’s been hard to swallow simply because it’s a huge part of what we have known and functioned in the church. It’s been our lively hood also, whether being on staff, or traveling and leading at different churches…
We were on staff at our home church for a very long time, (my husband 20 years, then I for 10.), and because of finances, the church had to let us go. So, we have been helping out at a friends church since. Both of us have been miserable.
So as of late, after praying and seeking direction, we have decided that we will be finishing up at our current church in July, and will be taking a rest. But even more so to take time and seek out what the Father is doing.
I am so excited to have come across this blog! I have NO idea what God is going to do, but I know He always reveals His heart when we seek after it. I do know that He has been hitting on “identity” issues that have been wrapped up in the “doing” for Him instead of the just being in relationship with Him. It’s so easy to do. All the “you should” do this because of your gifting that screams from people in the church…. it’s hard to be clear on what is Him and what is not.
I am ready for a deprogramming tho! LOL! Bring it on, Lord! Thanks for your heart!
Amy
I have to tell you that I have not read this as clearly and well put as this.
Thank you for sharing this conversation with Mike.
I can hear alot of his words are the thoughts that have gone through my head, and the conversations that I have had with other believers about this very topic.
My husband and I are in a season of transition. Both of us are worship leaders in the church, and have been feeling a stirring in our hearts that there is something terribly wrong with the organized church. That’s been hard to swallow simply because it’s a huge part of what we have known and functioned in the church. It’s been our lively hood also, whether being on staff, or traveling and leading at different churches…
We were on staff at our home church for a very long time, (my husband 20 years, then I for 10.), and because of finances, the church had to let us go. So, we have been helping out at a friends church since. Both of us have been miserable.
So as of late, after praying and seeking direction, we have decided that we will be finishing up at our current church in July, and will be taking a rest. But even more so to take time and seek out what the Father is doing.
I am so excited to have come across this blog! I have NO idea what God is going to do, but I know He always reveals His heart when we seek after it. I do know that He has been hitting on “identity” issues that have been wrapped up in the “doing” for Him instead of the just being in relationship with Him. It’s so easy to do. All the “you should” do this because of your gifting that screams from people in the church…. it’s hard to be clear on what is Him and what is not.
I am ready for a deprogramming tho! LOL! Bring it on, Lord! Thanks for your heart!
Amy
Well what can I say. I have been enjoying Lifestreams website for some months now, after reading both The Shack and So You Don’t want to go to church anymore. Still to buy He Loves me but will do very soon. My husband and I left the traditional pentacostal church 4-5 years ago and ended up starting a home church. Interesting to read your comments Wayne to others on your blog. I have gleaned and my heart has been touched many many times. I now find myself in the position (we closed home church May this year) of missing fellowship and wondering how I be the church when I don’t seem to come into contact with many people. My old ways are wanting me to go to church to have fellowship but I know this is not what the Father has in store. My niece a newly returned to Jesus gave me a very encouraging word that My Father told me He has a home for me. Of course now I don’t really know what that ‘home’ means as such but am awaiting for His next step for me. Thank you so much for what you are helping those of us also on this journey of trying to live loved and then love others. Keep up your blogs and encouraging us to wait on God instead of trying to help Him with what only He can do for and in and through us. Bless you and your family. Carole Australia
Well what can I say. I have been enjoying Lifestreams website for some months now, after reading both The Shack and So You Don’t want to go to church anymore. Still to buy He Loves me but will do very soon. My husband and I left the traditional pentacostal church 4-5 years ago and ended up starting a home church. Interesting to read your comments Wayne to others on your blog. I have gleaned and my heart has been touched many many times. I now find myself in the position (we closed home church May this year) of missing fellowship and wondering how I be the church when I don’t seem to come into contact with many people. My old ways are wanting me to go to church to have fellowship but I know this is not what the Father has in store. My niece a newly returned to Jesus gave me a very encouraging word that My Father told me He has a home for me. Of course now I don’t really know what that ‘home’ means as such but am awaiting for His next step for me. Thank you so much for what you are helping those of us also on this journey of trying to live loved and then love others. Keep up your blogs and encouraging us to wait on God instead of trying to help Him with what only He can do for and in and through us. Bless you and your family. Carole Australia
I was up at 4pm, to the move of the spirit to outline The House Church, and I wass lead to this website, I am ready and lead to do as God has spoken and I pray that your ministry can be of help to us as we get started. We only have a house and a few people, and i know that all it take 2 or 3. But i am very exciting and my spirit is ready, I began to study the book of act, as the Spirit lead me. God was really moving upon me in the wee hour of the morning and I becgan to pray and listen, wait to move only in the direction of God. If your ministry can help me in directions, furnitures, or financial we will be moved get start now. you can go to my website and see all that you need to know about this ministries. and Myself.
I was up at 4pm, to the move of the spirit to outline The House Church, and I wass lead to this website, I am ready and lead to do as God has spoken and I pray that your ministry can be of help to us as we get started. We only have a house and a few people, and i know that all it take 2 or 3. But i am very exciting and my spirit is ready, I began to study the book of act, as the Spirit lead me. God was really moving upon me in the wee hour of the morning and I becgan to pray and listen, wait to move only in the direction of God. If your ministry can help me in directions, furnitures, or financial we will be moved get start now. you can go to my website and see all that you need to know about this ministries. and Myself.
Dear Sir, Greetings in the marvelous name of Jesus! I am so happy for your encouragement and even though I am following some of the instructions that you have mentioned for church growth, I will try to do the needful.
Actually I am living in India and serving in Thane which is a heavily populated city and thrilling with idol worshipers and Hindu temples and religious fanatics and if you ever happen to visit this city, I am sure you will come to the same conviction that Jesus so compassionately stressed upon, viz., “The fields are ripe and ready for harvest”. But the problem I am facing is of fear. There has been persecution several times and I am like many others scared sick to face even well-dressed and beautiful people walking on the streets to give them a tract or to tell them about Jesus Christ and the Good News. So I request you to kindly uphold me in your fervent prayers that the Lord may give me the boldness that I need, to stand on the streets and distribution the tracts and Gospels. Thanking you for obliging, may God bless you abundantly!
P.S. Waiting for your reply.
Dear Sir, Greetings in the marvelous name of Jesus! I am so happy for your encouragement and even though I am following some of the instructions that you have mentioned for church growth, I will try to do the needful.
Actually I am living in India and serving in Thane which is a heavily populated city and thrilling with idol worshipers and Hindu temples and religious fanatics and if you ever happen to visit this city, I am sure you will come to the same conviction that Jesus so compassionately stressed upon, viz., “The fields are ripe and ready for harvest”. But the problem I am facing is of fear. There has been persecution several times and I am like many others scared sick to face even well-dressed and beautiful people walking on the streets to give them a tract or to tell them about Jesus Christ and the Good News. So I request you to kindly uphold me in your fervent prayers that the Lord may give me the boldness that I need, to stand on the streets and distribution the tracts and Gospels. Thanking you for obliging, may God bless you abundantly!
P.S. Waiting for your reply.