Who Will You Shepherd?

Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf was a bishop in the Moravian Church and a leader of eighteenth-century Protestantism. He is credited with saying, “Missions, after all, is simply this: Every heart with Christ is a missionary; every heart without Christ is a mission field.”

An International Mission Board missionary who served in Malawi once told me about one church with 40 preaching points in Malawi. This church had 13,566 women who met their criteria to become a member of WMU. To be a member of WMU in that church, a person must

• memorize the books of the Bible and say them in front of everyone,
• recite all verses of the plan of salvation, and
• prove he or she has led someone to the Lord.

The church is on fire. The believers there have taken the Acts 1:8 challenge seriously. They truly believe every heart with Christ is a missionary and every heart without Christ is a missions field.

In June, I invited you to become a shepherd using 50 Steps with Jesus: Learning to Walk Daily with the Lord, WMU edition (available at wmustore.com). My friend Mavory said to me one day, “I checked out at a store this week and went to my car. Something prompted me to go back inside and speak with the cashier. She was having a really hard time. I didn’t know what to do except tell her I would be praying for her.” Mavory asked, “Was that the Holy Spirit?”

As we talked, I told her about 50 Steps with Jesus: Learning to Walk Daily with the Lord and asked whether she wanted to journey with me for 50 days using the material. To my delight, she accepted.

A few nights later, I took a workbook to her house. Mavory has been drug and alcohol free for five years. During one of our visits, Mavory told me her story. After, as we stood outside, I asked her what has kept her from going back to drugs. She motioned to the front door of her home and said, “Every day I’m in there on my knees praying I don’t return to that life.” I told Mavory she was my hero. And she truly is. I’m not sure if I am helping her, but she inspires me every single day.

We need to get serious about discipleship. If this gospel does not have the power to transform, to snatch lives from depths of despair, to rescue from the very pit of hell, then my life has been wasted. I believe it does have power because I believe in the restoration of brokenness through hope in Christ.

Who will you shepherd?

Father,

May each of us accept the calling You have placed on our lives to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Help us seek out the lost and be willing to mentor new Christians.

In Jesus’ name, amen.