John Dekker (dekker) wrote, @ 2007-11-27 23:34:00

A Near Conversion
Although last Sunday was my final one at Scots', I am still involved in the Introducing God course that we've been running, and tonight I had a wonderful time. I almost made a convert.

One Asian girl on my table seemed to come very close to becoming a Christian. She understood that there is a choice to be made between trusting Jesus and saying "No!" to God. She realised that trusting Jesus means not trying to get right with God by yourself, but by relying on Jesus to take the punishment that you deserve. She said that she wanted to trust Jesus.

I could have got her to pray the Sinner's Prayer there and then.

But I didn't. I decided to probe a bit further, and I asked her if she wanted the relationship with God that trusting in Jesus brings. Then she asked if she needed to stop being a Buddhist...

I could have had a conversion if I had only said that she could be a Christian as well as remaining a Buddhist. But I missed my opportunity, and she remains "not far" from the Kingdom of God. Please pray for her.

On a side note, she thanked me, and said that I listen to her and explain things clearly. It struck me later that this is exactly how I wish to carry out my pastoral ministry – listening and explaining. Some ministers are good at listening, but not good at explaining, while some are good at explaining but not good at listening...

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