The Biblical intentionality of Doulos for both students and staff is something that I truly appreciate as I walk on campus each day. For me, over the last couple weeks, the Lord has been using various Doulos events to really speak to me and push me in my boldness in moving his kingdom forward.
Every Friday, we have a 30 minute period of staff worship and discipleship which really is a beautiful way to end a week of serving the Lord. This year, we have been going chapter by chapter through various books of the bile. We just finished Philippians and are starting Ephesians. To prepare, I have been reading through Ephesians and meditating on the themes of the book. Through this reflection, one of the areas that Christ has really spoken to me about is the importance of the boldness of the Gospel and man, does Ephesians hammer that point home. Specifically Ephesians 3:8-12.
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
As I was reflectingI felt many of those points were easy for me check off:
- Be a light- Yep
- Access Christ Confidently- Sure Thing
- Preach the riches of Christ- Gotcha
- Understand the eternal purpose- ¡Si!
Then I thought of:
- Boldness- ……….
I have reflected on my path as a Christ follower and find too often, the idol of comfort and timidness would get in my way of boldness. I would often ”Fan into flame the gift of God.” (2 Timothy 1) but it was like a wimpy shape instead of the strength needed to truly fan a flame. Sure I could serve well and talk about Jesus, but was I doing it with the intentional boldness that the Lord calls us to? If I was being honest, it was not to the level that I could.
Through these weeks of reflecting, God gave me a second, not-subtle, yet beautiful reminder of the reason that boldness is needed in this world.
Every quarter-ish, we have an all school worship time. This is a 45 minute block where the entire school gets together, praises the Lord and hears from one of the staff members. At the end there was a time for prayer and an open call for people to receive Christ. It was so neat to see teachers praying with students and helping them to accept Jesus in their hearts. About five minutes later, in the middle of after school pick up, one of my former students, a 7th grader, said, “Mister, I was looking all for you to pray with me. I want to accept Jesus in my heart. Can we do it now?”
Well, that was an easy answer. Of course!!
So under the mango tree, with the rain coming down, I got to pray with her to accept Jesus and for the first time, this 12 year old girl knew what it was like to have Jesus in her heart. I felt so blessed that the Lord would use my relational building with her over the last year as a tool to flame the gift of God. It was such a gift to have that time with her, and to be a small part of her God story. Additionally, during this experience, God really impressed on me a great reminder of the battle that is still on this planet.
While praying a prayer of thanks to God afterwards, I felt him prompting me that boldness is not just a nice thing, it is a crucial tool of eternal ramifications. I looked around at these students that I loved, waiting for their parents, and the knowledge really was imparted on me that many of them are not saved. I felt that gentle tug from the Lord reminding me that, “These souls are why we need to be bold.” While I was celebrating the new creation next to me, the necessity of the gospel for the Doulos community was so clear and real.
As we continue to serve in the D.R., our ask is that you continue to pray for boldness for family as we share the truth of the Gospel to the people in our lives that do not know Jesus and to provide bold discipleship to those that do. The need on this island is so deep, but we serve a God that is so powerful.
Aside from spiritual boldness and strength, please pray for Melissa’s physical strength. She is currently on a 19 mile, 3 day hike with Brennan and his 20 classmates. For many of our high school students and graduates, their Outdoor Education trips are a special time that God really speaks to them. Melissa loves nature but is NOT going on this hike to spend time in the forest. This trip is definitely an exercise in faith and boldness for her to go on this trip and to pour into these kids until Wednesday. She is also giving a devotion on Tuesday on walking the narrow path. Many students in Brennan’s class do not know Christ, and even more of them do not have the greatest grasp on walking the narrow path. Please be praying for her physical state as well as her message on Tuesday.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support that you continue to pour out into us. It is an amazing reminder of how the Lord uses all of us to move His Kingdom forward. God is so good in his riches and blessings, and we feel so fortunate to be a part of his work.
