A simple invitation has often led me to something that has completely changed my life.
I remember the night our Encounter table leader, Danny Horsley, suggested my husband and I participate in MarriageWorks. At first, we said, “no.” But Danny was persistent. It was a little like he had been given the Word of God. How could we say no?
We went to MarriageWorks, and it saved our marriage.
One Sunday morning when I was serving in the preschool room, another server, Shelby, invited me to a mom’s Bible study. She simply asked, “Do you want to come?”
I went, and it has completely transformed my relationship with God and with my husband. If Shelby had not offered the simple invitation, I would not be where I am now.
Most recently, I was in the Atrium when a Haiti Missions team member, Chris, came over to talk to us. My husband, Casey, was planning to go on the next trip and they were discussing details. Chris looked at me and asked, “Why don’t you come with us?”
I was hesitant, especially because we have a 2-year-old and had never been away from her. But God used that simple invitation: Why don’t you go? There’s no reason not to.
So I went in September. And despite leaving our baby girl for a week, I had so much peace about it.
While in Haiti, God revealed Himself in powerful ways. I was able to feel the peace of God as a tangible thing. I did not know this was possible! He showed me how to live each day intentionally: Who would I meet who needed the love of God? Who would need a hug? A smile? And why don’t we live that intentionally here in the States? Each person we interact with at the grocery store, the gas station, the restaurant… they all need Jesus just as much as the people in Haiti.
One day in Haiti, I met a woman from a small village who was deaf and mute. She came to be seen by the doctor, but had no way of communicating. I knew a very small amount of Sign Language and was able to correspond with her and the doctor, along with the translator. I found out that she was very ill and had lost her newborn child one month prior. My heart broke as I saw her sitting there, still with a smile on her face.
I asked her if she knew the Lord, and she smiled a huge smile and nodded yes! I told her, “Despite your past, your loss, and your pain, HE is still GOOD.” And she smiled and agreed with me. I was blown away at how God allowed me to be a small part of her story, to step in and help her get medical care and encourage her in her time of pain and grief.
We were able to treat more than 500 patients, and I got to be a part of seeing 38 people in Haiti make a decision to follow Christ that week. How awesome that I said “yes” to this invitation!
Through these situations, God is teaching me the power of invitation. Often, we’re afraid to extend an invitation, to extend ourselves. It can be painful to be rejected.
But when you simply ask a question, led by the Holy Spirit, it can change everything.
Right now, God has placed someone on my heart to invite to Encounter. I'm assuming she'll say “no,” but how do I know? Maybe God is preparing her right now to say “yes.”
Who does God want you to invite? What invitation do you need to accept? Let God show you the power of invitation.