Sharing the Love of Christ with Family and Friends
By Joyce Wachsmuth --
This has been a unique summer for us because for the past month and a half, my husband, Doug and I have had many opportunities to share Christ with our family and friends. We were in Hawaii for a few weeks to see family and attend my nephew’s wedding. We had a chance to share the love of Christ with our family by being available to them, spending time with them on walks or at the beach, having meals together, and just “being!” We were able to share the gospel to those who don’t know Him. We returned to Portland and the very next weekend, attended our 50th college reunion for Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. We prayed that we would have opportunities to share the gospel, and God gave us specific opportunities to share with several classmates. We hope to follow up with some of the classmates who live in the area.
For the last two weeks, we have had family from Hawaii and St. Louis, Missouri. We prayed for divine moments from God and God answered those prayers in unique ways, such as, picking marionberries and raspberries in our backyard together or just sitting around the fire pit at night! Again, we prayed that we would not miss the opportunity to share Jesus.
This past week was very special for Doug’s family as his two brothers and sister had a chance to be together for the first time in many, many years. There was an estrangement between a brother and a sister and during a special time at the beach this brother asked forgiveness from his sister for the things he had said to her many years ago. We witnessed the beginning steps of restoration in the family. It was beautiful to watch the four siblings hugging each other! God really did a miracle in Doug’s family and we continue to pray for healing and peace in the family.
Although it has been very busy planning meals, sightseeing, and many sleepless nights, we look back at God’s faithfulness in answering our prayers. Sharing the love of Christ with everyone is what God requires of us. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel. Who are you praying for to come to know Christ this summer? Is there a neighbor, a friend, a family member that you would like to see come to know Christ? Pray for them by name and be watchful of how the Holy Spirit will reveal Himself to each person. Let’s join together and pray for a revival in our hearts as we reach out to people to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Doug and I came to know Christ through a Billy Graham movie 48 years ago and Billy Graham’s son, Franklin, will be in the northwest on August 5, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. speaking at an evangelistic prayer event. He will be at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. For more information: https://pnw.billygraham.org/event/portland/.
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
See you Sunday. You won’t want to miss our elders sharing in our morning service!
Joyce Wachsmuth