The Impact of Sharing Jesus

Witnessing really comes down to simply telling others about Jesus, like planting seeds wherever you go. It begins with  Just. One. Person.  And sometimes that one person can make spreading the Good News exponential.  This week I caught a glimpse of how many people were affected when someone shared Jesus with just one man in India many years ago.

” My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT)

At our nursing home ministry this month, I noticed two new residents, Benjamin Lall and his wife, from India. Before moving into the nursing home, he was a member of a local Baptist church choir and a college professor. We had planned an ice cream social for the residents this day.  And I will tell you, nothing brings residents out like ice-cream!  It was a good time for conversation and he offered to tell his testimony and teach us an Indian Christian song called, “Jaya Ho” which means “Praise The Lord”.   I wish I would have thought to record it.  It was just so unexpected. Benjamin’s story began with his father who was converted by a Methodist missionary in India many years ago.   Immediately, he went home and converted his wife.  All of his siblings were then brought up to know and love God.   The oldest brother became a pastor, shared Jesus, and led many in India to the Lord; all because a Methodist missionary listened to God’s call and told this one man and others about Jesus’ great love. So many seeds were planted and spread.

We learned a few years ago, in our homeschool, about the caste system in India.  It was different hearing about this caste system from someone who lived in India and experienced it first hand.  For each caste Benjamin pointed to a part of his body beginning with his head and going down to his feet.

Source: www.mysocialstudiesteacher.com

The Untouchables were the ‘feet’ and not even worthy of acknowledgement.  (Funny how Jesus made a point to wash feet during His short time here.)  They were responsible for cleaning up human waste in cities and other labor intensive jobs that were seen as unclean.  Benjamin told how the Christian Indians would touch the Untouchables when sharing Jesus with them.  Upper castes looked down upon this and did not allow it.  When people questioned why the Christians touched the ‘Untouchables’, they responded, “Because they are children of God.”

Benjamin ended up coming to America, getting an MBA and telling more people about Jesus.  His children are believers too.  And he is still telling others about Jesus.  Three generations of believers because that one missionary in India shared Jesus.  I wonder if he knew, I mean, really knew his impact? His unexpected story and testimony struck a nerve in me as my daughter and I venture out of our comfort zones and plan to go on a mission trip to Haiti this fall. Watching how seeds were planted by this man’s father and his family from just a small group of missionaries many years ago astounds me.  And he is still planting seeds; his love for the Lord is without abandon.

 If we all would just reach out, share Jesus, and tell one person about God’s love….. The message of Good News could be exponential.

Who knows how many generations we could affect? Please pray for my daughter and me as we begin this journey of raising money, trusting, and stepping out on faith.  We are praying that God will bless us as we get our feet wet.

We will never know, on this earth, the power of our influence.

Watch below.