Sisters hey😊, I’ve been nudged by the Holy Spirit to finally put this into words. Quite a number of times now. This has been stirring in my heart for some time, and here’s the best part I’m writing from a place of recent encounters.
Let me start with a little backstory. Just before my birthday, I joined a mission in Langas Eldoret with my church, Soul Harvesters Church International. If you know our church, you know it’s mission-oriented, driven by the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20: “Go ye therefore…”
This wasn’t my first mission, I am very evangelical😎, among many things, but it was unique in so many ways. I had missed last year’s mission, so this time, I was determined not to miss out. I took leave from work, prepared my heart, and joined the other missioners.
What was unique about this mission was we were around 50 or 60 missioners thereabout, I can’t remember the exact number, including our 2 Bishops, 7 Reverends, 15 Pastors, and the rest of us lay members. Now, here’s the interesting bit, I watched the clergy, like the pastors and the Bishops take to the streets for one-on-one or person to person evangelism! You’d think it’s no big deal because, well, evangelism is part of their job description, among baptizing, preaching and the rest of the pastoral duties, right? I am also surprised by why I was intrigued by this, well maybe, I think it was humbling and powerful to witness their boldness firsthand.
On the second day, we reached 149 people through personal evangelism, and out of those, 13 that gave their lives to Christ were in my group. Glory to God! Now, here’s the interesting part (get ready because I’ll be saying “interesting” a lot, lol, so buckle up). As we were gathering data and tallying the day’s harvest, I couldn’t help but notice something fascinating and interesting 😆🤭. When you compare the impact of personal evangelism to that of an open-air crusade, the difference is staggering! At the crusade that same day, only 20 souls gave their lives to Christ, while 149 were reached through one-on-one conversations during personal evangelism. Isn’t that wild? Just imagine if every believer chose to share Jesus with just one person a day. The ripple effect would be mind-blowing!
But here’s the thing many of us hold back. Let’s be real for a second. Why aren’t more of us doing this? What’s stopping us from sharing Jesus with our friends, family, and even strangers? We’re afraid of rejection, judgment, or being ostracized. The big “what ifs” hold us hostage.
- What if they think I’m being too pushy or judgmental?
- What if they ask questions I don’t have answers to?
- What if they laugh at me or think I’m weird?
- What if I lose that friendship?
- What if I mess up and say the wrong thing?
- What if they reject the message or worse, reject me?
Sound familiar? Trust me, I’ve been there too. These what ifs are the kind of fear and doubt that keep us quiet when we’re called to speak. But here’s the thing: those fears pale in comparison to the potential impact of sharing the Good News. Imagine the exponential ripple effect if we set aside those what ifs and chose to boldly share Jesus, one person at a time. Eternity is on the line, and we get to be part of God’s divine strategy to save souls!
Now hear this or is it read this:
Revelation 21:8 is a wake-up call:
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile…they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
The “fearful” or “cowardly” here are those who shrink back from declaring their faith. It’s not just about being scared; it’s choosing silence over speaking boldly for Christ.
Jesus didn’t mince words in Mark 8:38:
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words… the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory…”
Being fearful isn’t just a personality trait, it’s a form of denial. And denial has eternal consequences.
Lets see some examples of boldness from our besties:
- The Woman at the Well (John 4):
This Samaritan woman, an outcast because of her sinful past, met Jesus and experienced transformation. And despite her shame, she boldly proclaimed:
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29).
Her testimony led many in her town to believe. Imagine if she had kept quiet! Her story shows me that our past doesn’t disqualify us from sharing Jesus, it doesn’t, it shouldn’t.
- Kathryn Kuhlman:
In more recent times, Kathryn Kuhlman, I love this woman! My God, she exemplified boldness for Christ. She faced criticism, skepticism, and opposition, but she never let fear silence her. I read an article that mentioned that her healing ministry reached countless lives, and her surrender to the Holy Spirit was her source of power.
She said once from many of her sermons, “I surrendered unto Him all there was of me… Then, for the first time, I realized what it meant to have real power.”
Do you see it Kathryn Kuhlman’s life echoes the promise of Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” or am I alone?
Sisters, boldness matters a lot. Fear often comes from worrying about what others might think or how they might respond. But when we focus on eternity, those fears fade into the background.
Matthew 10:28 reminds us to keep perspective:
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Fear of human rejection pales in comparison to the eternal consequences of denying Christ. Boldness isn’t about natural courage; it’s about relying on the Holy Spirit.
So how do we cultivate that kind of boldness? First, by staying anchored in God’s Word. Scripture equips us with truth and confidence to share the Gospel. Second, by relying on the Holy Spirit. Boldness isn’t natural, it’s supernatural. Third, you can research it as well… ama?
Bottom line is Sisters, let us rise and be counted among the bold. Let us proclaim Christ unapologetically. If you’ve been holding back because of fear, this is your wake-up call.
Don’t wait until you feel ready. Step out now. After all, God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
The kingdom of God is for the fearless, the bold, and the unashamed.
Let’s boldly preach Christ in every corner, knowing that our reward is in Him.
Don’t be in the category of the fearful.The world needs your voice. Speak up, love boldly, and live for His glory!
I will write a book on this one!
Blessings.