This is kind of a cool story – I will try to be succinct … but I am warning you… it isn’t terribly funny, and it isn’t about my love life.
You may remember me mentioning a few entries back about a barbeque that was on for the residents in our unit block.
The short story about the bbq is that Bliss and I decided to attend, choosing the bbq over church which had been our original plan for the evening. I really felt that the bbq was a divine appointment, that it was really important to connect with people who are actually in my own backyard mission field.
Well, at that time I met Bet, a lovely, somewhat lonely, German girl and knew at once that she was the reason I was at that party. (Ironically, she was moving out of our block and I came home in time on a Saturday afternoon, 2 weeks later, to give her my card and wish her well.)
However, we arranged to meet and went to the movies on Wednesday night – (Jersey Girl … mediocre) and had a great time.
At the conclusion of the evening I invited her to church on Sunday (tonight) to hear Bliss sing in a recital given by one of our 3rd year students at college (post church service). (Bliss is a kickass singer). Bet said yes.
This is pretty radical for me – for the last 2 years our church has been moving towards adopting a G12 model of church growth and all church members are being encouraged to look outside our small insular groups and house churches and into the wider community. People are spending more time in developing relationships outside the church, to connect with our city rather than only with each other.
This has been a terrifying prospect for me – for all sorts of reasons, most of which God has really dealt to this year. So I was surprised that it all was so easy. I had expected all sorts of hoops to jump through and months of relationship building etc. but she said yes and so we found ourselves in church this evening.
From East Germany to a rampant pentecostal church in Sydney Australia is a BIG leap. One which Bet made with great aplomb and forebearance!!!
Now, the fairy tale ending would be that at the time when the invitation was made to make a formal decision for God Bet would have been down the front praying the sinner’s prayer.
She wasn’t.
But she was buzzing with questions, too fast for me to answer… I introduced her to a German friend of mine and was stoked to be invited to a German ‘connect’ group that meets weekly… and she said at the end of the evening, “that wasn’t the last time I have been her” (English needs some work!).
I know that she is on a collision course with God.
I can’t wait to be there when it happens.
I know her flatmates are next to come, having only canceled from tonight’s service due to illness…
I feel a ball rolling …
Bring it ON!!!