Opportunities for Evangelization

When we say “Yes” to Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us. Mary experienced the Spirit’s empowerment during the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel told her:

…The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…(Luke 1: 35).

What happens when the Holy Spirit is released in us? Just before His Ascension into heaven, Jesus explained to His disciples:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

I have found when we say “yes” to the Holy Spirit, everything changes. We are compelled to share the Good News of Jesus with others. When that evangelization happens, God’s miracles flow dramatically.

Woman on a Plane

One evening on a flight from New Hampshire to Philadelphia, I was sitting in a window seat next to an empty center seat. A woman occupied the aisle seat. I felt the Lord’s presence in a profound way, instructing me to talk to the woman.

I was reading my Bible, the flight was late at night, and I was tired. I resisted at first, but suddenly I sneezed. The woman looked at me and said, “God bless you!”

I felt a “bell” sound off. I turned to the woman and asked, “Are you going home?”

“Yes,” she answered. “Yes. I am going home to see my husband and daughter. They think I was at a business conference, but I was with my lover.”

Oh my! In seconds, the reality of the miracle about to happen became apparent. I looked up to the sky and asked the Lord, “Why have You gotten me involved in this conversation?”

I had no idea what to say. I prayed for words from the Holy Spirit to guide me. I said to the woman, “Tell me more about what has happened.”

The woman explained her belief that cheating on a spouse was a normal and common behavior.

She looked at my Bible and said, “I see you are a Christian; so am I. However, Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect. This is just my vice.”

Hard to believe. She didn’t know me, yet she was pouring out intimate details of her life. The Holy Spirit at work!

I prayed more. Then I looked at her and smiled and asked this question: “Does the relationship with your boyfriend bring you closer to God?”

She looked at me and her eyes widened. “Interesting you should ask that,” she remarked. “I never pray with my boyfriend, but pray often with my husband.”

I said, “One more question. Does this relationship bring you closer to your husband?”

She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “This is so much like Jesus.” She explained between her tears, “Jesus doesn’t come at you with a brick, but with a feather. You are my feather.”

At that point, the landing gear was down, bells were going off, and I am holding her hand, leading her through a “Sinner’s Prayer.” She told me she planned to leave her boyfriend and return totally to Jesus and her husband! Praise God! Now and forever!

Jesus will use you 100 percent of the time you are willing to be used—with power and miracles, again and again.

Garage Manager

 One day while driving, one of my car tires went flat. I was grumbling and complaining as I pulled into a gas station. I left the car with the garage manager and waited not so patiently at a nearby table. As often happens, the Lord’s purpose became apparent.

I felt Him saying to me, “I have allowed this flat tire so that you can tell the garage manager how much I love him.  Go to him.”

I resisted for a minute and said, “You sure, Lord?”

Then I walked over to see the garage manager. I told him I was the deacon at the local church and asked him, “Are you Catholic?” He said, “Yes.” I whispered, “Whew.”

Then he let loose the bomb. “But I haven’t been to church for 30 years.”

He added, “I have felt something in me to go back to church and take my family.”

I explained to the man, “I was sitting waiting for the tire to be done when I felt the Lord instructing me to tell you how much He loves you. That you are forgiven. That the Lord is waiting for you with open arms.”

Bingo. The man looked at me with eyes wide open, tears streaming down his face. He declared his intention to return to church the next weekend. Praise God!

Jesus is constantly looking for us to evangelize, a Greek word which means to tell the Good News.

Our Good News is the foundation of God’s love for us in so many ways. It must be proclaimed, and we must be the messengers. We must be open to His calling and guidance. God’s calling and guidance can come anytime and anywhere— in restaurants or stores, on airplanes, in the streets, outside of church, even at sporting events! Every time I am called, I feel God’s miracles and the presence of the Lord!