Recently, my team had the priveledge of spending one week evangelising on an island in Lake Victoria. As we approached the island, a grouping of small, rundown shacks became visible. These shacks seemed to be made of scrap wood and metal, thrown together creating a maze of brokenness and need. It soon became clear that the people living in this small fishing village needed one thing. Hope.
Evangelism is not always the easiest task. Often times in America, we find that people are closed off, or we are just too timid to approach them.
But this was not America, this was the island of Kalyambuzi. As my group began to make our way through the maze of shacks, it was so clear the suffering that these people go through on a daily basis. Poverty in every aspect of life, alchoholism, and unfaithful spouses were just three of the many, many problems almost every single person on that island faces every day. After talking for a while and explaining what we were doing there, the beautiful people of this island would almost always ask for one thing: prayer. Prayer for their stuggles. Prayer for strength. Prayer for any sign of hope.
It became very clear what God wanted me to share with these people. Most of the villagers I talked to knew who Christ was, and they knew what he did for them, they just weren't sure how to accept him as their savior. They also had no idea that they, themselves, were able to pray to their Heavenly Father. God was using my team to share with these people, that they have a personal relationship with God, and they are his children.
If I was going to take one thing from this trip, it would be one simple idea:
God accepts us in our brokenness.
Jesus Christ wasn't sent down from heaven to die on the cross for people that are perfect. Jesus Christ died for sinners. No matter who you are, what your background is, or how much baggage you are carrying, God loves you.
Whether you are from America, or live on a little island in Lake Victoria, our saviour accepts us for who we are. Sinners and imperfect, and beautiful, children of God. This is the hope that the people of Kaylyambuzi needed. This is the hope we all need.
