Life Is Not Random

Lunch today was at a local restaurant. Earl Gray, Darnell Ranson, and I met to enjoy good food and to discuss a pilot project I proposed to them. Earl is the director of evangelism and leadership development for Embrace Baltimore, and Darnell is the director of community impact for Embrace. They are outstanding team members and a blast as lunch guests.

This pilot effort will be based on four truths:

1. Life is not random. Quite the contrary, God is active in our lives and in the lives of people around us.
2. God crosses our paths with people in whose lives He is at work.
3. God desires that people become disciples of Jesus Christ far more than you or I will ever desire them to become disciples.
4. God is pleased when we love people He brings into our lives, and He desires that we speak to them about the Good News we are experiencing.

Our waitress told us she is a student at one of Baltimore’s universities. Earl asked why she was so pleasant. She said she was in a good mood, in spite of the fact that she was facing several major exams and project due dates, and she was moving to a new apartment. It was clear she was not your typical student-waitress.

I asked if she attended a church. Her story was notable. Though in high school she had been active in a strong Baptist church, she had struggled to find a church after moving to Baltimore. We talked about some of the churches she had attended and suggested others for her to consider. I was encouraged when she questioned us about the beliefs of the churches we recommend.

We are planning to start a new church in the area near her university, so I asked if she would be interested in being part of that effort. Before she would commit, she asked if it would be a Baptist church. She also wanted to know if it would be a church that would engage the community and have ministries for children and youth.

Darnell had spoken earlier to us about how important it is for new churches to be involved in their communities. Now our waitress affirmed Darnell's words. When I told her this church would be involved in the community, she wanted to be part of it. Think about it. We have not even launched this church and it seems God has already brought us the first member. Maybe, just maybe, she will be like Lydia was to the church in Philippi.

I mentioned to her I believe God had crossed our paths. She agreed and told us even that morning her mom had called and prayed with her that she would find a good church to attend. She affirmed repeatedly how much she would like to be part of the new church we described and how her university needed a church that would engage it. We committed to stay in touch with her as our plans develop.

Amazing! We met for lunch to discuss a pilot project based on four truths, and God affirmed these truths right in front of us. Loving your neighbor and telling your story is not a method or a plan. It is God’s purpose for our lives, and He demonstrates His pleasure by crossing our paths with people in whose lives He is already working.

Troy Bush