One Under Par

We’re still not exactly back to normal, but we definitely had the highest attendance last night that we’ve had in more than a month. There were probably six or seven people back from vacation. Somehow, it was unofficially bring-your-high-school-brother-to-church night; there were two girls that did so. It was our seventh week of the Gospel Class – really a fun class to teach, but I’m not sure that it’s what a lot of them needed to hear. Just a scheduling problem, really. Last semester our Saturday night service was our regular Bible study, so all the returning students just kind of assumed that tonight’s class would be like that.  

Overall though, it was a great night. Th. did a great job with his ten minute message. He gave a testimony about giving the Gospel to ! all his family when he went home (his results weren’t quite as encouraging as S.’s, but it’s really a boldness-victory for him). Their reaction was far more intellectual and skeptical. Th. talked about different reactions to the Gospel and reasons some people don’t believe. Then I taught for about forty minutes. Chinese wasn’t as on as I wish it was (I don’t know why this is, but anytime I have to preach in front of someone that knew me when I didn’t know any Chinese, I get really nervous. Pride I guess, wanting to impress them). But I think I offended a couple people who were members of another church when I was explaining what kind of church we want to become. That’s par for the course, I guess. 

Conversationally, though, it was rolling. After the service, we celebrated a birthday of one of our regulars. Just after blowing out the candles, one of the high-school brothers came up to me in this crowded room and asked me how he could become a Christian! So I took him back out into our “mini-auditorium” and walked through the Gospel with him. First time I’ve really done that completely in Chinese. He had a bunch of question which, praise the Lord, I was able to understand easily. In the end, he told me that he was ready to become a Christian! Praise the Lord! A great night!