When I was a kid, the above title was just called “Friendship Evangelism.” Nowdays, small groups are assigned; prior as a kid, I watched them just sprout organically and if/when they got too large, qualified leadership volunteered to lead the splinter group… and theoretically, in time…. they didn’t duplicate into oblivion. Actually, my home congregation physically went “underground,” after nearly 90 years, as we all will eventually, if you walk through the cemeteries with your eyes WIDE open. If you desire more of my personal historical perspective read the August 1 post titled AYFC Chapter One: Create Meaning with Small Wins. Warning, it is long! But unparalleled in historical interest & content in this 500th year of Anabaptist history.
At this moment in history, I’m thinking far beyond the underground tunneling Wendell Martin (author of Go Now: From the Innermost Parts of the Heart to the Uttermost Parts of the World) helped engineer in China with his 50+ smuggling trips of spiritual boring equipment for God’s use in the Chinese underground church, enabling His millions of Christ-Followers literally starving for Bibles to expand & thrive. I keep thinking Wendell Martin needs to write his personal “Letters to the Church”, as Francis Chan did in 2018. Wendell is the closest Anabaptist man I know whom exhibits a practical clone-ship to the Apostle Paul.
The bottom line to this totally secular book “Are You Fully Charged” with its outstanding clarity for the methodology of building undercover dynamic thriving spiritual relationships in & about the remaining remnant congregations to the masses outside our enclaves, ( especially when they are frequently & defiantly shaking their fists at God, perhaps even us, if/when we threaten their ideology), in my estimation, offers a phenomenal blueprint for Christ – Followers to expand their thriving (OR NOT) spiritual relationships footprint in their practical day-in-day-out-lives, especially as we may be increasingly scrutinized and persecuted. Now, back to the epilogue. You and the Holy Spirit need to the connect the dots!
Epilogue: Create a Positive Charge
The best use of an hour is to invest it in something that will continue to grow. When you add a positive charge to another’s day, it carries forward a into each of their subsequent interactions. Even when you do not see the results directly, investing an hour in the growth of another person can increase the well-being of an entire network of people in the span of a day. It will also help you grow.
You are much better at helping yourself if you are also helping another person with a similar problem, even if your experience with the affliction was years earlier. Perhaps that’s why thriving Christians who consciously, even subconsciously, adhere to the saying “There, but for the grace of God, go I” accredited to the 16th century reformer John Bradford who said it first while watching fellow prisoners being led to their execution, recognizing that he was no more righteous than they were, and that he had only escaped their fate through God’s grace.
Likewise, research from one of the largest clinical trials in alcohol research found that 40 percent of the alcoholics who helped other alcoholics during their recovery were successful and avoided drinking in the year following they treatment. In contrast, only 22 percent of those who did not help others were able to stay sober. Helping someone else with a similar problem nearly doubled success rates. A subsequent study found that 94 percent of alcoholics who helped other alcoholics experienced lower levels of depression.
A series of studies conducted with hundreds of college students suggests that people may be even better at solving the same problem for another person than they are for at solving the same problem for themselves. It seems people are “simply wired” to do good and create meaning, even for complete strangers (No great surprise for those who know Creator God).
SHARE YOUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES
What’s most intriguing about the research on giving is that it appears to be a universal phenomenon that transcends wealth in countries rich and poor. When a team of leading researchers examined data from more than 200,000 people in 136 countries, they found that donating to charity improved well being in all parts of the world. This held true even when people reported having trouble securing food for their family.
When these researchers compared vastly different parts of the world, such as Canada and South Africa, they found that people consistently felt happier when they donated to charity versus buying themselves a treat, even when they would never meet the beneficiary of their gift. This led researchers to conclude that people are not merely donating for direct satisfaction or social connection. Instead, it appears that something deeply embedded in people’s natures makes them feel better when they act altruistically. (Again, it’s no surprise to we who know Creator God)
DO GOOD For A LIFE WELL-LIVED
We all have a limited number of days to make a difference. This is one of the few certainties that everyone shares. It can also be an extraordinary motivational force. Embrace the fact that you need to infuse a lot of good into this world while you can. You have the opportunity to decide how you will spend your time. Use this knowledge to stay focused on doing what’s most important everyday.
If you don’t prioritize what’s more important today, you may later find yourself wishing you had spent more time with your spouse or children. You may regret that you didn’t pursue an idea you had many years ago. Fortunately, you do have time to add a positive charge to the world today by:
- Start with work that creates meaning.
- Invest in each interaction to strengthen your relationships.
- Make sure you have the energy you need to be your best.
Doing these three things, in combination, is the definition of being fully charged and adding a positive charge to those around you.
In addition, before we move on, I want you to be aware that beginning on Page 213 – 216, Tom has crated a list of nine books he lists “As Essential Reading” for those of us appearing as on steroids from merely reading AYFC, already envisioning enhancing public/private school curriculum modules; actually, any educational components involving meaningful interactions strengthening both direct & collateral relationships, including even the training protocols for sales & marketing resources, etc., all being built on the Golden Rule from Matt. 7:12 & Luke 6:31. For deeper diving, beginning on page 217- 240, Rath lists the books 235 references, most with links or websites, indeed a unique treasure trove!
BOTTOM LINE:
Again, there is so much more I want to share here for the future of His Kingdom IN YOUR LIFE, but this is not the time. I am trusting He’ll open the necessary doors in His future timing. Continual Blessings on your journeys as you seek His guidance and sustenance for meaningful work, interactions, & relationships from His resources all about us, and, sometimes in/from the most unsuspecting persons & places. Till we meet again, I believe you now possess sufficient creative ammo to expand your footprint realizing & proving your ultimate strength is first finding, and secondly, developing the God given talents in others in meaningful endeavors and relationships impacting Kingdom Living for all of humanity! Go Now!