As mentioned in a previous testimony, I had not made the decision to attend Arise through prayer and I had ignored the urge to go when hearing it advertised. When I shared this with a friend of mine who was already planning on going, they invited me to the Arise group chat and that is how I ended up going. I still had doubts and worries about if I was even capable of taking part in the evangelism, or if I would end up just following others around or even if it will be just a very tiring week. I even felt it a burden to take days off work.
Nonetheless, after making the choice to go I started with the training which turned out to be interesting. Listening to others speak of their reasons and passion for evangelism and their love for others encouraged me greatly. We learned how to incorporate the story of Abraham and Jesus (Isa) as understood from the Quran with Muslims and many things that could become the foundation of knowledge that I could use not only for Arise, but also for evangelism in daily life. However, I felt afraid and unprepared with only one week of training and I still wanted to run away. I fell to my knees in prayer at the Wednesday service and asked God, ‘What should I do, God? I am not ready, nor do I want to go but I don’t think running away is a good idea either.’ It was then when God removed the focus I had on myself and made me realise evangelism wasn’t about me but for the souls prepared by God. He then led me to pray for the lost souls in this British land for the first time in so long and only then I saw myself ready for the mission.
Once God allowed me to focus on the prepared souls, I was able to approach the people with less burden (although I am unsure if this is the right expression). I spoke of how wonderful God the father is to me, how much joy the gospel has provided my life and why Jesus was the one and only way to salvation. I began to share my Jesus to people with conviction rather than with fear. I asked them to join me in this changed and changing life where we are not alone even through the difficult times. I continuously asked the Holy Spirit to pour out the love for these souls in my heart and at the end of a 10, 20 minute conversation or even 1 hour, I was able to sincerely say ‘ I hope to see you in heaven’ to the people I will probably never meet again on this earth.
Evangelism and Arise rather helped me to confess my faith in different ways and gave me more conviction in the everlasting life with God.
Although I will not be able to experience the end of many evangelisms on this earth, I will not be more satisfied in knowing that God has worked through me to plant a small seed in someone’s life allowing us to meet again. Moreover, I look forward to sharing the joy with God when greeting the returned soul in heaven.
