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 FELIX J. Bendezu |
Let Your Speech Be with Grace
June 1 2011 / ShareHim in Colombia, May. 13 - May. 28 '11 #481by Felix J. Bendezu
Personal Testimony of FELIX J. Bendezu.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14
Carlos, an active church member went to spread handouts for the “ShareHim Conferences” by the streets, house, and the park. There, seated on a bench of the park, was a man in his early thirties, with a backpack, Silvio was his name. Carlos gave him a flyer and motivated him to attend that same night to the conferences. Silvio told Carlos that he was looking for a place to stay, but actually was homeless and sick. Anyway, he accepted the invitation.
That night Silvio went to the Sotomayor’s church, and was impacted for the message of the preacher. At the end, the preacher made a call to be baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus, and several people accepted the call and moved forward; Silvio was in the midst of them.
The deacons gave them a card to be filled out with his name, address, telephone, and so on. Silvio just wrote out his full name and left the rest of it blank.
The preacher talked to Silvio and asked about his personal life. He said, “My parents actually live in Venezuela, but I stayed in Bogota; my life was not good… I had bad companies, consumed drugs, and had relationship with a girl that ran away from me; now I feel sick, because one of my kidneys doesn’t work… Please pray for me; I want to change and be baptized.”
The preacher prayed with him encouraged him to be faithful to The Lord and come back tomorrow night for the last arrangement for his baptism with the church’s pastor.
The next night, Silvio was there with his backpack and using a new shirt; he remained after the conference, and the pastor met him and started talking with him. At that moment Carlos and another church member told the Pastor “to be careful, because Silvio was new in the town and has no address.” These words pierced Silvio’s heart and doubt crossed his mind. The Pastor made a nice prayer expecting to see Silvio in the baptismal ceremony.
The next night eight people were baptized, but Silvio didn’t show up; he felt rejected by the church.
The preacher asked to pray for Silvio, but he never came back. We’ll continue to pray for Silvio to see him in eternity.
Unless we are deeply conscious of how our words may affect those listening to us and carefully guard our speech, our words may set off wildfires far beyond our control.
Careful words must characterize your life!
Carlos, an active church member went to spread handouts for the “ShareHim Conferences” by the streets, house, and the park. There, seated on a bench of the park, was a man in his early thirties, with a backpack, Silvio was his name. Carlos gave him a flyer and motivated him to attend that same night to the conferences. Silvio told Carlos that he was looking for a place to stay, but actually was homeless and sick. Anyway, he accepted the invitation.
That night Silvio went to the Sotomayor’s church, and was impacted for the message of the preacher. At the end, the preacher made a call to be baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus, and several people accepted the call and moved forward; Silvio was in the midst of them.
The deacons gave them a card to be filled out with his name, address, telephone, and so on. Silvio just wrote out his full name and left the rest of it blank.
The preacher talked to Silvio and asked about his personal life. He said, “My parents actually live in Venezuela, but I stayed in Bogota; my life was not good… I had bad companies, consumed drugs, and had relationship with a girl that ran away from me; now I feel sick, because one of my kidneys doesn’t work… Please pray for me; I want to change and be baptized.”
The preacher prayed with him encouraged him to be faithful to The Lord and come back tomorrow night for the last arrangement for his baptism with the church’s pastor.
The next night, Silvio was there with his backpack and using a new shirt; he remained after the conference, and the pastor met him and started talking with him. At that moment Carlos and another church member told the Pastor “to be careful, because Silvio was new in the town and has no address.” These words pierced Silvio’s heart and doubt crossed his mind. The Pastor made a nice prayer expecting to see Silvio in the baptismal ceremony.
The next night eight people were baptized, but Silvio didn’t show up; he felt rejected by the church.
The preacher asked to pray for Silvio, but he never came back. We’ll continue to pray for Silvio to see him in eternity.
Unless we are deeply conscious of how our words may affect those listening to us and carefully guard our speech, our words may set off wildfires far beyond our control.
Careful words must characterize your life!