Carpe diem regno
I get excited to meet with people weekly to disciple believers in their walk with God. During the last few months, face-to-face relationship building has been difficult, but not impossible. In fact, God allowed me to continue making new acquaintances and even have some of the strongest discipleship moments I have ever had in a one-on-one setting while the country went into shut down mode.
God provides
When we moved to Vermont to accept a call to pastor a rural church nine years ago, we left our house in Maryland in the hands of a friend who wanted to purchase it but could not at the time. To make a long story short, we finally sold it this past January and were able to purchase a house to remodel in Vermont in early March. Once we closed on the house, we set to finding contractors to help us with the renovations. That was when the closures hit, and we realized many contractors were not taking any work because of the pandemic. We prayed and shared our dilemma with a couple of local pastors. The next thing we knew, we had an electrician and a plumber contacting us, as well as two other young people who needed some work.
All of these brothers needed work because their jobs had slowed to nearly a stop due to the pandemic. Each one was licensed and had been brought to me by God, so I was not concerned about the quality of workmanship. Instead, I met with them and asked several questions: Do you love Jesus? Are you involved in a local Bible-preaching church? Will you tithe with the wages you earn from this job?
Three of the four answered yes to all three questions and the fourth asked what tithing meant. After I explained to him that it was God who was hiring him and giving him this opportunity and God’s church needs people to continue giving at this time, he understood and agreed.
On-the-job discipleship
My first discipleship moment in this season was to encourage a brother to tithe. God reminds us in Hebrews 10:23-24: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” I could sense that God was indeed setting something into motion that would bring Him glory.
As we worked alongside each other, usually just two of us at a time, the questions started and led to discussions about salvation, justification and baptism. Then we started discussing the sanctification process and discipleship. One day four of us were there together and had a very deep discussion on missions and evangelism. For two and a half months God brought disciples for me to invest in. I did not know any of these brothers before this project, but now we are planning a mission trip together. So, four out-of-work brothers had jobs that provided for their families, we got our house remodeled by God-loving men in a wonderful work environment, churches were blessed with offerings and the Kingdom grew.
The Kingdom is growing
One of the young men has a desire for more Jesus so we began a formal twice-a-week discipleship study, and he is excited about what he is learning. As we talk outside, some of our new neighbors have stopped by and the conversations have been so sweet. One couple has asked if we will hold a weekly Bible study when we move in. Their comment was: “We need a Bible study in this neighborhood.”
What blows me away is that I was yearning to get some one on one time and God made it happen in a way I never imagined – He brought yearning hearts right to my doorstep. God is once again teaching me to lay everything at His feet and walk in faith. When God is in control, blessings flow all around as we continue “to spur one another on to love and goods deeds.”
As the adversary continues to attempt to shut down the movement of God, we must keep alert and be aware that God is always giving us opportunities to seize the day for His Kingdom.
Russ Rathier serves as the Vermont regional coordinator for the Baptist Convention of New England.